Rude? Normally,
yes.
Eavesdropping is
never in vogue, unless of course you’re a writer.
Being a writer
gives you creative license to eavesdrop, discreetly.
Eavesdropping
involves observing, listening and perhaps inhaling details, without being
obnoxious.
The Canadian
Oxford Dictionary describes
eavesdropping as the act of listening secretly “to a private conversation”.
In public
buildings, on buses, on the street ... any venue could provide inspiration.
It may be a conversation
you’re in or one you’re listening to ...
What’s he
saying? Something about
a pig crossing a road, and before he knew what was happening, he hit it with his truck, his beautiful yellow
truck.
Observe the
incredulous expression on the face of the man to whom he’s telling this sordid
tale. There’s an initial look of disbelief, eyebrows raised and then lowered as
polite conventionality prevails and overtures of sympathy are made over the
damages to his friend’s truck.
But, as the
absurdity sinks in, a snicker escapes from the man’s lips.
“Unbelievable” he
says, finally, shaking his head. In the Yukon ... miles from anywhere ... you
hit a pig.” The man lowers
his head to hide a smirk. Then his shoulders begin shaking. He covers his
mouth, but it escapes—a chuckle becomes laughter and spreads to his belly,
which is shaking, as well. And, in a matter of minutes, the two of them are
laughing so hard that stares are inevitable.
Others join in, not
knowing why it is they’re laughing, but unable to stop, all the same.
Realizing that they
have drawn the attention of nearly everyone nearby, the men sit up straight,
take a dignified sip of coffee, then chuckle spontaneously, involuntarily, and
it begins again until they surrender to the sidesplitting laughter ... so rare
to see such a thing between two men in a public place.
You were
laughing, too.
Well, it might seem
a rather far-fetched example of a starter, but such a thing could happen
(right, Jason?).
Try carrying a
small notebook and jotting down notes in an inconspicuous manner, like you’re
really minding your own business. You’ll gain some wonderful starters.
I’m not advocating
an insensitive approach where you eavesdrop, then immortalize the intimate
details of someone’s life. You must choose carefully and sensitively what you
will write about.
It may help to
remember, as you revel in writing, that it’s all for the reader.
Fiction must
contain believable elements; and it is in the showing, not the telling, that
the reader is caught up in a story. The writer must “disappear” for a story to
have a life of its own.
Hooks are wonderful
starters, as well, and can be found everywhere: in conversations, in
newspapers, in activity, in your imagination, in music ... If you would like a
copy of the clinic on hooks, please e-mail me and I’ll send it.
The editor of
What’s Up Yukon, Darrell Hookey, suggested that, while interviewing, writers
draw a line down one side of their paper, creating a margin in which to jot
rich descriptive details about setting — anything to show rather than tell the
reader.
This practice can
be a starter, as well. Whenever you have a few minutes, stop what you’re doing
and jot down what you see, describing it in as much detail as possible. What
are you looking at? How can you describe it so it puts the reader where you
are? What colour is it? What does it smell like? taste like? sound like? What
can you liken it to? Direct metaphors (he was a bear) and similes, which use
“like” or “as” to compare (like a cat pouncing on a mouse), are powerful writing
tools. They create word pictures. They put the reader into your story.
Finally, I would
like to talk about something in writing that is known simply as the “muse”.
It’s rather
mysterious, the “muse”, which sometimes finds us; but more often than not, it
plays hide-or-seek and waits for us to find it.
The term “muse”
comes from Greek and Roman mythology and pays homage to goddesses, the
daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne whose presence evoked adoration and
inspiration.
But, don’t wait for
the “muse”. Don’t wait for inspiration. If your muse finds you; well then,
wonderful. But, truth be told, the muse is a bit of a tease and flirtatious,
often playing “hard to get”.
Bottom line: Find
your “muse”. Go after it. It’s part adventure, part discipline, as writing is
part inspiration, part skill.
There are starters
everywhere, in common places and where you least expect them.
Check out this
site: www.squidoo.com/resourcesforwriters