Mini Series — The Senses — Hearing

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Hearing, Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch

Brain tonic Coke vintageTraditionally those are the five senses.  I thought it would be a fun change of pace to do a mini-series on The Senses.

In novel writing I try to involve all your (the reader’s) senses.  Today I want all of us to begin building a story together.  One by one, we’ll use all the senses.  More about that in a minute…

That’s not all.  I’m inviting all you bloggers to join this mini-series with me and post about the senses.  If you’d be so kind, link back to my post.

Your blog doesn’t have to be about writing.  My young friends at Faraday’s Candle participated with a science post.

Wait, there’s more!  With each of these posts I’m asking you to please leave a comment with one or two words that my image-prompt for the featured sense brings to your mind.  (Not the vintage ad here, but the train below.)

Now calm down; I’ll explain.  At the end of the mini-series, I plan to use your “sense comments” to build a spontaneous story. So it’s important that you play along each week.Ear

To begin this mini-series, I will select the sense of — hearing.

Part 1 — Hearing

All the senses can work together.  Descriptions of sounds can help readers see your story.  For example, here’s a snippet from Atonement, Tennessee.  I’ve shared it before.  I told this from Ralda Lawton’s point of view.  She was in a position where she could not see what was happening, but she could hear.  This happens early in the novel, before Ralda knows about any of the “supernaturals” in the town.  She’s just moved, and her cat gets outside.  Of course she follows the calico — to the cemetery.

I was sheltered by a big clump of tall bushes of some sort.  I thought they might be mountain laurel.  I could see the broad side of the mausoleum from there.  Shadows lurched violently against the stone crypt.  Big shadows.  Reflexively I drew back into the concealing vegetation.  Then I heard a loud avian-like screech and realized that the shadow shapes might have been wings.  My heart hammered.Gate Ajar NightThe noise escalated.  It definitely sounded like more than one creature was causing that ruckus.  Then I heard the cat hiss. 

I dropped the box of food I had brought to lure Lilith back, and ran toward the sounds; ready to use the flashlight as a club, and wishing I had something more effective.  “Lilith!” I called.  Oh, let’s face it — I screamed!

As I ran out form the concealing mountain laurel a gust of wind buffeted me.  I tripped and fell on the uneven pavers of the path, just as the wind blew my hair, along with some dirt, into my eyes.  I couldn’t see at all for a moment, but I heard a lot of heavy rustling, scraping, shifting sounds.

Every time I thought I had half way cleared my eyes, the wind blew something into them again.  I struggled to my feet, desperately wiping my stinging eyes.  I heard soft footsteps coming toward me.

Your Turn!

Now it’s your turn.  Focus on the image below.  Really look at it.  Imagine yourself inside that image.  Look at the locomotive, the weeds.  Touch the surface of the metal.  Sniff the air.  Now, with only a couple of words, leave a comment and tell me what you hear.

Abandoned Locomotive 2

What did you hear?   

Open Invitation:  If this inspired you to just write something or otherwise create anything according to the sense featured today, that’s even better!  If you want, you can use the comments to leave a link to your story or blog post.  Kindly link back to this post if you blog about what you wrote, cooked, painted, or photographed.

Thanks for visiting.

Mega hugs,

Teagan

Here’s a Teagan update — the “snow storm of historic proportions.”  For those of you in other countries, or on the west coast USA, this news video (recorded Friday midday) shows the scope; just how big this storm is: https://gma.yahoo.com/everything-know-weekends-snow-storm-155411977–abc-news-topstories.html#  

2:30PM Teagan Update — Here’s my COVERED front porch (covered as in roof that should have kept it from being covered by snow. That’s all my back could manage… At this rate I’ll be to the sidewalk in June.  My car will be dug out next year.

2016 Blizzard covered front porch

Copyright © 2015 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

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131 thoughts on “Mini Series — The Senses — Hearing”

  1. Pingback: #BadMoonRising Teagan Riordain Geneviene #IndieAuthor #UrbanFantasy #Supernatural – Books and Such
  4. Pingback: The song of the earth | Harvesting Hecate

    1. Hi Janet — and more belated happy birthday wishes to you. 🙂 ❤
      I'm happy to know the weather cooperated for your daughter and friends.
      There is still 3 feet beside the banister of my front stairs, but that is the exception not the rule. Fortunately some sunshine is helping the melt.
      Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I absolutely love that you "heard" laughter. I'm teleworking today so the hummingbirds are on their way! 😀
      Mega hugs!

