In Monday's blog, Inventing from Place/Alto Angel, I took a location I found particularly enjoyable and incorportated it into a short story with an invented character.
In it, my character sees marbles floating in his line of vision when he glances up at a stained glass window in St Mary's by the Sea Episcopal Church.
My Thursday Two Questions to you are:
- How often do you use specific details from real places in your writing, be it an e-mail, a letter, a memoir, a blog, or a work of fiction?
- What details do you try to include (sights, smells, sounds, tastes, touch)?
(Photo credit: Marble, by Pikaluk)
25 comments:
Now that I think about it, I don't think I use details of real places often at all.
If I were to use them, I would try to describe every aspect of it, whether it be sigh, sound, or scent.
1) Not that often unless necessary.. :P
2) Sights and sound and sometimes, smell..
i seldom use specific details of real places unless i am telling a story about that place. i try to include every detail and more--like how i feel about the place, my impressions.
Because I only have a blog and am not much of a writer I use real places.
I guess I mainly do visual through pictures. I need to try to be more descriptive.
Places I visit, people I know, and my senses are my inspiration for my writing anything from letter writing to blog posts. In fact, my love for writing was so deep that years ago before I knew writing for children was someting I wanted to pursue, I would write flowery letters to friends and family. Everyone I knew seemed to connect with my letters like a visit in their home. I didn't see this as anything more than just a fun way to communicate with someone who lived afar. Now, it has aided me in sharing myself with many through the internet to my manuscripts and now...my children's book. It's a joy to take my experiences then translate them into my characters' experience because I sense my characters' emotions because they are in fact mine.
Hi Krysten. I rarely used details of real places in my correspondence or journals either until I started writing fiction. Then I realized what a difference it made in pulling the reader in. What some people do with photography, I now try to do with words.
Hi Luna. Sharing your impressions tells a lot about you as well as the place you are describing. Your reader then sees what you're seeing, what you find important, what you leave out. It's hard work to do this, but every so often, when I make a real effort, the results are amazing.
Hi Krislin. Yes, sights and sounds usually register with me first, too. But then I smell something and wow! I was at an auction Tuesday taking in the fair-like atmosphere, when I passed a vendor selling carmel corn. The scent of carmel mingling with the cool morning air brought me such pleasure it was amazing. All my senses came alive and I really started paying attention. I noticed the vendor was also selling ice cream with names like, LIFESAVORS, Bubble Gum, Big Dipper, Snickers, Cry Baby and Jolly Ranger. I heard popcorn popping, a child crying, Spanish music, and muted voices filling the air like another reality. Writing some of it down on a cash register receipt (all I had with me, darn it) helped me record the memory to share later. Like now.
Hi Donnie. Only have a blog! Not much of a writer! Donnie. Keeping up a blog is a lot of work and takes a considerable amount of writing skill. Believe me, I know of what I speak. I wish I took more photographs. It would help so much to record all those little details that one often misses when visiting a place. I try to write them down (even if on a cash register receipt), but usually get distracted and kick myself later. Those little details not only flesh out the scene, but also inspire story ideas.
Hi Cathy. Congratulations on the publication of your children's book. I've heard that writing for children is very hard. You have so little space to say so much and then it must make sense to a child.
The emotions you instill in your characters are passed on to your readers in large part through the specific sensory details you incorporate into your story. Good for you. You started practicing early, though you probably didn't even realize you were doing it.
1. Great questions. I always use a small tidbit of detail from my real life. Sometimes more than others depending on my work.
2. Writing poetry, I try to include facets from all the senses however it is difficult a time to do that without being too wordy. It's a challenge and I love challenges.
Hi Poetic Shutterbug. Oh yes, poetry has it all, sensual detail, imagery, subtext. And all in such little space. Definitely a challenge. You don't have the luxury of wordiness. That's when "specific" detail becomes especially important.
1) Most of my short stories are based on real life places, characters, and events when I have a chance to write.
2) The details I would include often sights, facial expressions, and verbal language..
I write from personal experiences, so it would be nonfiction. Although sometimes it is fiction depending on the type of reviews I do, but even that I believe my opinions are mostly true. For the most part, my articles - not reviews, are not something I pulled off thin air. Smiles.
I include the senses that support what I am writing about most. If touch isn't something my story is about, then it just won't ever come up. Great writing questions as usual Margaret.
Hi Icy BC. Facial expressions are extremely important, but it takes a special touch to keep from using cliche in describing them. That's when paying attention to detail really matters.
Hi Margaret! I actually scrolled down just to read what you wrote and I was immersed! That's what writing is all about. You see something and read everything from start to finish. And you're right. The details made it come alive.
I try to do that too because I am quite a storyteller. They say the youngest child is often verbose. And I know the details make my audience sit up and listen. And that's why they're called captivated. Haha!
Woof!
Keeper's right!
We read the story together.
My doggy insights:
The character saw marbles because he's into drugs :-O
The character fell in love inside a church but he was timid :-(
The character should not go to churches he does not belong not unless he wants to see marbles and hear things and goes on vertigo! ;-p
And lastly, oh why did the character's father have to come in. It could be the character's denial of himself as an alcoholic! :-)
Woof! What Qs? I ain't answering any Qs.I'm here for the writers workshop. Ooops! My word verification: gitouttahere
Oh-oh, hey Keeper, wait up!
Hi Lui. I so appreciate that you took the time to read my short story and that you were immersed. There is no greater compliment.
Go, youngest child. Give your audience the details. Captivate them!
Hi Ewa. Describing things well takes practice for those of us who don't consider ourselves good at it. It starts with paying attention and writing things down for use later. Some people take pictures, another great tool. As I said above, sometimes I resort to writing details down on cash register receipts. I so treasure them later.
Hi Sweepy. You're too funny. Nope, Paul's not inot drugs, though that would definitely add to the stories conflict. Nope, only falls in love with an alto voice not a person. Nope. Not timid. Wrong again. He belongs in this church as much as anyone, God's house, you see. His alcoholic father gave him the marbles. Lots of guilt here. Lots of pain. Thanks for stopping by with all of your questions. I like to know what's on a reader's mind.
Hi again Sweepy. Let me add to that. I like to know what's on a reader's mind, even if it's a dog. Maybe Paul should get a pal like you to give him another perspective. You know, lighten up.
I weave in real life experiences whenever I can, and tell it from the heart.
Details often involve sights, sounds, and and touch..
Great questions, and you add such quality to our meme..Thank you very much!
Hello DoanLegacy. Telling your story from the heart will never lead you wrong. I think when the heart is involved, you can't help but include specific details that evoke the emotions. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to participate in your meme.
Since my blogs are photography oriented I would say 100%. As a reader I do like to see writers use real locations in their writing, it makes the writing more realistic.
Whatever details are necessary to create the scene but not so wordy that the reader loses interest. I tend to visualize when I read, I want some details but I also like to let my imagination do a little work as well.
Hi SquirrelQueen. You're right. That golden medium between descriptive detail and plot, exposition and action, telling and showing is so important, yet often elusive to the beginning writer. For some it comes naturally, but for most it takes practice and a lot of hard work. Thanks for stopping by.
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