As writers we're often exhorted to 'show not tell', but that old maxim can be deceiving. Certainly 'showing' is great, but we need to remember there's often more to showing than what our characters can see.
Imagine your character is walking down a hallway. Of course she can see the walls and any decor, but what about her other senses? Is there the faint aroma of furniture wax or perhaps a whiff of another woman's perfume? Is there the reminder of last night's fish dinner in the air, or does the heavy dust of a long-abandoned hallway cause her to sneeze? Or maybe that sneeze is because of her allergies; letting her know that a dog or cat is somewhere in the house.
So our character is walking along the hallway, but what does she hear? The creak of floorboards might be spooky or might tell her that her husband still hasn't gotten around to fixing the squeak in the floor. Maybe she hears a radio playing and she knows she didn't leave a radio on. Maybe she can hear the rattle of pans in the kitchen informing her that her beloved boyfriend is cooking her dinner.
Do her shoes sink into plush carpeting? Does she trip over a wayward toy left by a small child? Does she run her hand over the paneling in the hallway counting the grooves since the light has burnt out and the hallway is dark?
Don't forget taste as it can play a part as well. Does she just realize her gum has gone stale? Did she find a chilled martini waiting for her on a hall table? Or, were her taste buds readying themselves for dinner only for her nose to tell her nothing is cooking?
Sometimes walking down a hallway is just a way to get to another room. But sometimes, what our character experiences in that hallway can be the beginning of a whole new chapter.
Definitely -- also, be sure that your particular character would actually notice these things. A cop notices different things than a rancher.
ReplyDeleteTerry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Elspeth - What a wonderful reminder of how important it is describe all the senses, not just the visual. I think if there's one thing I have to work on, it's the sense of touch. Stucco is different from clapboard. Walking over sand feels different from walking in mud. The rest I can do if I think about it. Thanks for the reminder :-).
ReplyDeleteTerry; Of course. Who the character is and their mood at that particular moment is going to affect what they notice.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post. Yes, we need to remember all those things. I think when we're really in that character's head, we do. The trick is to use what fits the story and the mood and discard the rest. Sometimes I have problems with that trick :)
ReplyDeleteMargot; I think we only think about touch when it's an unexpected experience. For instance, if you saw a puddle of frozen mud and you walked over it unscathed you wouldn't give it a second thought about how it felt - unless you were watching your step because it was slippery. However, what if the mud you thought was frozen actually wasn't? Now there's a sensation you're going to take note of.
ReplyDeletearol; Thank you! If you find out the magic formula, do let me know. Sometimes less IS more.
ReplyDeleteI keep a sticky on my computer that says 'lose your mind and come to your senses' - it makes me keep my novel in the very present sensory full world! Or it does when I remember to look at it!;)
ReplyDeleteJan; I stand humbled in the awesomeness of your sticky. Wait. That might sound rude.
ReplyDeleteYes Elspeth and that walk down the hall can be a way to pull out your character as Terry has said. What she notices or not tells the reader a lot.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip regarding our character senses leading to the following chapter. Must incorporate regularly.
ReplyDeleteAll great reminders to incorporate the other senses!
ReplyDelete