Disclaimer: No neighbors were actually spied on in the
making of this blog entry.
‘Cause,
that would be creepy…
Okay, okay, let’s be clear: I’m not advocating that you go
around spying into people’s windows or digging through their trash cans to dig
up some inspirational dish. No one
wants to go to jail here, right?
However, I encourage all writers to take a tool out of an actor’s
toolbox of tricks and simply OBSERVE people
in everyday life and everyday situations without being intrusive. You’re striving to glean what I call an
“essence” of a character. How does
a corporate woman in a power suit hold herself, walk, talk, etc. compared to a
nurse pulling an overnight shift in the ER –on the Fourth of July. It’s all bout the nuances, and the more
you can internally visualize a given character, the better you’ll be able to
convey him or her to your audience.
Plus, adding personality quirks, physical tics, habits, that sort of thing
will make all your characters much more interesting, dynamic, endearing,
memorable, relatable, and genuine.
Here’s the short list of what I consider some of the best
places to observe every day people in every day situations:
1. The Post Office: Hands down, the BEST conversations I’ve overheard have all occurred while waiting in post office lines. You can find out A LOT about a person by what they just casually throw out to the postal clerk, family members, or (better yet) random strangers. Want to know how much money you can make by artificially inseminating cows? Ohohoh, buddy, just ask me, because I now know all…
2. The Grocery Store:
If you want to see parent-child dynamics, in particular, the grocery
store is a treasure trove of inspiration.
Also, observing what customers put on the check-out conveyor can be very
telling of a person’s lifestyle.
3. Hair/Nail Salons:
It’s pretty common knowledge that a good percentage of people become
excessively chatty whenever they’re getting their hair or nails done. They’ll talk about anything and
everything –which can lean towards the over-share snore-fest if you’re just
biding your time, but it can be a writer’s smorgasbord if you’ve got your wits
about you.
4. Restaurants:
Akin to the grocery store, parent-child relationships are in good
quantity here especially if it’s a chain location. How people interact with servers, handle any qualms they may
have with their food, etc. is incredibly telling, as well.
5. Airports: Airports
are chock full of anticipation, excitement, anxiety… Think about all of the reunions and separations that occur
in this place. Some overwhelmingly
joyful, some heart-breakingly sad.
Some are coming home to families from across the world, some are leaving
families to journey across the world.
There’s so much emotion in this place, it’s almost palpable.
6. Performing Arts Lobbies: Married couples, first-/early-daters, families, you name it
and you’ll find them here.
Typically people are on their best behavior at these locales –or they’re
just pretending to be, which is particularly fascinating.
7. Specialty Events:
Think about the vast differences between those who attend a cutting-edge
technology conference versus those who attend an agriculture equipment
show. If you’re writing about a
particular occupation or way of life, attend one of these events yourself. Become an insider. Ask questions to experts. Network. No doubt you’ll come away much more knowledgeable and have
some fuel for the creative fire.
Until next week, friends! I hope everyone had a lovely Easter and is enjoying the Spring weather! Happy Writing, y'all!
~Riley