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  7. Hi Teagan…I thought of you and the snow!! Christie brought a friend with her from the States who lives in Washington DC….she was booked to fly back on Sunday and somehow managed to get out on Monday – flying to DC via Canada….I am so grateful that the storm didn’t affect Christie’s visit or return yesterday, or Jen’s arrival….Christie seems to be flying between storms..yesterday was glorious – perfect for her departure, today massive storms on this side of the Pond – wind and rain:) Keep smiling and may the hummers be with you soon. xxx

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  8. As I touched the cold engine I could hear in the distant reaches of my mind a screeching horn blasting its way down the track, giggles of happy children as they looked out the windows of the train, and grumbles from their parents as the train hit bumps along the track.

    Fun thing to do, Teagan, but very time consuming. good luck! 😘

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  11. I hear the wind blowing , a branch falling and an opossum running and looking for shelter in the old train.
    Teagan, be careful when you walk outside. I wish I could bring you a warm soup. Hugs. ⛄️

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    1. That is such a kind thought, Gerlinde — thank you. 🙂 I’m actually going to have some quick soup for lunch, chicken broth, noodles, shrimp, celery and onion… They gave us the day off, so I can actually cook something. (And I will be very careful outside. The nightly re-freeze is very dangerous.)
      I love what you “heard,” especially the opossum! They are cute when they run with their short legs. Mega hugs!

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        1. I guess I should say that opossums are also quite fierce, and can seriously hurt a dog, cat or other pet if they get into a fight… Once while driving a country road I came upon a baby opossum and it challenged my car! Now that’s fierce. LOL. But I can’t help it — they’re cute! 🙂 A warming trend is supposed to be headed my way. That will help melt this snow and lift my spirits. Hugs.

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  13. I can hear birds singing and the sound of a distant plane in the sky. Then, just as I get to the locomotive, I hear the sound of a twig snapping and the very heavy breathing of a creature coming from behind me.

    I enjoyed putting that together very much.
    Hope you’re surviving in the big freeze, Teagan. Here in the UK it’s way too mild for January ☃️
    Hugs.

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    1. Thanks for thinking of me Hugh. I was lucky yesterday and got two young men to dig my car out. My back is a disaster, and worse than ever this year, so I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do. Very thankful for them.
      Oh, I love the sound of the distant plane! It’s interesting to see the elements that appear in more than one comment. Wishing you continued fair weather. Mega hugs.
      😀

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  15. A train whistle, long, loud, and steady woke me. I felt the cold of steel beneath me and with my eyes still closed, I could hear the clawing on metal outside. Frightened, I stirred and investigated, but it was only the vines.

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  16. Hi Teag, Sorry you were snowed in, but perhaps being locked up gave you time for this inspiration. xo

    All that could be heard was the rustling of leaves as the broken branches weaved themselves with their swooshing sound against the locomotive. Gradually, the grinding subsided as the brakes, clutching against the tracks brought the locomotive to a screeching halt. ❤

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    1. Oooo all kinds of sounds you heard, Debby! Marvelous.
      Unfortunately the only thing the snow gave me was a nasty backache… It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
      Keep enjoying Arizona. Love the pics you’ve been sharing on FB. Mega hugs!

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      1. Thanks Teag. It was fun to participate. And arg, sorry about your back, but glad I can make you smile with pics!
        Wordpress has been acting up for many of us in regards to receiving blog posts. I never received this post, I came via Sally’s blog, which I also went there manually because receiving no post from Sally is just unheard of as she posts every single day. Similarly, I’ve had no post from Sue’s (Vincent) blog for over a week. It’s so annoying to have to chase down blogs when we’ve subscribed. Wondering if you’ve had this problem. ❤

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        1. Sorry Debby. Thank you very much for going to all the trouble. I’ve had some problems too. Your blog won’t seem to let me follow, neither will Olga’s new page. Blogs I usually find (easier than with the WP Reader) on LinkedIn stopped showing up there too… Chaos reigns…
          So triple thanks to everyone who so kindly reblogged this post!

