19. I spy …

Sometimes the easiest way to start writing is not to try to ‘think something up’ but simply to ‘write something down’—and what better place to start than with what is right in front of your eyes?

My story ‘The bad ant’ is based on observation. I was outside one day with my notebook and pen and observed an ant going about its business (going up a blade of grass and down a blade of grass, etc.) and just wrote about what it was doing.

‘The Bad Ant’ from The Bad Book

Of course, the bit about the bad ant visiting Las Vegas, winning a million dollars and buying a red sports car and then running over an old lady was completely made up, but, hey, I had to do something to get the party started.

The point is that none of it would have happened if I hadn’t had my notebook and my eyes open.

Another story of mine based on observation is ‘All the things I learned on the museum excursion last Tuesday’. This is based on two trips I made to the Melbourne Museum … not to observe the exhibits but to observe school students interacting—or not interacting—with the exhibits.

The first thing I noticed is that kids really like pushing buttons!

I saw a boy walking around still wearing the 3-D theatre glasses, much to the amusement of his friends.

I overheard a teacher saying to her students outside the human body exhibit, ‘Now, I expect a level of maturity here.’

(I don’t think she got it!)

Though the story is based on observation, I must admit that I may have exaggerated some elements. For example, on the whole the museum guards seemed very friendly and helpful and I did not see any of them carrying weapons, let alone threatening to shoot anybody.

Just Doomed!

The thing is, when you write a story it doesn’t have to be the same as real life … which is a large part of the fun of writing stories!

TRY THIS

I can see …

Write about what you can see right in front of your eyes. Whether it’s your bedroom, a classroom, a garden, a busy street, a train carriage or even a quiet beach, all you have to do is start with the words ‘I can see’ and then write down what you see. Even if you think it’s all too ordinary and obvious to be bothered writing about, write it down anyway. Some of the best writing is full of ordinary and obvious detail that everybody else is too busy to notice.

… OR THIS

Study something in super close-up detail

Brush up your observational skills. Look at something closely and try to describe it in as much detail as you possibly can.

Alternatively, you can make a close-up drawing. The idea is to look … really look … and notice.

Things to look at closely:

•  A rock

•  Your finger

•  A leaf

•  The carpet

•  A flower

•  A shoe

•  The inside of a dog/cat’s mouth

•  The back of your hand