Writing with Sensory Detail: Engaging ALL FIVE Senses
Lifelong Learning | Registration opens 8/7/2025 9:00 AM EDT
Have you ever read a story so vivid you could practically smell the freshly brewed coffee, taste the buttery croissant, or feel the rain-soaked cobblestones beneath your feet?
That's the power of sensory detail when crafting short stories, blog posts or a novel —words don’t just paint a picture, but activate all five senses, pulling readers fully into the world on the page. Students will "SEE" without sensory detail. Students will learn the importance of immersive experiences and how to create these unique moments for audiences.
This course will teach students "how to" explore what sensory detail is, and why it matters. How to use it effectively—with plenty of sensory detail examples and writing prompts to get inspired. So, buckle up—let’s make your writing not just seen, but felt, heard, tasted, and yes, even sniffed!
Carrie Flickinger
Carrie Flickinger earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications and a minor in English from Duquesne University. Furthering her education, she obtained an M.A. in corporate communication from Duquesne University and an M.S. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She has extensive teaching experience teaching 6th and 7th grade English in MB, SC for 11 years, and has taught at local universities such as, Carlow, Chatham, Duquesne, and Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach. She is currently an adjunct in the communications, media, and technology department at LaRoche University. In addition, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in communication and rhetorical studies with a focus on Cyberspace. She has a three-and-a-half-year-old son, Liam with a lot of energy and zest for life and a new puppy, named Pauppie who has kept her in shape!