Saturday, October 27, 2007

Five Minutes of Synesthesia

Just received a nice note from a writer who has been doing my five minute writing exercises (check 'em out: 365, all free) and asks me to continue... ah, no, but anyway, here's one: Synesthesia, the mixing up of sense perceptions, is a powerful technique for enhancing the vividness of your writing. (Read more about synesthesia in Richard Cytowic's The Man Who Tasted Shapes.) Here's the exercise: Put on a CD of music--- any kind of music. As you listen attentively for 5 minutes, according to your perceptions of the music, note colors, textures, tastes and/ or smells. (But no sounds.)