Sensefictional

Sensefictional is a term used in literary criticism and speculative discourse to describe a mode of fiction that foregrounds sensory experience. Works labeled as sensefictional prioritize what characters see, hear, touch, taste, and smell, presenting the world through phenomenological perception rather than through external plot mechanics alone.

The term is a neologism that combines sense, referring to perception, and fictional, indicating constructed narrative worlds. Etymology for sensefictional is uncertain and it appears in online discussions and some scholarly writing in the early 21st century.

Characteristics include sensory-rich language, emphasis on perception, embodied narration, and often a close or second-person perspective. Narratives may be nonlinear or introspective, exploring memory, atmosphere, and mood as drivers of meaning rather than conventional action.

Applications span literary fiction, speculative fiction, and narrative journalism. Sensefictional is not a formal genre but a stylistic approach that can cross genre boundaries and heighten reader immersion by foregrounding the body’s experience.

Relation to other concepts: it overlaps with sensory writing, immersive fiction, and phenomenological narration, but is distinct from magical realism or hyperrealism in its explicit focus on perception rather than extraordinary events.

Criticism and reception: advocates argue it fosters experiential empathy and memory; critics contend that excessive sensory detail may overwhelm plot or character development. Related concepts include sensory writing and immersion, as used in critical discussions of contemporary narrative technique.