Block Buster
Ideas To Thwart Writer’s Block
Through Another’s Eyes
They say that familiarity breeds contempt. That might be a little harsh, but humans are famous for their ability to see what they expect to see, and when you observe the same thing every day, you stop noticing the little differences.
An acquaintance of mine started a job in a new organisation. A few days after they started, the police started an investigation into a serious incident that had taken place, unnoticed, on the day they started work. They interviewed my friend, who warned them that they were new to the role. The police were delighted; whilst their colleagues struggled to remember anything out of the ordinary, or even exactly which day the event took place, my friend recalled every detail. It was all new and exciting to them and so they remembered even small things. We never did work out if they saw anything useful to the investigation, but the police were very grateful to them.
With that in mind, today’s writing exercise is a practise in description.
Take a notebook and travel somewhere new. Perhaps a coffee shop you’ve never visited before, or a new part of town? Once there take notes. Copious notes. Describe the layout of the area and the decorations. Are there people there? Try and use all your senses: sight, hearing, touch and smell (don’t lick anything unless it’s socially appropriate or safe to do so). Then delve deeper. How does the place make you feel?
Now, return home and write about a character visiting this place. Place yourself in their shoes. If it is an existing character you already know, how would it make them feel. What would they notice? A parent in a coffee shop might automatically clock where the toilets are and if there is a good selection of juices and snacks suitable for small children. A police officer might notice the two shifty-looking characters in the corner, or feel exasperation toward the woman so absorbed in her mobile phone she’s oblivious to her purse poking out of her handbag.
How did you find the exercise? Did you notice things you might not otherwise? As always feel free to comment here or on social media.
If you are a writer with a tip to share, or fancy writing a fictional interview between you and one of your characters, please feel free to email me.
Until next time,
Paul.
An acquaintance of mine started a job in a new organisation. A few days after they started, the police started an investigation into a serious incident that had taken place, unnoticed, on the day they started work. They interviewed my friend, who warned them that they were new to the role. The police were delighted; whilst their colleagues struggled to remember anything out of the ordinary, or even exactly which day the event took place, my friend recalled every detail. It was all new and exciting to them and so they remembered even small things. We never did work out if they saw anything useful to the investigation, but the police were very grateful to them.
With that in mind, today’s writing exercise is a practise in description.
Take a notebook and travel somewhere new. Perhaps a coffee shop you’ve never visited before, or a new part of town? Once there take notes. Copious notes. Describe the layout of the area and the decorations. Are there people there? Try and use all your senses: sight, hearing, touch and smell (don’t lick anything unless it’s socially appropriate or safe to do so). Then delve deeper. How does the place make you feel?
Now, return home and write about a character visiting this place. Place yourself in their shoes. If it is an existing character you already know, how would it make them feel. What would they notice? A parent in a coffee shop might automatically clock where the toilets are and if there is a good selection of juices and snacks suitable for small children. A police officer might notice the two shifty-looking characters in the corner, or feel exasperation toward the woman so absorbed in her mobile phone she’s oblivious to her purse poking out of her handbag.
How did you find the exercise? Did you notice things you might not otherwise? As always feel free to comment here or on social media.
If you are a writer with a tip to share, or fancy writing a fictional interview between you and one of your characters, please feel free to email me.
Until next time,
Paul.
