Describing The Feel Of A Town

Describing the Feel of a Town

You’ve got your main character.  You’ve got your plot.  You’ve got a lot of things figured out.

But how the heck are you supposed to get the reader to understand the atmosphere of the town your character comes from?

It can take practice.  Consider your own hometown.  Plop yourself down in the middle of your hometown, watch for a second, and then start writing about it.  Talk about the buildings; how do they come across?  Are they austere and reflect the nature of the people?  Or are the people very friendly despite the buildings’ appearances?  Is it a busy street?  Are lawns well kept?  Make sure you mix it with the general attitude of the people living in the town. And add your perspective of the town.  If you like it, your description of the town is going to appear favorable.  If you dislike it, it will be portrayed in a negative light.

Sound confusing?  Don’t worry.  I’ll give some of my own examples.

From one point of view:

“Miles from the closest city, A— town sat out in the middle of nowhere.  The nearest neighbor was always on the other side of a line trees, leading to quiet evenings without a care for what the neighbor was up to.  Lawns were kept only half mown; only businesses near the center of town made sure they looked presentable.  The general store on the corner of the town’s one busy road served as the local haunt for the entire town. If there was a story to be told, it would first be told there.“

Same town, different view:

“A—- was miles from civilization.  Even the closest neighbor was so far away that a battle with eighteenth century canons could take place on the front lawn and no one would hear the racket.  People let their yards become so overgrown that children could easily get lost among the grass.  Only the center of town where the businesses were kept up any semblance of a good appearance, but it said nothing of the treatment strangers would get inside.  The general store in particular was the worst of the culprits.  It certainly had that unique, old town feel, and if you were from the area, you were greeted like an old friend.  But if the people didn’t know your name, it was clear they didn’t want much to do with you.”

When you’ve written your description of your town, take that description and try writing it from a different perspective.  Don’t like your town?  Write about it through the eyes of someone who likes it.  Like your town?  Write about it through the eyes of someone wanting to leave.  And try to make it sound genuine; not as though you were mocking someone with an opposing viewpoint.

Try this with nearby towns too.  Towns and cities where you’re familiar with, and you know the culture of, or the general attitude of the people living there.

Also, carefully read how other authors describe their characters’ hometowns.  One example that comes to mind is how Rowling describes Privet Drive in Harry Potter.  She describes it as being pristine and orderly, but paints it in a way to make it obvious to the reader that most, if not all, of the residences have an air of being stuck up.

Now, I have been using towns and cities as the example, but like in the Harry Potter example, sometimes a street holds a different attitude than the rest of the town.  My examples are drawn from smaller town experience, where the community is a little more connected beyond just a street or drive.  However, this is not always the case, and you should take this into consideration as you create your character’s hometown.  Maybe your character’s side of town is drastically different than the other side of town.

Remember, this is something that might take you some practice.  But have fun with it.  Give your description some personality.

How People Watching Improves Your Writing

Sensory detail. 

When I was fourteen or fifteen, I liked to draw. I’d look up internet tutorials on how to draw the human figure, and nearly all of them suggested going outside and sketching anyone who goes by. Not only was this relaxing, but I noticed my art style become more realistic over time. I think we can apply similar concepts as writers to improve sensory description. 

How to practice: Try writing down specific details about the people you see. How is their walking gait? What does their voice sound like? What quirks about them stand out as you observe them? Write down descriptions using all of the senses (except maybe taste) and, over time, you’ll notice your words become more lively.

Observation.

You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to benefit from observation skills. Writing stories is all about noticing connections and seeing the extraordinary in ordinary life. People watching can boost your ability to notice little details and recognize them as important, and it can help you sense patterns more easily.

How to practice: In this case, remember once again that you are not Sherlock Holmes. Don’t assume that you know a person’s life story based on what socks they’re wearing (and definitely don’t try making such assumptions with friends or family). 

Try to take in people who pass by and the small, unique details about them. Notice how they’re interacting with other people and the world around them. Think about why that might be and write down any thoughts or connections that interest you.

Freewriting. 

Writing first drafts can paralyze anyone. We all know that getting the words out is the first, most important step, but that can feel like torture sometimes. If you’re a hesitant writer, freewriting can help you feel less self-conscious when writing and jot down thoughts or impressions as they come. Other exercises can help you with editing later on, but you can’t get there unless you freewrite.

How to practice: Write down anything that strikes you without worrying whether it’s important or you’ll use it later. I like to focus on one person per minute and during that time, write anything that I find interesting. Once the sixty seconds are up, I move onto another person and continue that cycle as long as I want to keep going. With time, you’ll get faster and may notice that words come more easily.

Creativity. 

In the book Stargirl, one of my favorite parts is when Stargirl and Leo go to the park and play a game where they make up stories about the strangers they pass. As they connect together little observations, they create vivid backstories that may not necessarily be true, but that’s not the point. What matters is stretching their minds.

How to practice: Play this game for yourself. Pick a person at random and, piecing together little details you notice about them, give them a backstory. What are they doing, and where are they going (both right now and in the long-term)? Why are they hurrying so quickly to wherever they’re going or walking almost aimlessly along? Don’t worry about getting it “right” so much as creating an interesting story for this person.

Empathy. 

Developing empathy as a writer is so important, though not often talked about. If you can put yourself in the shoes of another person and consider what complexities, challenges, and little joys life holds for them, you will create emotionally powerful pieces. People watching helps train your eye to notice those around you more and remember that yours is not the only voice in the world.

How to practice: Remember the definition of the word “sonder:” the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. Look for those complexities. Notice relationships. Notice facial expressions and emotions. Don’t just look at them but see them, and write down what strikes you about them.

This post never fails to break my heart. I pick up trash when I go to the beach, I intend to start going every day after work in the summer to continue. The ocean and the animals surround it, inside it, are important to our ecosystems. They deserve life, not death.

Short comic, while I work on something bigger on the side. It is nevertheless a very important topic. A lot of seabirds die because they eat plastic. They feed their chicks with the waste. It’s really tragic.

I went from blonde balayage to bright red hair like twelve hours before I had to go to my conservative family members house for Thanksgiving dinner.  Watch this become a habit of “What color will she do now!” before any major holiday. When my hair is long enough, I’ve already got three picked out.

reblog this and tell me the last major change you made to your hair and when it was, I wanna know