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          1. So aggravating sometimes this WP stuff. Not your fault Teag. Many bloggers are complaining of issues they’re having. I’m not happy to know you’re having problems following mine too. If you subscribed by email for my posts then I’ll really be worried. 😦

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  17. Dear Donna, thank you so much for finding time to read and share what you “heard” — what lovely sounds! 🙂 ❤
    I still have 4 more of these posts if you choose to play along. Next weekend will be "Sight." And I am having trouble making that post work. So it's even more important for other people to play.
    Groan… the book… I feel so wretched that my progress is so slow. What's wrong with me that I let real-world things bring me so far down that I can't write? I know the big finale and the ending… I just have to write it.
    Good news for me though– I spotted two lovely young men out shoveling snow away from cars and they promised to do mine as well. I sincerely didn't know what I would do. In all but 2 years, I've had to do it all myself. And this year I simply could not. I'm so thankful for them and so relieved.
    Here's the "that's good — that's bad" part. The government is closed tomorrow. BUT since it's my scheduled telework day, I have to work. No, I'm not emergency personnel. I hope that makes sense to somebody, because it doesn't to me. However, I'm happy to have a good job.
    Mega hugs right back, my friend. Be well, be happy.

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    1. I’m over here early, I know, but I wanted to check, just in case, but I know it’s tomorrow or later, but the teaser of ‘sight’, considering all the wonder of your book, ‘Atonement Tennessee’, the sights you so brilliantly describe, especially through Lilith’s cat eyes… 😉
      I know exactly what you mean, Teagan, my book and I are having a bad romance at this point, we’re just going in different directions, maybe we need book counseling. 😉
      I’m so glad someone shoveled for you, that was a lot of snow.
      You’re not emergency personnel, but I bet they’d use (and I mean use) the word necessary.
      Thank you for popping over to my blog party, come back any time and leave more links to your wondrous blog so others can be as lucky as me. 🙂
      Megahugs my friend, hope you’re Friday happy. 🙂

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      1. Donna you are the kindest person I know. Thank you. LOL re the book counseling. I definitely need that with my “Guitar Mancer” novel…
        I’m not feeling good about the “Sight” post. It was hard to put sight into that format. But I’m posting it in the wee hours tomorrow morning anyway…
        I’m actually working on a sort of resume video right now — like a book trailer, but for my job. Why not, right? I’ll visit the party again soon. Mega hugs right back!

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  18. Oh Teagan, that’s a lot of snow. I hope you don’t have to shovel it and can find your car before Spring. I grew up in the North of Canada so I know snow, but since I moved to a more Southern part of Canada and don’t get quite as much, well, I don’t miss that much of it. Take care.
    Loved this and wished I’d seen it earlier, I could have incorporated senses into my post, well, I mentioned chocolate, mmm, that’s smell and taste – my WordPress is doing wonky things with my reader and emails so I’m having to remember (good luck with that) to visit all of my lovely blogging friends. Hope you can make it to my blog party on January 29th, in complete and utter sincerity, it really, really wouldn’t be the same without you there, dear one. 🙂
    The train picture made me think of frogs singing, you know, that downy-soft, bluesy croaking that murmurs through a swamp, sparrows rushing overhead toward a grub buffet, the train watching over them all, memories still racing through the wind.
    Thank you, Teagan, your posts always make me smile, think, and feel a sense of peace and calm, well, except when my heart races thinking about your next book. 😉
    Hope this week is a good one – with a lot less snow, never mind that, no snow at all and a slow, slow thaw. 🙂
    Mega hot chocolate hugs xo

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  20. Beautiful post Teagan. I can hear the sound of chirping crickets and a faint clinking sound of people working on the rail tracks. And some where in the distance I can hear the gurgling sound of water, probably winding its way between rocks. The dried weeds wishfully hearing it every single day.
    Thank you for letting us link up our posts Teagan. As you know I recently posted something related to the senses. So here is my link
    http://aromasandflavours.com/2016/01/18/miracle-drink-abc-way-to-good-health-and-a-curious-case/

