Thank you for joining us in The Writer’s Playground series!
Here we run through writing games to spark imagination and sharpen your craft.
Today’s Exercise is
The Memory Palace of Scent
- Objective: To tap into the powerful connection between scent and memory to generate emotionally resonant prose.
- How to Play:
- The facilitator brings several small, opaque con-tainers, each holding a distinct scent (e.g., coffee grounds, cinnamon, fresh-cut grass, soap, old books).
- Each writer chooses a container at random, opens it, and takes a moment to inhale the scent.
- They then have 15 minutes to write about a memory—real or entirely fictional—that the scent evokes. They should focus on capturing the specific feelings and details of the memory triggered by the smell.
- Best for: Generating evocative details, emotional depth, and backstory.
Purchase the full collection in paperback or hardcover!
If you have more writing games and exercises, please feel free to Send Us A Message to be considered for an addition to our collection.