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| copyright Zan Marie Steadham 1977 |
An example of one such small detail is a wedding ring. I haven't been able to wear my wedding ring for over ten years due to over-active nerves that is a side effect of my Fibromyalgia. Since I started taking a new medicine for it, I'm less achy and find that I can wear my wedding ring for at least a few hours instead of a few minutes.
Once I discovered this happy side effect, I realized that the scene I'm working on was missing something--Laura Grace's wedding ring. In the scene, Laura Grace has just suffered a mild heart attack and after an ambulance ride to the ER and being admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit, she realizes that she isn't wearing the wedding rings she's worn for over forty years. Including that little detail makes the scene more real and reveals that she was a devoted wife and as a widow hasn't forgotten her husband.
I rubbed my face trying to dig up some semblance of alertness. Jerking my hand away, I stared at it. "Where are my wedding rings?"
Another such detail is the fact that Laura Grace is nearsighted and can't read the clock she can see as a blur on the hospital room wall. She can hear the tiny clicks of the second hand, but can't tell the time. That makes her distinctly uncomfortable while revealing her need for glasses. Here's a sample.
How long had I been here? I knew I was in a cardiac care ICU room, but without my glasses, I couldn’t read the blur of a clock that floated on the wall in front of me. I could hear the seconds hand’s movement, tiny click by tiny click.
How do you include the tiniest of telling details that open the window into your characters?
What detail have you included that comes from you life experience?
Very true, those little details are what brings the scene to life. Since my WIP is heavy on setting I've tried to add bits and pieces of the sight and smell of the ocean.
ReplyDeleteYou do a good job with that, Sara. Cherry Hill is normal small town Georgia, with a lot of cherry trees thrown in. I'll have to watch how many times I mention them not to overload my reader.
DeleteIt's the little things that speaks volumes. The detail of the missing wedding ring tells how devoted she is without saying it.
ReplyDeleteLittle impressions like comparing what she knows, and the senses draw a reader in. I use it all the time.
Jo, it's taken me a long time to learn this little trick of detail telling about character. I love it!
DeleteGreat examples As you said, the little things really make a character come alive.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lara!
DeleteI love how little things in real life remind us to insert wee details into our stories. Like the day I discovered that Austin can't stand flour or powdered sugar or anything on his breads and buns.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little more conscious of these things now, and try to make sure while I'm editing to add little details to help guide the reader or set the scene.
Happy for you that you can wear your ring!
I did wear it for over 48 hours before I had to take it off. That's a huge thing! I guess that made it more poignant to me.
DeleteLittle things really make for showing writing, and the more we can judiciously sprinkle it in is a skill we need.
Hi, Zan Marie,
ReplyDeleteSo true. It's the little details that add colour to the scenes we write. Most times, I get them in as observances from the viewpoint character.
You're correct, J. L. The POV character drives the choice of detail and the emotional impact of the detail.
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