Observation: A Writer’s Tool

Writers have many tools at their disposal: computers, pens, notepads, the internet, reference books, and our imagination. One of the less spoken about tools is observation. As writers, we need to rely heavily on our ability to observe the world around us. This is so we’re able to inject realism into our writing. If we don’t, then we fall into the easy yet flat clichés, or we miss the mark entirely and lose the reader.

Nurturing our observational skills will open up our world, sharpen our minds, and inject honesty into our writing. When we start to pay attention to the details, our work begins to shine. For example, it becomes easier to show rather than tell our characters’ emotions when we have a clear understanding of the way those emotions can manifest.

I love this quote from Sean Patrick, the author of a short biography on Nikola Tesla: “The more material you’re exposed to in the world, the more grist you’ll have for your imagination mill.”

Observation feeds imagination. Imagination fires up our stories.

Observation is a skill like any other. It needs to be practiced. It requires slowing down, putting away distractions for a while, turning your focus outward. Hone in to all your senses, not just sight. Pay attention to random sounds, the scent on a breeze, the body language of a person walking by. Learn to listen to not only what is said, but everything that’s left unsaid.

While daydreaming is important to a writer, observation is crucial.

How do you practice observation?

Here at the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, we are taking part in the April A-Z Challenge. We are posting short writing tips Mondays to Saturdays corresponding to the letter of the alphabet. If you’d like to see the list of participants, click HERE.

The IWSG Facebook Group during the A-Z: If you are taking part in the A-Z Challenge and are a member of the IWSG Facebook group, then we'd love you to share your A-Z post for that day in the provided thread. We just ask you don’t link any A-Z posts outside the threads provided. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Lynda R Young
@LyndaRYoung

Good Habits of Successful Writers

For today’s H word for the April A-Z Challenge, I thought I’d talk a little about the good Habits successful writers live by:

Write every day. It doesn’t have to be a grand opus every day. Write what you can as much as you can, without putting on so much pressure that you stop. If all you can manage is 200 words, then that’s great.

Read a lot. Anything and everything.

Track submissions. You need to know where your work has gone, record the dates of when you sent it and when you are due to hear back.

Read a lot.

Track rights. If you have published multiple stories, you’ll discover you’ll need to track your rights for each piece so you know exactly what is happening with your work, and when you can expect payment, or when the rights revert back to you.

Read a lot.

Share your work with beta readers and critique partners. The more you share, the easier it becomes, and your work will improve. Even after you get published.

Join a writing group. The benefits of connecting with other writers are huge.

Read a lot.

Learn the craft, including grammar. There may be editors around to fix your grammar, but understanding the nuances of the tools we use as writers will only improve your writing skills.

Keep writing and push those doubts aside.

I kept this post short for the A-Z Challenge, so what are some other good habits of successful writers?

LyndaRYoung
@LyndaRYoung