Observation: The Secret Weapon of Successful Storytellers

Last week we were swimming in fairly murky conditions, when a vast eagle ray swept by a couple of metres beneath us. I didn’t see him. Once he was pointed out, though, my eyes adjusted. Where, a moment before, I had seen only cloudy water and waving kelp, I could now see his wings, his whip-like tail and his projecting snout.

We followed him for quite a way, swooping and diving above and in his wake. I didn’t have my camera, so I can’t share him with you, but that experience is one that I’ll carry with me forever.

On a later swim, we spotted a biscuit skate resting on the seabed. Again, I wasn’t the first to spot him, but I did dive down to get a shot of him. He’s a little enhanced, so that he’s easier for you to see. Skates and rays, so well camouflaged, are particularly difficult to make out.

The art of active observation

I’ve learnt to spot other creatures, and this too will come with practice. It’s a matter of observing actively – training your eyes to see what is before them. It’s the same with life, generally, and it’s one of the most important skills you can learn.

We all think we notice people and events, but most of us don’t. We’ve become inured to the way we live and interact. We take it all for granted. You need to adjust your eyes and spot the eagle ray flapping just beyond your eyeline.

Notice the way people speak to each other, the things they say, the way they seek love, friendship or companionship. Here lie the details and vignettes that carry us into a time and place in history, and show us the universal concerns of humanity.

Standing on the outside, looking in

Last week, an old friend said to me: ‘Ah, I’ve just realised, that’s why your writing of people is so closely observed.’ I must explain that I am (and was more obviously, in my youth) on the autism spectrum. My early school reports say I was always to be found on the outside looking in. But, before I reached high school, I vowed that I would never again be so isolated and bullied. In future, I would have friends.

I set out to learn: I watched people closely, the way they behaved with each other, and when they thought no one was looking. I watched very deliberately and taught myself – until I could fit in, tolerably enough.

As an exercise, try approaching your daily life, and the place you live, as though you were learning to fit in, like me. Once you accept that you wish to be a writer, you will forever stand slightly apart from life and the people around you, even those closest to you.

Transforming observation into story

A book doesn’t simply consist of plot, or even character. You want to spirit your readers into another world: make them see, hear, feel and smell the people and places you’re showing them.

Rather than the underwater camera, your tools are words. It’s not as easy as it seems. It’s a practice you will need to continue throughout your writing career: forcing yourself to observe, then finding the strong, specific nouns and verbs, and the imagery, to transport your reader.

Don’t forget, too, that your own life, and those of the people around you, are rich with story potential. You don’t have to experience shocking events or travel to exotic locations. A ‘small’ life doesn’t make for a small story. Jane Austen’s tales of manners and men, and how they impinge upon the lives of women, give us greater insight into the human condition.

There are stories everywhere, and often the most compelling are those which are closest to home.

FREE WEBINAR: The Writer’s Eye – Mastering the Art of Observation​

Join Richard and me for a conversation about how writers can develop their observational skills to enhance their storytelling.

When: Monday 14 April 17:00 BST | 18:00 SAST

Where: Zoom

Nurture your creativity: Escape to write

We all need time away to focus on our writing – a chance to step back from daily life and give our creative selves the attention they deserve. We’re delighted we can offer you several opportunities to do just that, in settings that will inspire and rejuvenate you.

In June, Richard will host our seventh writing weekend in the charming Cotswold market town of Stow-on-the-Wold (6-8 June). July brings a cosy Karoo week in Barrydale (6-11 July), preceded by our special memoir weekend (4-6 July). I’ll be running these with Joanne Hichens at the gorgeous Karoo Art Hotel. And our flagship Venice retreat – now in its ninth year – runs from 1-15 October, with options to join for either one or two weeks in our 16th century palazzo. We’ve just had two cancellations for Venice so please let Trish know asap if you’re interested.

Each retreat offers daily one-on-one mentoring, structured writing time, and the comfort of knowing that, for once, someone else is taking care of your needs – both creative and physical. As a past participant said, “It’s pleasurable, but not without purpose.” I promise you’ll be safe in our hands as you embark on this constructive adventure. If you’d like to discuss your project, and how we can help you on one of the retreats, please email me. I’d be happy to chat.

Key takeaways – Observation: The Secret Weapon of Successful Storytellers

• It’s a matter of observing actively – training your eyes to see what is before them.
• Notice the way people speak to each other, the things they say, the way they seek love, friendship or companionship.
• A book doesn’t simply consist of plot, or even character. You want to spirit your readers into another world.
• A ‘small’ life doesn’t make for a small story. There are stories everywhere, and often the most compelling are those which are closest to home.

Writers, like eagle rays, are often hiding in plain sight, observing life from a slight distance. Join us at our The Writer’s Eye – Mastering the Art of Observation webinar to develop this essential skill that will transform your storytelling.

Happy writing

Jo-Anne