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    1. Hi SKD — thank you. This is wonderful! I love that you “heard” not just things inside the photo, but the surrounding area as well. That’s the imagination at work. And thanks very much for leaving the link. I’m so happy. Mega hugs! 😀

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  22. The wind briskly moving through the underbrush, quietly echoing the rushing movement sounds of past busier days, and a woodpecker, suddenly attacking a bug on a component of the engine, releasing a clanging reminiscent of the crew coming to the bottom of the coal bin with their shovels.

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  26. Pingback: What’s That Sound? – TheKingsKidChronicles

  27. It is a great idea, Teagan, and I imagine a fox den under the locomotive, and all the range of ‘puppy’ sounds the playing young foxes could make. Sorry I was late with the picture – we have that difference in time… Don’t think my picture was relevant anyway. Best of luck with the series! 🙂

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    1. Welcome Mary! Thanks so much for commenting. It’s so exciting to know what everyone “heard.” It’s neither here nor there, but so far, what you heard was most similar to my first impression. Huge hugs!

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  29. Teagan, such a great idea for a series! It’s been said already, but I came up with…The ear-piercing screech of the run-away train came to a halt in the nick of time, before the tracks disappeared into the weeds. Then years of rust and silence took over. (Okay, so John gave me the silence idea!) OMGosh…the snow! Hope you can stay warm & cozy inside for a few days! Happy Snow days, NOT! Sending sunshine 😍& hugs 💞 from California! Elizabeth

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    1. I’m glad you get it about the snow. Ugh! I hate snow (and ice especially). And thank you — I’m cozy with Crystal and my electric throw, watching “Rosemary and Thyme” on Netflix. 😀
      It makes me happy that you enjoyed the series idea. Next weekend will be “Sight.” Hope to “see” you then. 😉

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  30. I love this and thank you for involving us, it really is fun, I hear the sounds of squirrels chattering, raccoons hissing and the sound of a coyote walking through the brush, the crack of the dried brush under the animals paws.The locomotive is not silent it is alive because it has morphed into a sanctuary for the local wildlife and nature has decorated with beautiful vegetation,

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  31. The silence of a once great machine as it lays in waste sounds louder to me than the noise or the steam, smoke, and bell of its youth. This was an excellent exercise Teagan. I stared at that lonely engine for a number of minutes until I caught the sound of silence. (Thanks, Simon and Garfunkle) Thank you Teagan.

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  33. Reblogged this on Thoughts by Mello-Elo and commented:
    Teagan has written a short piece about the senses and every week will give her readers a chance to leave a comment of what they hear, feel see, etc. Don’t forget to link back to her when you write your reaction to what your senses pick up in her picture. 😊

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  34. I heard the loud CLUNK! and then the screeching of brakes and last hiss of steam, as the locomotive slowly ground to a halt to its final resting place, ne’er to move loads of coal again. The mighty 16 had run its last run.

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  35. I may actually try to write something that is inspired by this Teagan. It may take a while.

    If I listen closely, I hear sadness. I hear vines stretching their tentacles higher and higher and I hear the magnificent iron and steel machine rusting and settling into debris.

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    2. You just did write something, Dan — and it’s lovely! But I know what you mean. I’m sure you could hear all sorts of things in your “having a beer” posts if you think about it. Pretzels crunching, the waitress’ pencil scratching. The fart from hot wings — forget I said that. 😈
      Next weekend will be “sight” — that’s considerably easier. Mega hugs!

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  36. The ghostly echo of thunder on tracks and the plaintive memory of a whistle. Great idea Teagan, I was wondering what to write for my next post and now I know, all prompted by you 🙂 I couldn’t watch the video in my region, but – although I envy you the snow – I hope the storm isn’t too bad for you.

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    1. Actually it’s awful… nothing to envy. I’m completely stressed out that I’m not physically able to dig out… But will still have to manage somehow so I can get to work next week. And it’s still snowing. (I completely ruined my back over the years.) Then will come all the re-freezing and ice everywhere. Enough of my complaining.

