Writing tip of the day 9/10/09

The writing tip for the day is to visit a bookstore (Barnes & Noble or Border) to read an interesting body of work (novel, magazine, writing, etc). I find bookstores to be most interesting because of the social gatherings there. This writing tip of the day will explore communication in a bookstore.

While reading a body of writing, listen to some various conversations - it's not eves-dropping in a critical sense. Try to detect whether the conversations are close relationships or onetime occurrences. Analyzing relationships, verbal communication, listening, and body language will help you write better. Why?

A screenwriter, novelist, and any other writer needs to describe people. They have to do so using visual cues that suggest a particular action. Screenwriters have to do more work analyzing character actions because they only have visuals, and some dialogue to work with in a script.

A screenwriter should avoid overusing sound in the action section. Including too much sound will push away from the main focus, influencing the direction of a script. Surely, action scripts have a ton of sound. But how can you reveal sounds without suggesting them?

In the action section, a writer can show an explosion using good description. Tell the reader what they're supposed to see in result of a particular action. If you want to mention that a tire falls off, the axle grinds on the cement, and the sparks ignite a gasoline sill, then you can imagine substitute sounds using action.

Scripts depend on invisible sounds, which allows a reader to imagine a sound. You also have the option to introduce sounds, but try to use alternate techniques to refrain from overusing sound.

What does all of the preceding information have to do with communication in a bookstore? Observing communication make writing more efficient. Jot down simple notes as if you're going to give a speech on communication in relationships.

During the writing process, reflect in the communication challenges, and relationships, which will switch your mind gears to accommodate character interaction. Having characters interact in such a way helps a writer determine close relationships versus onetime encounters.

Since some movie theaters are nearby bookstores, watch moviegoer couples interact with one another. If you have to, take notes in a little memo pad. The observation exercise assists one with identifying real-life communication in their simplest form.

Once you strengthen your ability to master communication in relationships, the new-found experience will lead you to writing multi-dimensional characters. Focus on listening, distractions, interruptions, and other aspects of communication to make a script, and or a story more realistic. A writer has to explore outside strategies to improve their writing techniques.

Purchasing writing books on how to improve writing, or listening to a lecture in what another writer does to write great stories may be somewhat useful, but going out there to experience real-life communication for yourself will do wonders for the writing process.

Remember to keep your distance. Every conservation has a proximity. As an observer, stay close enough to hear, but don't impose, or make it appear obvious you're listening to a conversation. Think of the exercise as a research study involving ways to improving communication in relationships - a communication study without subjects being aware of the occurrence. Thank you for reading the daily writing tip.

Have fun observing real-life communication.