Back to the Mosque – Story Flavour

One of the fabulous things about being in the location you are writing and researching about, you can always go back again.

The first time I went to the Grand Mosque of Paris I was quite frankly overawed by its beauty.

I was so busy looking and writing and taking photos that I kind of forgot to stop and smell the incense.

So yesterday I went back there to just sit and enjoy the ambience. To invite all my senses to participate in the experience.

I savoured the fragrance of the flowering wisteria. I saw the kind man feeding the pigeons.

I looked for the finer detail. I visited the library, and stopped to enjoy the moment of being surrounded by amazing books and history.

I sipped mint tea and ate delicious pastries.

I discovered that it’s this kind of detail that turns your story location into a unique setting.

For me, being in the world of my story has added a whole new layer.

Have you ever had this experience? I’d love to hear about it.

Happy writing 🙂

Dee

This project is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria

7 thoughts on “Back to the Mosque – Story Flavour”

Just keeps getting better and better.

I connect with this post. Beautiful photos.

When I traveled to my story location of present-day Ukraine, I had the plot and characters figured out, but what traveling did was give me the sensory detail—the spices. You can’t know what you’re missing until you’re there. For example, the scent of linden blossoms.

Thanks Dimity 🙂

Thanks Gabe, and thanks for sharing your story about Ukraine.

Being able to add that sensory detail really does make such a difference doesn’t it?

Loved your example of linden blossoms. Scent adds such atmosphere 🙂

Wow Peter, your story sounds amazing.

What a fascinating place too. Isn’t it great to be able to do this kind of research … to actually be there.

Do you know why this man became a hermit? Can’t wait to hear more about your story.

My words have been flowing.

Hope yours are too 🙂

Dee

As you know, I grew up in East Africa. From time to time we would head to the States for a few months. Whenever we landed back in Addis Ababa, we’d all step off the plane and inhale, and then exhale in relief. We were home again! There is a spiciness to the air that mixes wood smoke, spice, gum trees, diesel fumes, unwashed people,,and red dirt that is nowhere else on the globe. I imagine India might be the closest to it. The US smells sanitized to me, even after all these years in it. Hawaii smells like fruit, flowers, and sunshine, and Australia like gum trees and something else I couldn’t quite grasp. I’m sure it’s a generalization, because each place has it’s own scent, but these are what I picked up from the places I traveled to. I currently live on the Oregon coast, and here it’s the tang of the ocean, wood smoke, coastal pines, sand, moss (on the trees) and rain. I’ve carried this scent with me since I was a tot, and I finally get to live here. Sometimes life dreams really do come true.

Smell ties to emotions, and it’s important to write with all our senses. So glad you went back. Those photos are a feast for the eyes. My heart jumped with joy at the fountain and the lovely formal setting, which works in a story I’m doing now, too (set in ancient Persia, but the palace has fountains in gardens, and with a bit of tweaking, it helped cement what I needed). Thank you for sharing this journey.