How can you create a more immersive reading experience with sensory details?

Of course, this kind of writing needs powerful imagination. Let’s say you’re writing about two astronauts trapped in their spaceship. You have to imagine their loneliness, their fears, their needs etc. and just then you can write about them. Just imagine and believe you’re there in that very situation, then start writing.

Creating an immersive reading experience with sensory details involves vividly describing sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures within your narrative. Paint a detailed picture of settings and characters, allowing readers to visualize scenes as if they're present. Use metaphor and simile to evoke emotions and sensations. Craft dialogue and descriptions that engage the senses, making environments and experiences feel tangible. This depth of sensory detail enriches the story, drawing readers deeper into the world you’ve created.

A good exercise to help you get used to doing this is to tell a scene in six different ways. First, write it as you naturally would. Second, try to make sure you capture what the character sees as they look around. Third, add in what they hear around them. Fourth, consider what they would smell. Fifth, can they taste anything? This may not always be relevant, but it may be connected to smell (eg - smoke hung so thick in the air she could taste it, an acrid choking flavour all the way down her throat). Sixth, what do they feel? Are their clothes rough? Do they feel the ground under their feet? Are they holding something cold, something sharp, something soft? Later, you can reread the scene and decide which senses added the most.

Is it too much? Repeat and repeat this question in your mind. Put yourself in your reader’s shoes and for a second read your story again. Are you tired of reading or you can’t stop it? Try to be honest with yourself and examine your answers.

If you're writing a story, think about the time and setting. For instance, if you're writing about food, enjoy describing the meal your characters are eating, is it breakfast, lunch or dinner? What spices or herbs are used, how does it taste on the tongue? What does it smell like? Here there's 3 senses; sight, taste and smell. If you have fun describing the sensory details, your readers will enjoy it too.