Writing Journal: Finding Detail

I’m reading along, enjoying a book, the description, the dialogue, the plot, then the writer does something that grabs me viscerally, snags my gut, or heart, or the base of my throat…Then,  he/she does it again and again, until I’m there in that scene.

That writer has me…for as long as he keeps writing, if he never forgets that one thing: Detail.

Small, perfect details that crack open a scene or emotion. Details that have me whispering to myself, yes, that’s real, that’s exactly what that feels like, looks like, is. I know that, I’ve felt that, I’ve heard, smelled, tasted that, exactly. Or, I’ve never felt that, tasted that, smelled that, but now I know what it’s like and I’ve lived this other life.

Isn’t that why we read?

However, details can be hard to come by. I know. I’ve been trying to get the little details into my current book as I rewrite because there are places that feel flat. But how do I go about finding details about the old west when my life and experience is far from that? Oh, I can imagine, but I need to know, but that isn’t enough.

How do I turn my observations into enough, the just right ones? What details can I truly research? What do I have to find out for myself?

What I’ve figured out is I wish I’d done a better job of keeping my writer’s journal. There are good reasons why I didn’t, but now, I need to pull out faded memories in search of details from those busy years when my boys were small. When I was dragging them to museums, nature workshops, scouting events and I need to pluck those memories from moments I was just trying to keep track of three boys, keep peace, keep sane.

Research helps, but only so much, so re-experience has become the best I can do. Even then, the writer’s journal is crucial, because some details are so fleeting. Sometimes observations go by too quickly, my notes too vague and general. Being specific when you are moving through an experience is difficult. I’ve found that’s ok, if you write briefly and include a list of observations and quick impressions.

I’ve had to teach myself to do this and often, the way I do it in my journal is with haiku and lists. I remind myself to pay attention, think small. Think specific. Think specific to what the POV character experiences, notices. 

So, I'm trying to use my journal. To write in it every day. I'm trying to spend more time noticing the little things in my day. I'm looking, feeling, smelling...living with attention.