Using The Sense of Touch in Your Writing

That feels good!

I've been posting about the senses that we use in our writing off and on the past few months. Today, let's look at the sense of touch and how we can use it in our stories and essays, even poems. 

Think of the many different feelings we get when we touch various things. Some are pleasant while others are abhorrent. The little cat in our photo looks pretty contented at the touch of his human, doesn't he? I imagine the human is also enjoying connecting with the cat's soft coat. 

Here's a list of things we might like to touch: 

• a satin coverlet
• a fleece shirt
• velvet
• a dog
• a cat
• a rabbit
• any animal with a fur coat, as long as it is tame
• smooth wood

Another list of things we might not enjoy touching: 

• a porcupine
• sandpaper
• a gooey spill
• mud
• prickly pear cactus
• hot stove
• a bed of nails
• an iceberg

For an exercise, write something descriptive about each of the above showing how you feel as you touch each one. You may think of others to use, as well.

For velvet, you might write something like Rose slipped the midnight blue dress over her head and zipped it up the back. She ran her hands over the fabric and smiled as she touched the soft cloth. 

Adding the last part shows you that she liked the dress, liked the feel of the velvet. It adds something more instead of just saying that she put the dress on and zipped it. 

Adding sensory details to your writing makes the story, or whatever it is, far more interesting to the reader. It allows them to connect better. After all, they've experienced those sensory items and can identify immediately. 

Touch--An Important Sensory Detail

We've talked about sensory details a number of times. Using sensory details makes a good story even better. They bring life to a story and allow the reader to relate to the characters and situation.

We use sight, sound and smell often when writing a story, but the sense of touch can be very useful, as well.

Think about the way your fingers relay messages to your brain when you touch something. Immediately, you know if what you touched is soft, hard, smooth or greasy. Some things we touch bring satisfying reactions while others are startling.

Try this exercise on using this important sensory detail. Write a sentence showing a reaction to each of the items below:

1.  kitten
2.  doorknob
3.  grass
4.  baby's blanket
5.  a tub of water
6.  grease
7.  tree trunk

Now, reverse the exercise by using these reactions to touch in a sentence. Show, don't tell

1.  soft
2.  hard
3.  smooth
4.  rough
5.  sticky
6.  greasy
7.  hot

A Sensory Detail Exercise

Yesterday, I wrote a post on sensory details and zeroed in on smell. Today, I have an exercise for you to try that deals with the sense of touch.


Look at the list below. Make a sub-list for each of things that have that feeling. Don't just sit at the computer and put the words down. Get up and walk around your office, your kitchen, bedroom, then go outside and do the same.  Reach out and touch different objects to see how they feel.

1. smooth

2. soft

3. rough

4.sharp

5. cold

6. hot

7. abrasive

8. slimy

9. wet

10. stiff

11. limp

You can also do this exercise in reverse. Make a list of household objects, or things in your backyard. Then write a word or phrase that shows the way they feel when touched.

When writing a story, use sense of touch occasionally. Doing it too often can turn a reader off. I had a friend who was a very good writer, but she overused the simile  technique in her first novel to the point that they became a distraction for me as I read what was an excellent story.

Look at one of your favorite pieces you've written. Go through it line by line and mark the sensory details. Lots? Few? Or none?