Home
>
Writing
>
Writing with a Sense of Adventure

Writing with a Sense of Adventure

We've all been told that we need to use all five senses to bring our fiction to life. Sight, sound, smell, taste and touch all need to be invoked. But there's one other sense that also needs to be used: the sense of adventure.

Just bringing your work to life is not enough. Accountants and insurance salesmen are alive, but how many people want to cozy up to them and talk shop for hours at a time? Writing with a sense of adventure will give your work an added spark of excitement that will make people rush to lose themselves in your pages for the hours it takes to finish the book.

So, how does one write with a sense of adventure?

Webster's defines "adventure" as:
1 a : an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks
b : the encountering of risks (the spirit of adventure)
2 : an exciting or remarkable experience (an adventure in exotic dining)
3 : an enterprise involving financial risk

Check out definition #3. How many of us write "safe" books because we think they'll be easier to sell? But even if you know in advance every element that you'll use in a book -- say, if you're writing The Amnesiac Cowboy's Secret Baby -- you can write about those elements with a sense of adventure.

The way to do that is by utilizing definition #2. Turn everything, no matter how prosaic, into an exciting and remarkable experience by using telling details. Turn your descriptions into wild safaris to bring back the perfect image of something, seen "in the wild" in a way the reader doesn't expect. For example, in my book, DARK SALVATION, Rebecca, the reporter, sneaks into one of the abandoned labs during her tour of the secret research facility. She has only a moment to look around before the lights go out, but in that time she sees: A rough wooden table with brightly painted drawers filled the center of the tiny room. Narrow counters and desk spaces ran around the walls, with shrouded laboratory equipment stored neatly for their next use.

What caught her eye? The fact that in this industrial research complex, where everything is white and gray, the drawers of the table are painted in bright colors. Are they color-coded? Are the scientists allowed more freedom than expected? Or is it, as she suspects, a prop, purchased from someplace that no longer needed it, and never used? The same with the lab equipment. It's covered up, so how can she be sure of what it really is?

A short time later, she enters one of the labs that is in use: A young man in a wrinkled white lab coat sat at the counter, hunched over a microscope that was far more complex than the simple magnifiers she remembered from high school biology. A scattering of Twinkie wrappers surrounded him, perfuming the room with the odor of preserved sugar. It was sickeningly sweet, but a welcome change from the antiseptic air of the hallways. He must have heard the buzzing of the scanner, because he lifted one hand and made vague shushing motions at the door.

What catches her attention now? First, she's checking the new facts against the old -- the cover is off and she can see what the machinery really is. But what's it really being used for? And, she notices the smell, as well as that it's covering up another smell/taste. What else is being covered up?

See how the descriptions are short, but full of telling details that give a sense of adventure? And, just to get back to the other five senses, see how they're worked in? (At least, sight, sound, smell and taste are. Touch is sort of implied in the "rough" table)

Last, let's look at definition #1. How can writing involve danger and unknown risks? One way is to use techniques you've never used before. For example, write a book using a single point of view. The other way, which is actually more dangerous and risky, is to plumb deeper within yourself for the emotion that makes it to the page. Don't just write a scene -- live it. Feel not only what happens and how that affects the characters, but what it means. Then, (#1b) encounter those risks, don't avoid them. When you get to the hard parts, when you're tempted to take the easy out and find the simple resolution, push through and go for the solution that feels like it's tearing your soul out. Your triumph will show on the page, and the readers will feel it.

A three-time EPPIE winner (for best Fantasy, best Science Fiction, and best Anthology) and multiple finalist for the Pearl, Sapphire and PRISM awards, as well as a host of other awards, Jennifer Dunne is the author of over a dozen novels and novellas, most for erotic romance publisher Ellora's Cave and their new imprint for other genres, Cerridwen Press. Known for her "Hot, Heartwarming Fiction," she writes deeply sensual character-driven stories that incorporate aspects of the unusual -- ranging from "cute bondage" to magic and mythical entities -- with an upbeat, optimistic tone. When not writing or working at her day job, she can be found on stage performing in community theatre musicals, or indulging her addiction to board games. Visit her at http://www.jenniferdunne.com

affordable house cleaning Wilmette ..

In The News:

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.

Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.

Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.

New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.

Chrome now autofills passport and driver's license info automatically. Google's latest browser update adds official document support with encryption and user control.