I\u2019ll be helping at a yard sale today, which will give me the opportunity to work on my observation skills. Observation is important to a writer. It helps us to understand more about other people so that we can more accurately and creatively capture personalities in our writing as well as write what others want to read. <\/p>\n
I\u2019d like to offer you an assignment. While you are out and about this weekend (and you should be if you\u2019ve been holed up most of the week writing), pay attention to the people you encounter. Sit for a while and just watch people. How do they carry themselves and what does this demeanor seem to say about them? How do they express themselves? How do they handle small dilemmas (trying to cross a busy street, carrying something heavy or awkward, an unruly child, a pouty teenager, a rude clerk, and so forth)? What are people wearing? What accessories have they chosen? What are they eating? How do they approach their meals? How do people react to strangers in their midst? What are people talking about?<\/p>\n
How can this help you in your writing? Here are some possibilities:<\/p>\n
\u2022\tYou might use the habits, traits, attitude, expressions of various people to develop one of your characters. <\/p>\n
\u2022\tOverheard conversations might result in a good article idea or a chapter or scene in your book.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tThe interaction of two lovers, the antics of a group of children or the movements of an older gentleman might help you in better describing an event or situation you\u2019re writing about.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tIf you are struggling with a scene at a bus station, busy deli or fishing pier, go to one near your home and watch the activity for a while. Take notes\u2014photographs.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tMaybe you are writing a piece about America\u2019s junk food-eating habits. What better place to get some feedback and insight than a fast-food restaurant. <\/p>\n
\u2022\tPerhaps one of your characters is a single working mom or a weekend dad. Spend time at a park and you\u2019ll get a sense of how these parents interact with their children.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tIf you\u2019re working on a piece on dog, horse or cat shows, attend one. You\u2019ll learn volumes about the process, the handlers and the industry.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tWatch people working out\u2014running, walking, bicycling, playing Frisbee, tossing a ball or using the equipment at a gym. Perhaps you\u2019ll see someone who fits the description of a character in your novel. What do you notice about him\/her that can help in developing your character?<\/p>\n
\u2022\tIf you are promoting a book, you might want to observe customers in a bookstore. Pay attention to how the clerks interact with customers, too. Do they actually recommend books they like? <\/p>\n
I hope that you will take my challenge this weekend and spend some time just observing people doing what comes naturally. Let me know how this practice helps your writing project or perspective.<\/p>\n
Be sure to visit my websites: http:\/\/www.patriciafry.com<\/a> (Sign up for your free copy of The Successful Author\u2019s Handbook<\/em>!)<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a> (Check out my array of books for writers. Put one or two on your Christmas list.)<\/p>\n I added to my Catscapades blog yesterday. Check it out at http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades<\/a> <\/p>\n Also, go to this site and choose which of my online courses you would like to take for free if it was offered. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/courses.htm<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019ll be helping at a yard sale today, which will give me the opportunity to work on my observation skills. Observation is important to a writer. It helps us to understand more about other people so that we can more accurately and creatively capture personalities in our writing as well as write what others want […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t