Saturday Writing Tip
Charlotte Rains Dixon  

Saturday Writing Tip: Observation

Binoculars_glasses_glass_261717_lI often talk about the benefits of being present, quiet and mindful–not only as a way to focus on your writing, but when you're out and about in the world, so that you can observe things in order to write about them.

(Brief aside: I'm typing with one of my fingers bandaged after slicing it while cutting green onions for a salad the other night, so excuse any wonkiness I miss.)

I discussed this topic the other night in my novel writing class, and the next morning in my journal I found myself spontaneously giving myself an assignment.  It's an observation assignment, and I thought you might want to do it, too.  So here goes.

The idea is to be present, alert and mindful throughout your daily life and then write what you've observed later, that night or the next morning.  The act of writing your observations down hones your observing skills.

Every session, look back over the day and write two things:

1.  Dialogue.  Any memorable lines from the previous day?  Who said something interesting?  Can you get the words down exactly as they were uttered? 

2.  An event or description.  This can be a big event, such as winning the lottery, or a small moment, like a description of someone bending down to tie their shoes.  You can also describe the sunset or the rocks you noticed on your walk–anything that caught your attention.

The idea here is to remember as vividly as possible what happened, not write it in a gorgeous literary way, because we're working on the art of observation. 

I must confess, when I started doing this, I was shocked–shocked–at how little I remembered specific details from the previous day.  I recalled things in broad strokes, but I want to be the kind of writer that remembers the telling detail, that one tiny little action that illuminates everything. The first few days, I've ended up writing down the most prosaic of lines of dialogue (all that I remember) on the theory that eventually I'll get better at remembering the good stuff.  And I'm using this observation exercise to get there. I'll let you know how it progresses.

Are you an observer?  How do you teach yourself to recall events in detail?

Need some help translating your observations to a writing practice?  I've got a couple slots open in my coaching.  Head on over to my coaching page for more information.

Photo by Gastonmag.

0 thoughts on “Saturday Writing Tip: Observation

  1. Don

    Good points Charlotte, but not all that easy for me to implement because I have one of those scattered type of brains, but I can see how practicing these points good pay off big in the future, so here goes… starting to today I’m going to try not to forget to remember what I shouldn’t forget to remember!!!

    Yesterday, I remember a group of us found this cute little bugger (caterpillar). It was white and fuzzy-all-over. Gorgeous little fellow he was (or was he a she?) too, as his white-and-black-spotted colors highlighted the old, gray and streaked wood of the hind deck. One moment he was there, and then we noticed that miniature, but slow moving creature moved quite a distance as we glanced elsewhere. In fact, what we thought was strange that a slow moving creature could move fast wasn’t true. The little bugger just moved behind the side and what we thought was one creature wasn’t actually one, but zillions and zillions of little buggers, so many that the entire little tree that hugged the back sidings of the house and tree were completely polluted with them.

    Hmmm… amazing exercise Charlotte, because as I remember this, other details of the past day just start jumping out at me, so many, in fact, that I wouldn’t have the space to describe them. I can see how the two points could bring out many other potential points in future writing projects, that I would have otherwise not noticed, so thanks again Charlotte.

  2. Fear of Writing

    Great ideas, Charlotte. I’m going to be more conscious of this myself, starting from right after this blog comment (I’ll be journaling).

    I am an observer. Like many writers, when I’m out in public I have to find ways to stare at people that doesn’t draw attention to my staring. I can sit in a restaurant, coffeehouse, etc. and get totally lost in wondering about the motivations or personal life of that fascinating person who caught my eye, and thinking what a good character they would make.

    I know what you mean about the shock of not being able to put what you’ve observed into words. I tend to take an emotional (and kind of subterranean) reading on things I observe, neglecting to take a mental snapshot of the specifics so I can write about it later.

    I do think that state of being I get into is a vital part of my powers of observation. Now I just need to add the left-brained skills to make it complete. (Hey, thanks! Your post just helped me think that through.) Sometimes I’ll jot notes on the spot and that really helps. But it has to be soon after that I use the notes otherwise they’re too “in the moment” cryptic.

    P.S. Sorry about your cut. Ouch! Given the topic here, I’m curious what was going on when you sliced your finger. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had little accidents of that nature because I was lost in my inner world of creativity and not totally focused on the task at hand.

  3. Sandra / Always Well Within

    I really LIKE this! I’m going to try it out. Thanks so much.

  4. Charlotte Dixon

    Oh Don, thank you for sharing this observation!  It's great–you got so many details in and made that tiny little experience really interesting.  I'm so glad the exercise turned out to be helpful, even though you were dubious about it to start.

  5. Charlotte Dixon

    Milli, you really nailed it for me, too, when you said you make an emotional judgment or form an emotional observation, but then can't fill in the details.  I think that's exactly what happens.  And you're correct–this is a time for the left-brain to come in!

    As for the cut, I was chopping green onions for a salad with tomatoes and olive oil.  My son-in-law had sharpened all my knives and I'd just reminded myself to be careful.  And then I sliced my finger open.  Do you think that implies a lack of mindfulness as I chopped?  Or an aversion to the evening's events (which I was looking forward to–dinner with my family). Maybe it was just because it was beastly hot that day and I was resisting the weather.

  6. Charlotte Dixon

    Hope its helpful–I've been finding it so.

  7. Carole Jane Treggett

    Hi Charlotte,
    Thanks for offering more great writing tips in this one. I recently discovered I’m writing down more details since doing ‘Morning Pages’ regularly. Funny thing is, I only realized this was happening after going back last week and reading a few entries from a few months ago. Here I thought I was just dumping a litany of ‘wah wah’ or mundane and not leaving behind anything insightful, something I might be able to develop further or use in a WIP! 😀

    Yowsa, take care of that finger. I’m just relieved to hear you didn’t slice it in half.

  8. Charlotte Dixon

    That's really interesting about what you've discovered about using more detail in morning pages, Carole Jane.  I've been doing them every morning again and I find I feel so much more connected to the world and my creativity.  I'll have to look back at the level of detail, but I bet its a natural outgrowth.  And thanks for the condolences on my injury.  I'll be glad to have this finger back to normal!

  9. J.D.

    I don’t do a lot of “intentional” observing. Like everyone, I have life events that are burned in my brain. Every detail is there–in stone. But then I am often the protagonist. What you suggest will enrich the scene and the supporting cast. Good stuff.

  10. Charlotte Dixon

    Thanks, J.D.!

  11. alanc230

    Good strategy. I’m going to share it with writing friends.

  12. Charlotte Dixon

    Thanks so much, Alan!

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