Good writers satisfy their senses

For the sake of simplicity, I’m only referencing the basic five senses: smell, touch, taste, sight, and hearing.

As writers, we naturally gravitate toward what fills these experiences. We want quality food. I can have a hot $20 to my name, and you can guarantee that a decent meal is coming out of it. We like pleasant scents.  Memories of people and places will bring memories of their smells with them. We also wanna touch and taste and see. We’re die-hard people watchers. Naturally nosey and I’ve finally become okay with that.

And when not daydreaming, we’re usually pretty damn good listeners too. Blessedly, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with Stephen King (twice), Terry McMillan, and Nikki Giovanni. Met many others, but personally spoke with these three. And the common denominator was their kickass listening skills. Nikki even remembered that I was from Louisiana, later referencing it in a convo about her favorite travels.

While I don’t think that the quality of writing today is any less than that of our legends, I do believe that we have a more difficult time tapping into our rhythm. That’s due to our great big ole (first) world of artificial substitutions. Our senses demand the original. Good writers are sensual beings, as they make it a priority to satisfy their senses.

Great writers satisfy their senses with nature.

Hence the name, nature is what’s natural. This includes:

• Sunlight
• Fresh air
• Grass and sand beneath our bare feet
• Real chocolate
• Food made with fresh ingredients and pure intention
• Shameless, unrushed sex
• Stimulating conversations
• Sit downs with our elders and our children
• Good books
• Art
• Live music
• Hot tea
• Crystals
• Kente, silk, and cashmere
• Candles made of soy or beeswax
• Massages with coconut oil
• Hearing birds chirp and kids laugh
• Running in the rain
• Swimming without worrying about your damn hair

This is sensuality, which is defined as “relating to or consisting in the gratification of the senses…”

Each of these experience leaves me feeling full. They make me close my eyes and take a deep inhale. They make me appreciative and joyful. They remind me that less is more. They’re timeless as I’m sure that our ancestors enjoyed many of these same luxuries. They make me feel, which inspires me to write, which moves me to my pen time and time again, which leads to me being a better writer.

What would you add to the list?