by Marie Wells Coutu, @mwcoutu
Writers see the world differently. And we have the privilege of describing it so our readers can see what we see. And sometimes, even we are surprised by what we discover.
For example, a friend told me recently about a bush in her yard. Weeds had grown up and intertwined with the planted shrub. She couldn’t pull the weeds without disturbing the bush’s roots. But, after several weeks, she was delighted to find among the leaves what she calls a “beautyberry.” What she thought was a weed had produced pretty purple berries.
As writers, we can find “beautyberries” in the least likely places. J.R.R. Tolkien found “Middle Earth” for his famed Lord of the Rings series in his own childhood. An Amazon Prime documentary, “The Real Middle Earth,” describes how the English countryside inspired the settings for the Shire. The author even adapted place names and people to use as locations and characters in the books. He also pulled from his experiences in World War I to create the evil and treacherous scenes of Mordor.
One Tolkien expert says, “Finding [sic] the Shire—it’s around you. You just need to know where to look, and how to look, perhaps.”
Knowing “how to look” is a valuable skill for writers. When traveling, or even when going about your daily life, awareness of your surroundings can provide ideas and deepen your stories.
So how do you, as a writer, “look”? And how can you incorporate your experiences into your fiction? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Observe silently. Psychologists recommend observing silently to gain insight into people’s behavior and motivations. Observe without judgment, putting aside any preconceived notions.
2. Use all five of your senses. According to Brittanica.com, “Light is a primary tool for perceiving the world and communicating within it.” If you’ve traveled to other latitudes, you know that colors and light can vary. Scientists also say that scent plays a key role in memories and emotions. Smells evoke home or happy memories in some cases; other odors repel or sicken. Sounds—whether human voices, type of music, or ambient noise—affect the mood of a place or a person in that place. Deftly incorporating all five senses into your scenes can enhance your ability to influence your readers’ emotions.
3. Be aware of the tone or feeling of a location. For instance, a small town may feel warm and friendly or cold and suspicious. A mountainous area can beckon exploration or provide a foreboding and dangerous warning. Consider the scenery, the attitudes of the people, the history of a place. Author Tricia Goyer says, “The place of your novel includes the physical location, but it also includes the attitudes of the people of the region as a group and as individuals.” [How to Research {Place} For Your Novel – Tricia Goyer]
4. Take notes and photographs. Record the sounds around you. Use those notes, photos, and recordings to jog your memory when you’re ready to write a scene that conveys a similar mood.
5. Pay attention. The more attention you pay, the more realistic and moving your stories become. A former creative director for Vogue Magazine said, “Always keep your eyes open. Keep watching. Because whatever you see can inspire you.”
If you’re a writer, you’re also an observer. What you see and describe will reveal not only the obvious, physical world, but also the unseen. Vivid writing allows readers to apply their own experiences to the stories you write.
And those are the books that connect with and influence readers.
Finalist, 2018 National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Awards
Semi-Finalist, 2018 Royal Palm Literary Awards
Truth is messy. But will their shared secret destroy his political career—or sabotage their marriage?
After a whirlwind romance, beautiful Shawna Moore marries Hunter Wilson, the governor of Tennessee. Now, she wonders if the governor ever loved her or only hoped to avoid a scandal.
In this modern re-imagining of the biblical story of Bathsheba and King David, an investigative reporter is asking questions—the wedding took place only six weeks following the death of Shawna’s first husband in Iraq. If he discovers the truth about Shawna’s baby, Hunter’s chances for reelection, as well as Shawna’s reputation, will be ruined.
But keeping their secret is destroying their marriage.
Will Hunter’s choice mean the end of his political career or his family?
Multi-award-winning author Marie Wells Coutu finds beauty in surprising places, like undiscovered treasures, old houses, and gnarly trees. Marie began making up stories soon after she learned to talk. At age seven, she convinced neighborhood kids to perform a play she had written. After a career writing for newspapers, magazines, state and local governments, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, she returned to her first love—writing fiction—at the age of fifty-five. All three books in her Mended Vessels series, contemporary stories based on the lives of biblical women, have won awards in multiple contests. Her historical short story, “All That Glitters,” is included in the 2023 Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction collection. She is currently working on historical romances set in her native western Kentucky in the 1930s and ‘40s. You can find more about Marie and get a free short story by signing up for her newsletter at http://mariewellscoutu.com/.