It’s a Friday afternoon right now and it’s unreasonably sunny for March. Just yesterday it was snowing and cold. I think Mother Nature is having a fit of mood swings. And as for me, I’m standing in line at a Starbucks.
As I wait, I notice that the woman in front of me has her hair up like mine and I can’t help but wonder what sort of hair tie she uses.
The couple in front of the line have ugly shoes on and seem to take great care with their order, as if they’ve never been at a Starbucks before.
The cashier has too much self tanner on and reminds me of the star of the movie Bridesmaids except she doesn’t look like she’d be funny.
I’m almost to the front of the line and stare at the CDs near me. I wonder if this is where music goes to die.
I’ve made my order as I wait for my drink I notice two men sitting at a table and one holds a book with the title, “A Small Business Bible.” He looks like he is conning the other man, who stares at him with great awe and admiration.
As I grab my drink, I see a young guy sitting at a table all on his own, listening to music, with a criminal justice textbook near him, but I don’t think he’s studying at all. He keeps looking around at the people coming in and out of Starbucks, bobbing his head up and down to the beat.
Meanwhile, a girl sits by the guy studying criminal justice and sits in a such a proper and poised way that only reveals her wish that he would talk to her.
I love it. I just found you, and want to include your site into a list on my resources page/tab, because I think a lot of what you've said already has been rock-the-house-awesome.
I'm a writer also doing a similar thing with my blog, as far as documenting my journey of writing/publishing, because I think there's so many of us out there doing feeling these same struggles and wondering similar things. You're about a year ahead of me, by the looks of your archive, so I'm really appreciating that you're forging the path.
I read your last post, where you say you contemplated deleting this blog and I literally gasped. I'm so glad you didn't.
Even if you are changing direction, you've put so much work into this for helping others, please don't delete what you've done. By all means change what you're doing with it now, and definitely make it fun for you to do again (this current post was an excellent example of that, at least it was fun from a reader's standpoint), but I'm really looking forward to going through all your older posts.
My…aren't we the observant one! No wonder your a writer. 🙂
Thanks DB – I'm glad I didn't get rid of my blog either. And I can't completely say I'll quit writing about writing, but over the past year-ish I've been blogging that's all I've written about, and I'm hoping to seek out a focus that would take me away from being so self-critical. And I still will probably post things like Writer's Toolbox stuff and inspiration posts as they come to me! But, I'm looking forward to some changes and over the next few days I'm trying out some approaches and I'm looking forward to seeing where they go and how they can draw some readers. I just followed your blog by the way! 🙂 And I'm so glad that you have discovered mine!! 🙂
@DL – Thanks!! Maybe a little stalker-esque at times, but I'm definitely observant! 🙂
…oops and how they also engage my CURRENT readers most especially (I didn't want to sound greedy and numbers hungry…heheheh…) I think you all will have fun with some of my posts that are coming up. At least I hope so! 🙂
Like this Nicole! I would say yes, maybe it's time to stop writing about writing and use your blog to DO the real work of your creative writing. I mean, if writing is what you want to do….:))
I know huh! I'm really hoping this turns out to be a great new turn for my blog!
OH MY GOSH ARE WE TWINS?!
Sorry for yelling, but I notice these exact things everytime I go to Starbucks 😀
Oh I'm glad to know I'm not the only one!! Its so cool to see the variety of humanity in a coffee shop!
I like it, it would have taken me longer to find the right photos than it would have to write a 1000 words.
It did actually! It took me way long to find just the right photo! 🙂
This was great, Nicole! I do the same thing, where ever I am. (especially if I'm waiting in line) I can't help but observe and wonder about every person that is around me. Every one of them fascinate me! Very creative post!
Thank you! I love doing it in line too, a great time passer!
Interesting how there's a story just about everywhere. Great observations.
Thanks Kelly!
It's interesting what you notice if you just stop for a second and open your eyes to the things around you isn't it – everyone has a story! Great post! x
Thanks Scarlett! Everyone really does have their own story to tell!
Amazing. You are so funny. I just found you through the Hop Along Friday. I've read through a few of your posts and love your voice.
Just amazing. Consider me your newest fan.
Glad you found me!! I'm checking our your blog now!
Nicole, it is indeed a very good talent to stop and look at people and observe how they dress, gesture, sit, speak and the whole environment. If writers are observant, they will find it will help them improve in their writing. Of course, one doesn't want to stare intensely at people; that could create creepy problems. But we should all take more notice. Nicole, I like your descriptions, esp the last one about the girl sitting there wishing the guy would talk to her. So much description in stories can be written/noticed rather than spoken. Take care!
Very true! The best type of descriptions are shown in the characters that you have around you!
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A people watcher!! I do this sometimes–but only when my kids aren't with me. I conjure up a ton of stories in my head when I do so.
Great post!!
Cheers, Jenn
http://www.wine-n-chat.com
Thanks!! I tend do it best when I'm somewhere really crowded and I'm by myself!