 Noticing Newbies: February 01, 2017 Issue [#8111] |
  Noticing Newbies
This week: People watching. Edited by: ~ Santa Sisco ~  
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Hello, everyone. I am ~ Santa Sisco ~ . I'm one of the four permanent editors of the Noticing Newbies newsletter.
My aim is to ensure you have a smooth transition into the site. I still remember my first day here. "Bitem?" Do I have to be a computer programmer to put my writing on here?  Forty-eight hours later, I realized it was a case of easy when you know how!. My biggest mistake when I joined was that I didn't take the time to read the "Writing.Com 101" . I was excited and wanted to do everything the same day. Sound familiar? 
You will see my contributions every four weeks and I hope they help you with using this great site.
My fellow permanent editors are Tornado Dodger  , ember_rain, and Sara♥Jean . |
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Many years ago, I read about making characters seem realistic in stories. The article talked about people watching and making notes.
I started to take a notebook with me every time I went into town and making notes about anything I observed. I did feel uneasy for the first few weeks but learned to just accept it as a regular part of my day. Now, I make a point of going to my favorite café once per week just to make some observations. (I also get a lovely meal and cup of coffee.) 
What do I look for while doing my observations?
Property: What have they brought in with them? Where do they place things like bags, walking sticks, crutches, children's buggies, or where they put their hats. Do they put their phone on the table, or keep taking it out of their pocket and putting it back? Have they got glasses to read the menu? Where are they kept? Is there anything else in their glasses case? Can you see how these small observations could be used in a story?
Mannerisms: This covers anything from someone tapping their fingers annoyingly on the table to the way some patrons have a ritual of what they do as they arrive and when they leave. I watched, “The Equalizer” starring Denzel Washington at the weekend. There is a scene in a café where Denzel performs a small ritual before he receives his order. He also had a couple of items he took to the café, including a book to read. All I could think at the time was, the screenwriter is a people watcher like me! However, It did make the character seem more real.
Dialogue: Another thing to do, which is probably best done while around people you know, is to note any unusual phrases or anything else that stands out in a conversation. People do not speak in the same way we would write a sentence, but as writers, we have to make dialogue real, and in a way our readers will comprehend. When he addresses anyone of inferior rank, one of my characters uses the phrase, “My dear boy.” I picked this phrase up from someone I knew in the military, and it seems to fit his persona. Just be extremely careful when listening to anyone's conversation! You can also pick out things you hear on TV, especially interviews and documentaries. Note how words get stuck when someone is excited or nervous. Breathing abnormalities, the use of errr, or any other delaying tactic while looking for an answer. Remember, the truth is a memory and easier to talk about, and a lie requires imagination and time to construct through the thought process.
Finally, I will always observe people walking about town. The different speeds, arm movements, head movement, or the use of a wheelchair or mobility scooter. If you watch five people walking down the pavement (sidewalk), unless they are marching, you will see they all have different styles of walking.
Your characters should all have some of the above. As a reader, I know what characters mannerisms make me believe they are real. As a writer, I try to make my characters feel like you know them, or someone similar; maybe a family member, friend, or someone from work or school.
I have done surveillance and intelligence work and trained in interviewing techniques. Observations come easily to me. However, people watching opens up a plethora of material to use in writing and can be done by anyone. See if you can observe something the next time you are out and use it in your next story or rewrite. It’s a great feeling when someone reads your story and says, “That character seems real and believable. Are they based on someone you know?”
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