#writingtipstuesday

# 8 Describe what your characters notice, not what’s there.

Most writing describes the setting as though it’s neutral. But the details your character chooses to notice say more than any description ever could.

🔹️Boring version:

The room was small and cluttered, with faded wallpaper and stacks of books.

🔹️Better version (a grieving character):

He didn’t sit. The chair across from him still had her scarf draped over the back.

🔹️Better version (a hungry character):

There were books, sure, but the half-eaten croissant on the windowsill had his full attention.

💬 Your character’s focus filters reality. Two people in the same room will describe it differently depending on their mood, needs, fears, or past.

This technique adds:

Subtext (what matters to them?)

Voice (how do they interpret things?)

Immersion (what feels true to them?)

🔷️ Try this:

#6: Steal the scaffolding, not the house 🏠

We all want to borrow from what we love—but if you copy a story beat-for-beat, it’ll always feel like a weaker echo. So here’s a better way: study the structure, not the content.

💬 Take apart a scene or story that inspired you. Ask:

Where does tension rise?

When do characters make irreversible choices?

How does the pacing flow between quiet and chaos?

Don’t mimic the plot—trace the blueprint. You’re not stealing the house. You’re learning how beams hold weight and where the windows go.

#2 Cut the First Three Sentences ✂️

First drafts often begin with too much setup. To make your scenes more dynamic, try this:

1️⃣ Write your scene as usual.

2️⃣ Delete the first three sentences.

3️⃣ Read what’s left—it likely starts at a much stronger point.

💬 Why?

Most writers over-explain before getting to the actual scene.

A direct opening creates immediacy and intrigue.

💬 Example:

❌ Before:

"It was a cold morning. The streets were wet from the night’s rain, and the sky was gray. Anna shivered as she stepped out of the café."

✔️ After:

"Anna stepped out of the café, pulling her coat tighter. The cold air smelled like wet asphalt and wasted dreams."