HOw To Develop Your Writer's Eye
[image error] Who are the three most interesting people you've ever met? What pictures appear in your mind? They can be from your past or present. Have they made a strong impression on you...positive or negative? When developing your writer's eye, you need to sharpen your powers of observation.
No matter what stories or articles you write, more than likely they'll contain people - or characters. One of the best ways to bring those characters to life in your writing is to think of real people...the people you know. You need to be able to describe them so clearly that your reader could easily recognize them in a crowded room.
Concentrate on forming a mental picture of the person who stands out most clearly in your memory. This is the person you will write about. If it's someone you see day-to-day, you may wish to observe this person anew. If this person is far away, then try using your mind's eye and ear to take notes of this person.
You almost need to imagine yourself as a camera. Step back and take a mental overall picture and begin to write some words quickly that would describe this person. Are they shy? Outgoing? Kind? Flamboyant? Jot these words or phrases down as they come to you. No need to put them in any order at this point.
Now try to zoom in and focus on the smaller details. Look at your subject's features (i.e. nose, eyes, hair, smile), coloring, their style of clothing. Write as many of the details as you can for now, you may not even use all of them. Use hearing to describe their voice tone, accent, laughter. Your sense of smell can describe their perfume or after-shave, cooking odors, etc. Your sense of touch would naturally explain details of soft, gentle, cold or warm hands, the kinds of handshakes or hugs.
As words come to you try to distinguish between generalities and specifics. Such as, if they're wearing old pants, maybe use the phrase ragged old jeans. Nicely dressed could be wearing a freshly ironed blouse, or if they have an attractive smile, use the phrase a smile that lights up her face.
Don't forget to use comparisons. Some writers use the quality of a person's voice to the flowing of a stream, or the football player's knuckles looked like wooden balls. These comparisons are figures of speech called similes. You can also use metaphors, which are comparisons not clearly stated with the word like but are implied. Someone's marble white face, or glacially pale blue eyes.
You should also have your description show emotions. Many writer's argue about the show don't tell method. I think it's entirely up to you, but I prefer this way of writing because I'm able to paint a vivid picture for my reader. Such as, telling - he was happy; showing - his face broke into a wide grin. Telling - he was mad; showing - he pounded his fist into the table.
Now try to shape your thoughts to express what your character's description will be by asking three simple questions: What is the person's characteristic? Review your notes and decide if this character has a positive approach to life, or maybe their particularly plucky. Then if this character is well-groomed they will more than likely speak and act in a tidy manner. Sometimes they can be a mixture of things to add more dimension to their personality. Anything you can add to create your character so that your reader will feel as though they're sitting with them in the room.In what setting can you best visualize the person? Add a backdrop to the overall picture. Think of activities that your character would take part in, such as in the office, kitchen, or garden.Where are you - the writer? Will you be in the picture? Your character may be more intriguing if you add some of your own feelings, or you can describe them as an observer. If you choose to write from your own feelings, you might say - Joan always impressed me with her sense of humor, whereas, writing as an observer you could say - Joan was known for her sense of humor. I hope this can shed a little insight to help you develop your writer's eye and get you motivated to create amazing characters. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please do so in the comment section. I'd love to hear from you.
Remember...keep on writing!
No matter what stories or articles you write, more than likely they'll contain people - or characters. One of the best ways to bring those characters to life in your writing is to think of real people...the people you know. You need to be able to describe them so clearly that your reader could easily recognize them in a crowded room.
Concentrate on forming a mental picture of the person who stands out most clearly in your memory. This is the person you will write about. If it's someone you see day-to-day, you may wish to observe this person anew. If this person is far away, then try using your mind's eye and ear to take notes of this person.
You almost need to imagine yourself as a camera. Step back and take a mental overall picture and begin to write some words quickly that would describe this person. Are they shy? Outgoing? Kind? Flamboyant? Jot these words or phrases down as they come to you. No need to put them in any order at this point.
Now try to zoom in and focus on the smaller details. Look at your subject's features (i.e. nose, eyes, hair, smile), coloring, their style of clothing. Write as many of the details as you can for now, you may not even use all of them. Use hearing to describe their voice tone, accent, laughter. Your sense of smell can describe their perfume or after-shave, cooking odors, etc. Your sense of touch would naturally explain details of soft, gentle, cold or warm hands, the kinds of handshakes or hugs.
As words come to you try to distinguish between generalities and specifics. Such as, if they're wearing old pants, maybe use the phrase ragged old jeans. Nicely dressed could be wearing a freshly ironed blouse, or if they have an attractive smile, use the phrase a smile that lights up her face.
Don't forget to use comparisons. Some writers use the quality of a person's voice to the flowing of a stream, or the football player's knuckles looked like wooden balls. These comparisons are figures of speech called similes. You can also use metaphors, which are comparisons not clearly stated with the word like but are implied. Someone's marble white face, or glacially pale blue eyes.
You should also have your description show emotions. Many writer's argue about the show don't tell method. I think it's entirely up to you, but I prefer this way of writing because I'm able to paint a vivid picture for my reader. Such as, telling - he was happy; showing - his face broke into a wide grin. Telling - he was mad; showing - he pounded his fist into the table.
Now try to shape your thoughts to express what your character's description will be by asking three simple questions: What is the person's characteristic? Review your notes and decide if this character has a positive approach to life, or maybe their particularly plucky. Then if this character is well-groomed they will more than likely speak and act in a tidy manner. Sometimes they can be a mixture of things to add more dimension to their personality. Anything you can add to create your character so that your reader will feel as though they're sitting with them in the room.In what setting can you best visualize the person? Add a backdrop to the overall picture. Think of activities that your character would take part in, such as in the office, kitchen, or garden.Where are you - the writer? Will you be in the picture? Your character may be more intriguing if you add some of your own feelings, or you can describe them as an observer. If you choose to write from your own feelings, you might say - Joan always impressed me with her sense of humor, whereas, writing as an observer you could say - Joan was known for her sense of humor. I hope this can shed a little insight to help you develop your writer's eye and get you motivated to create amazing characters. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please do so in the comment section. I'd love to hear from you.
Remember...keep on writing!
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