SANTOSH BAKAYA
In my piece last fortnight, I referred to an incident, I was keen to talk about.
I had mentioned that one needs to keep one’s senses alert in order to bring an element of authenticity to one’s writing. A keen sense of observation is very important for adding that extra spark to one’s article.
I have no qualms in confessing, that at the risk of receiving flak from my family, I observe things and places around me, eyes popping out of my sockets, ears glued to people’s conversation. This idiosyncrasy has earned me labels by my family – Peeping Tom and Eavesdropper! I have also taken the kicks on my shins by my daughter from under restaurant dining tables with a poker- face.
If I can get some good writing ideas by peering into people’s plates to see what they are eating, and also some authentic dialogues by keeping my ears open to their conversation, I don’t think there is any harm. What do you say?
Observation:
Long years back, on my birthday party, I appeared more interested in the conversation of the eclectic group that sat at the next table, rather than the delicacies on our table. This was followed by glares and nudges from my daughter. But I am glad to say, the funny piece that followed this observation describing the attire, the discussion, and the mannerisms of the group turned out to be one of my most popular pieces, and now forms part of my book Flights from my Terrace [ The Two Guys; P 118, AuthorsPress, 2017]
“We were in a snug restaurant. Cake, candles and a cosy companionship .It was my birthday dinner, and was I loving it!
There was a noisy group of some foreigners on my left, eating, drinking, and being merry to the core. The most vocal of them was talking loudly, gesticulating widely, and grimacing grossly, his small ponytail bobbing up and down with the vehemence of his assertions.
At times he would become so vigorously assertive that the tattooed lizard on his left leg would appear to be slithering down his leg!”
Needless to say, I was so fascinated by the movement of the ‘tattooed lizard’, that immediately on reaching home, I churned out an article where I described the man in the minutest detail.
“I think our duty as writers begins not with our own feelings, but with the powers of observing. “ Thus said Mary Oliver. And rightly so!
Something that Elliot Erwitt says about photography, can be applied to writing as well. “To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place…I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them”. When one observes with a sharp eye, one can even pick up unspoken messages, subtle nuances, and minute details. One can then add realistic dialogues to one’s stories, become more descriptive, and also gather a better understanding of human behavior.
To someone, a parakeet swinging from the branches of a tree, might be an ordinary, mundane happening, but a keen observer, can find magic in the mundane, and an entire essay can be churned out on the Pleasures of watching a parakeet swinging from a Tree.
Let me reiterate, observation is absolutely essential when one is out in the open. Nature has its own multi- hued splendour- the fluttering butterflies, the blooming, vibrant flowers, the scurrying squirrels, the azure blue or grey of the sky, the pitter- pattering raindrops, the humming bees, the caressing breeze, the dancing and squawking peacock, the crafty, chameleon, the hopping grasshopper, the mountain peaks, the hillocks, the haze, the fog, the rippling waters, the lakes, streams and rivers. Every day these spectacular gifts of nature undergo change, offering different perspectives to the writer.
Merely by a keen sense of observation, the bland can be changed into something breathtakingly beautiful! Moreover, there is always scope for honing and polishing one’s writing, one’s sensory language and imagery, till the time it resonates with the reader with vivid clarity.
There are the various people one comes across daily.
Their facial expressions, their mannerisms, their clothes- whether flamboyantly attired or simply; the footwear- slippers, clogs, expensive branded shoes, or boots. Some people are restive, some are calm, and some have a nonchalant air about them. An observation of people will give a more realistic flavour to one’s story or essay. One needs to make this a regular habit- the world is big, but there is no dearth of small details to be observed; this will not only engage the senses of the reader, but also paint a picture in the readers’ mindscape.
This is what observation does- enhances one’s creativity. Observation is without doubt the first step in innovative and out of- the- box thinking. Every good writer needs to observe the intricacies of life, to slow down a bit, and soak in the expansive surroundings. Breathing deeply, exploring myriad shapes, sounds and scents can heighten our sensibilities.
Just a sec. One summer morning, on my walk, I came across a young boy, with a T-shirt, which said- Alas, I am in a soup! That observation triggered my creative juices and I quickly added, Yes, I am a nincompoop, to the t- shirt that I made my character wear in the short story that I had been penning.
So, now the T-shirt read,
‘Alas, I am in a soup
Yes, I am a nincompoop.’
Not bad- huh? So, here is to hours and hours of observation.
So folks, stand and stare!
Look and linger- till we meet again after a fortnight.
To be continued
The author is an academician, poet, essayist, novelist, and TEDx speaker, with more than twenty published books to her credit.
