I think we all tend to rely on what is seen a bit more than we should, and yes, putting others senses in there to help readers feel more part of things is great. And when we direct sensory description to specific details that do more than “paint a picture” that’s when we get story magic! 🙂

Thanks Alicia. Good ideas – contrast can be a valuable tool for directing the reader’s attention and steering emotions when we have a reason for doing so! I am also a fan of subverting expectations when that’s the best way to achieve a specific end.

Take a situation with an expected outcome – give it the pov character’s worst nightmare ending.

Put a putrid or unsettling odor where it will be noticed – because it doesn’t belong there.

Take a pastoral setting – insert a crow eating a rabbit starting with the eye.

But be careful not to do it EVERY time. You don’t want to be predictable, ever.

I’m going to keep my eyes out for more meaningful settings from now on. 🙂