You’re writing a scene set in a hot part of Texas, which, admittedly, is most of the state. The sun is rising. Your character is looking into the sun over the tops of cacti and succulents.
What does your character see? Envision it in your head. Does he see a prickly pear cactus, hundreds of needles sticking up like a green porcupine? Does she see a tall succulent, almost the size of a tree? What is its trunk like? Smooth, criss-crossed? Does it have leaves like a palm tree? Or spine needles like a cactus?
In a way, all of this is a trick. If your character is looking into the sun, he’s not gonna be able to see much detail of anything. Here is the view I have from my office window each morning as the sun rises.
On the other hand, it’s not a trick at all. It’s a reminder that the details are important. Even if the main detail is the lack of details in what the character can see.
Nice pic and nice post. BTW, Arizona has two areas that aren't always hot hot hot. Around the Flagstaff area they ski and get snow. I don't know the elevation, but in the White Mts along the shared border with New Mexico the elevations can be over 7000 feet. And it's lovely in August, warm in the AM, but rainy in the afternoon, pine spruce and aspen. And horses...
ReplyDeleteGood point. These subtle things are what make a good book have that extra something that the reader often can't pinpoint but the story just seems so believable.
ReplyDeleteThe Old Silly From Free Spirit Blog
We're hitting a hundred this week, so that sounds very nice, Gay. I like Arizona, but to tell the truth, I had not associated pine, spruce, and aspen with NM!
ReplyDeleteIt's always the little things that can make a book, isn't it Marvin!
Yes, it is a good point. I once lived on California's high desert with Joshua trees, which are cactus trees. For months I found them fascinating but after a while they kind of faded into the background and I took them for granted.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that writing does is make the writer focus on things, especially the details - those things that we take for granted.
ReplyDeleteIt's all in the details! I wonder though how many writers go to the regions they write about (if they pick some place exotic, ie different from where they are familiar with) to get the feel right or just rely on photos and text?
ReplyDeletehttp://panhistoria.wordpress.com
Guess it depends on the writer's budget. Or if they are depending on memory or still live in the are they're writing about. I try not to write about an area I'm not familiar with. Even then, I try to visit.
ReplyDeleteI like to know something about the area as well, usually due to a visit or stay at some point. My fourth YA book is set almost entirely in Albuquerque - and it helped that I lived there four years!
ReplyDeleteL. Diane Wolfe
www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com
www.spunkonastick.net
www.thecircleoffriends.net
Ah right up my alley, as I live in desert territory myself. Gorgeous pic!
ReplyDelete--Lisa
http://authorlisalogan.blogspot.com
Good points--what does your character see and the little things add flavor.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to live there but I sure like visiting and I love early morning or late afternoon. And the silver moon cast an sheen of beauty on the scene too.
Early mornings are great. In the summer, in central TX, people tend to stay indoors or in the water.
ReplyDeleteLee Child's book Echo Burning takes place in west Texas. He was awesome describing just how hot that part of Texas can be in the dead of summer. The elements were actually a supporting character in the story.
ReplyDelete- Steve Tremp
http://stephentremp.blogspot.com/
Thanks Stephen. You're right about Lee Child's book. I'd forgotten about Echo Burning.
ReplyDeleteOooh, that photo brought back a lot of memories of me living in Tucson. I could almost taste the early morning air, cool, but with the dust of the heat to come.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to imagine because from my window, I can only see more houses. I do hear neighbours talk on the phone a lot. Maybe that will be a good thing to note down for my next story.
ReplyDeleteIn Quest of Theta Magic
Hi, I came to you from Conda's blog. My first visit. An interesting blog. Shall come back.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Dave!
ReplyDeleteOoh, Enid, you most definitely need to use that in an upcoming plot.
Good point on how it's the writer's job to bring out the details. Conversely, the photo reminds me that it's also good to leave out excessive detail. Many of the books I read these days are so much longer than they need to be because they are chock full off long unnecessary detail. If it doesn't advance the plot, or help flesh out the character, I think it's best to leave it out. Can still make for a striking (mental) picture.
ReplyDelete~jon
I know what you mean, Jon. Loooonng descriptions or long explanations of technical things make me skip right over it all.
ReplyDelete