Many writing-related books and blogs I’ve read suggest using sensory elements to make the setting richer and more realistic. The toughest one for me to convey in my writing is the sense of taste. I’ve included scenes where characters were eating, but have been stumped as to how to describe the tastes without making it seem like a deliberate writer’s ploy. Perhaps it’s because I’m not a foodie, and absolutely hate cooking, but tastes are normally not something I think about—which makes them awfully hard to write about.
Yesterday 2 of my sisters and I spent the day sorting through the remaining items in our mother’s house, deciding what was worth donating, what should be discarded, and what we would keep to use ourselves—or save as mementoes of a woman who had impacted our lives more than any other. Afterwards, we went to the Cracker Barrel restaurant where each of us had taken our mother on many occasions. The sights, the sounds, the entire setting of that restaurant brought back memories that are precious to me, but the tastes were what reminded me most of my mother. I experienced firsthand how much emotion certain tastes can trigger, and how food really can have an important role in our lives.
All 3 of us chose chicken and dumplings as our main course, with cornbread to go with it, simply because that’s what my mom always ordered at Cracker Barrel. I even ordered lemonade and country green beans (not together!) in honor of her. As we ate, we compared our meals to the ones Mom had prepared for us as children. Her dumplings were heavier, somewhat doughier, but had a similar taste. I recognized the flavor of lard on the green beans; my mom always and only used lard as a flavoring. She saved the bacon drippings in a pink can next to her stove, and used it in beans, mashed potatoes, and gravies. It wasn’t until we all left home, and my dad died, that she started using store-bought cooking oils (Crisco), and that was only because she had no one to cook bacon for.
Memories of her will always be with me even though she is not; and though I may not be any better at describing tastes in my stories, I know that dumplings and green beans will forever remind me of my childhood and my mom.
What foods or tastes carry special memories for you? Which of the 5 senses (taste, touch, smell, hearing, vision) is hardest for you to include in your writing? Do you agree that including tastes or descriptions of food in a story helps convey emotions or can have special meaning, or does it seem unnecessary to you?
I agree that including taste is important in conveying emotions, but I don’t do it in connection with food necessarily. Instead, I’ll say ‘the metallic tang of blood’ or something about ‘the bitter taste of betrayal’ or something. Basically I associate the emotion with a taste to enhance it….
That’s a great point, Layla. I hadn’t thought about associating the emotion with a taste; I was always trying to think of ways to make a taste evoke an emotion. Thanks for your input on this.
It is good to have touchstones, be they foods, photos, or songs that bring back the memories of loved ones. I am sure you have many of them to keep your mother close to your heart.
Yes, done well, including the senses helps a reader connect emotionally with the story being read, just as your visit to Cracker Barrel holds a strong emotional connection for you to your mother. I think lemon squares do that for me with my own mom. And she too had a crock of lard next to the stove. Everything seemed to taste better back then.
But you are right, if forced it just comes off wrong. I have noticed a trend of late in some of the books I’ve read where you can almost envision the writer going down the checklist: Character’s physical description, check. The color of (whatever), check. The sound of (whatnot), check. The smell of (whatever) check… and so on, for the first page and a half. I think it makes much more sense to just use these elements where you would normally use them when talking to a friend (as you did in this post).
~jon
Thanks, Jon. I appreciate your thoughtful input on this. I’ve also noticed the trend you mention of obvious inclusion of the sensory elements in fiction. That’s what got me to thinking about the topic, and when I needed to verbalize my feelings yesterday it seemed a natural tie-in.
Lemon squares sound delicious. And I think sometimes the food from our childhood seemed better because of the love that was included as much as it was from the ingredients.
I’ll have to agree with you on that too, which gives me hope that my own children will look back fondly on the things I made, even though I don’t use lard.
~jon
Jon, if your children are like mine they would probably give you a lecture on healthy eating habits if you even mentioned cooking with lard. I’ll be content if mine just forget how many times I burned their supper.
This is a beautiful post Carol. I love that you included the tastes that bring back loving memories of your mom.
I hadn’t really thought about taste in my writings unless it was something awful. That’s probably going to change after this.
Much of my childhood fare was cheap and cheerful. Mum worked three jobs and so didn’t have time to cook. Our breakfast was a slice of bread and margarine, and a cup of tea. Sometimes when I eat a slice of bread butter-side down it takes me back to those dark scottish mornings.
Thank you, Elizabeth. I think the way parents treat their children is more important than the food or material goods they provide them. It’s obvious from the way you talk about your mom that she did the best she could to give you a good life, and that you appreciate her efforts. That’s what I hope my kids remember about me, too.
The senses are so beautifully linked to emotional response, aren’t they? I loved reading this!
I think relating aspects of your story’s environment to your reader’s senses is crucial. I put myself in my character’s shoes and experience each sense, noting what comes to my awareness first. And that’s the sense I’ll describe. I find I dwell on smell, taste, and touch the most. I forget to describe what I’m hearing and seeing. I think in real life I take what I hear and see for granted–which means I have to work harder at describing those to my reader.
I use bacon renderings in my green beans, too.
Rilla, I agree. It’s amazing how our senses and our emotions work in harmony. You make a good point about taking some things for granted, and it’s interesting that those things aren’t the same for each of us. In my case, hearing is probably what I focus on most.
Bacon seems to be gaining in popularity again. Someone mentioned that Burger King has a bacon sundae, which doesn’t sound good to me at all. I’ll stick to green beans!
Thanks for taking time to share your thoughts.
~ Carol
This is a lovely post, Carol, and a wonderful tribute to your mother. What lovely memories.
Your post really made me start thinking. I’m not sure if I’ve ever written about tastes. I have written scenes where people are eating but so far as describing the food I don’t think I’ve ever done that either. Interesting, since food plays an important role in our lives on so many different levels. I love that you’ve pointed out the emotional side to food and how it can trigger memories..
Thank you, Laura.
There are several foods that trigger memories for me–some good, some unpleasant. Despite that, I still overlook the sense of taste in my writing, too.
Love the family photo Carol.
Thanks, Elizabeth. The photo was taken outside a restaurant where we were celebrating after attending my daughter’s college graduation ceremony on May 4. I’m so proud of her!