      Andrea, when I saw your name in my inbox I knew this was going to be a treat! A “ghostly echo of thunder”… This is utterly beautiful! And I’m delighted that you want to join in the game. You’ve made my day. Mega hugs. ❤ 🙂

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        1. The temperature isn’t going to be warm enough to make much of a dint in it. So it could be weeks melting (like 2010). But I’m crossing my fingers. It’s already begun sliding off the roof (this is a very tall but narrow row house, so it’s a long drop) with huge rumbling like thunder, only louder. Good that it’s sliding off, though, and not crashing through to the inside. It’s more incentive to keep trying to get back to the southwest! 😀

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  37. I usually avoid prompts, but comments are right up my alley. I hear a thin strip of metal vibrating in the breeze, the wind makes a hollow sound as it swirls inside the cabin. When the breeze is just right, the ancient whistle makes a halfhearted attempt to sound again, but it’s more like an old man wheezing from his wheelchair.

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    1. Ah Ape, I can imagine how important the sense of smell is to you. I promise there will be a post for that in a couple of weeks. First “Sight” next weekend, then “Smell.”
      Thanks for commenting with what you heard. Mega hugs.

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      1. It’s also because, as a small ape, I lived beside a railway where steam trains ran regularly from the nearby station and now, even seeing them on TV or in photographs bring the sounds and mixed oil and steam smells into my mind 🐵

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  41. Birds singing, and then a sudden crack, a noise in the distance. Heavy footsteps approaching. Birds go quiet…
    I hope you’re safe and warm dear Teagan. I finished reading a book that made me think of you. But I’ll mention that in the review. Be well!

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    1. Hi Olga. It’s so good to see you. LOL, okay — I’m intrigued.
      I see your imagination is going full-force! Loved that you “heard” so much in that image. And an “un-sound” too (of the birds going quiet)! Wonderful!
      Yes thanks — safe, warm, and well stocked with supplies. Just hoping the electricity doesn’t go off… There’s at least a foot of snow on the ground. Still coming down. Before the day is over there will be at least 2 feet. With 2 feet, it would be nice if the blasted stuff would walk away!!! 😀
      Mega hugs.

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        1. Oh, no worries! That’s very kind of you, and much appreciated. (I realize that while I try to keep this blog at a G or at most a PG13 rating, it’s mostly grownups here — and you have to be cautious with the girls. Great big hug of thanks.)

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    1. LOL, that one doesn’t look like it could do much moving, BUT maybe there was a magic wand somewhere! Or maybe the weeds are a clever disguise! 😀
      Thank you for checking on me, Cheryl. When I got up at 4:30 I pushed open the screen door to the patio to get a picture that I posted to Facebook… There’s about a foot of snow in the chair seats and it’s still coming down. Huge hugs!

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  45. Pingback: RETIRED AND DECORATED | Musings on Life & Experience

  46. I imagined I heard a small wild boar squeal. As I approached the train I found that it was trapped in one of the compartments. Never said thanks after I released it, it simply pushed against me to get to freedom and disappeared. So rude 🙂
    Happy Saturday Teagan ❤

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    1. LOL, the little ingrate. That was wonderful, Christoph. Definitely a keeper. Although I may have bitten off more than I can chew with the idea to do a combined-comments 5 senses story! 😀 Thanks for coming out to play!
      It’s a happy Saturday for a writer. We have a huge blizzard in DC, and it’s still coming down… Mega hugs

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  48. I got an earful from the City’s security while doing my weekly photographs of the building construction from the parking garage, and ended banded from the parking garage.

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    1. Yikes! Oh good lord, they thought you were a ter– (Shakes head…) Sorry Tim. That’s where you do your stair-climbing too isn’t it? Well, I’ve enjoyed watching the building’s progress via your photos… while it lasted. Great big hug.

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      1. Hi Teagan. We don’t climb stairs in the parking garage.The building we climb stairs in is the New Mexico Bank and Trust Building in the back ground.

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          1. Thanks, Teagan! There has been plenty of sound associated with the construction of the building. Monday they start redoing the alley. They will be banging around only ten feet from my desk.

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