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Writers Retreat > Student Talk > Course Lessons > Assignment 5 > Part 1 of this assignment
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Beth Consugar
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« on: January 14, 2010, 01:45:20 PM »
Through my observation, I learned that the girl that I was observing was sitting with some friends.  When I am doing the external portion of this assignment, can I say that she was with friends, or is that too subjective?  I could say she was with a group of teens, if necessary.  It's the fine details that are killing me now!

Thanks!

Beth
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jfields
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« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2010, 03:35:38 PM »
If you say she was sitting with friends, and it's obvious from how she's acting that they're friends, that should be fine. Folks say "friends" often in 5a with me and I never nag. Do plenty of showing and your instructor won't split hairs over things like that.
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« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2010, 03:57:26 PM »
This is my first posting. I'm completely stumped with assignment 5. I am not around the children (middle school age) thiat I write for. Even at church, children tend to be under 6 and over 15. I don't feel comfortable going to the mall as suggested. It seems so artificial, and I'm concerned about being accused of having "evil designs" on those I watch. In the Portland, OR area, we are all hyper-aware of children's safety, because of the Kyron Ho9rmon kidnapping. Time is getting short, and I'm beginning to panic.
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« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2011, 08:55:17 PM »
I am with you on that one.  Can't seem to think which is strange.  I have 4 boys ages 8 to 15 and they have friends over all the time.  I need to sit it the same area as they do and really concentrate what they are saying, doing, acting, etc.  Easier said then done for me.  Maybe watch a kid flick, that might help.
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Ellen
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« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2011, 09:23:03 PM »
It was easier for me to go observe someone I didn't know. That way my personal knowledge of the child didn't get in the way. I went to a restaurant with my sister and observed a boy at another table. That way no one got the stalker vibe from a strange person watching their kid and I could be objective.
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« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2011, 11:21:02 PM »
True, I didn't even think of that.  Shocked  As an excuse, I have had a tough week of being over worked and very sick.
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« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2011, 11:12:31 AM »
Also many folks seem to over-estimate how much observation is necessary here. We look at strangers for two or three minutes all the time. Sometimes we stare into space and someone just happens to be over there. This is especially true if you're sitting somewhere and making a list. So one of the very best ways to observe is just to sit somewhere, pull out a piece of paper and a pencil and glance up every once in a while between bouts of writing -- placing the child slightly to the periphery of your look. The average person assumes you're making a list and staring into space. You don't have to lock eyes on the subject and just stare. We take in information way way way faster than that. And you take in the information that makes the most impression on you (and thus the information that most needs to be in the objective description) in glances.

Not too long ago, I happened to be looking at a teen girl. I wasn't thinking writerly thoughts even. I just happened to be very taken with the color of her hair. It was a red not found in nature but I thought it complimented her skin tone very well and she had chosen her clothes perfectly to go with it. I was thinking it's too bad 50 year old women can't pull off anything that dramatic. Anyway, she happened to catch me looking and gave me a pointed "face." (you know the one. The "what?" stare of the American teen.) I smiled and said, "Sorry for staring, your hair is the prettiest color I've ever seen." She smiled hugely (clearly delighted), said thanks, and we both went on our way. No one calling the cops. No one freaking out. And I was just plain STARING too, really, staring.

Mostly we freak ourselves out about this. And the more you freak yourself out, the more you'll look nervous and weird. The reality is that our eye is drawn to kids all the time. They're kinetic. They can be loud. They often make choices in clothes, hair, etc INTENDED to draw the eye. We only feel weird about this assignment because we don't realize how much we do this just automatically.

Writers tend to notice people. This assignment just takes advantage of that.
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Beth Consugar
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« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2011, 01:10:36 PM »
Quote from: jfields on February 06, 2011, 11:12:31 AM
Writers tend to notice people. This assignment just takes advantage of that.

I am so glad to hear this. I thought I was wierd or something for noticing things about people - the way the walk, the way they move their arms, what they're wearing, how they talk, etc. I notice details. I drive my husband nuts with this!
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"It's not about how hard you hit.  It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward"  Rocky Balboa

"Life's like a novel, with the end ripped out" ~ Rascal Flatts

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain.
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