Comments on: How to Write Better By Exercising Your Observation Skills http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/ Featuring insider destination guides and how-to articles from the matador travel community. Our focus is sustainable travel, cultural immersion, plus work, study, and volunteer opportunities worldwide. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:43:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Abbie http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-5417 Abbie Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:24:32 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-5417 Just found this article - but GREAT advice! Noticing and writing about details is something I really need to work on, so there are some suggestions that I will definitely try out! Just found this article – but GREAT advice! Noticing and writing about details is something I really need to work on, so there are some suggestions that I will definitely try out!

]]> By: Gangster24 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-5206 Gangster24 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:50:43 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-5206 When this house of cards falls so will the status quo politicians of our day. , When this house of cards falls so will the status quo politicians of our day. ,

]]> By: david miller http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-4493 david miller Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:17:25 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-4493 Thanks Nancy. Thanks Nancy.

]]> By: Nancy http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-4492 Nancy Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:13:06 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-4492 word up. Great advice. word up. Great advice.

]]> By: gina http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-3594 gina Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:49:35 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-3594 invaluable advice. i'm about to attempt exercise #1. can't wait to know more about the matador U invaluable advice. i’m about to attempt exercise #1. can’t wait to know more about the matador U

]]> By: SSaraiya http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-3265 SSaraiya Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:05:07 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-3265 This is a great post! The pizza box observation is beautiful! It reminds us that as writers, we must start thinking beyond ourselves and get into the other person's shoe instead. When ordinary people might think, "why doesn't he understand me", a writer must FEEL the other person and UNDERSTAND why he doesn't understand! This is a great post! The pizza box observation is beautiful! It reminds us that as writers, we must start thinking beyond ourselves and get into the other person’s shoe instead. When ordinary people might think, “why doesn’t he understand me”, a writer must FEEL the other person and UNDERSTAND why he doesn’t understand!

]]> By: Hal http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-2473 Hal Sun, 24 May 2009 23:55:21 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-2473 Loved this, especially the opening story and the film clip you included. My thanks to Lau! Loved this, especially the opening story and the film clip you included. My thanks to Lau!

]]> By: Nomadic Matt http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-2452 Nomadic Matt Fri, 22 May 2009 12:41:40 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-2452 great tips great tips

]]> By: David Miller http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-2443 David Miller Thu, 21 May 2009 22:58:17 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-2443 Thanks for the bigups Sarah. I totally agree with you on traveling being an antidote for getting stuck in your own head, and also the idea that it takes a while to fully disengage. For me it's always been bus rides in Buenos Aires. Feeling slightly jealous of Japanese subway rides. Thanks for the bigups Sarah. I totally agree with you on traveling being an antidote for getting stuck in your own head, and also the idea that it takes a while to fully disengage.

For me it’s always been bus rides in Buenos Aires. Feeling slightly jealous of Japanese subway rides.

]]> By: Sarah http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-2442 Sarah Thu, 21 May 2009 22:30:10 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-2442 Hey David-- I love that anecdote about the pizza box. I think sometimes it takes getting out of your head to be able to really observe--taking long walks is my preferred method. I walk for a few hours, just roaming, with no plan, and in the first hour I'm trying to see and straining too much to make sense of things. But in the last hour these little unexpected observations creep in, and THAT'S when I really start to see. For me it takes getting into a particular state of mind, just seeing without thinking or trying to think so much. At least in my opinion. I also think one of the greatest things about traveling is the ability to get a thrill out of observing the most minute details of daily life. I love taking the subway here in Japan because there's just so much to take in, and I can find the ad for octopus balls and the girls sleeping on each other across from me fascinating. It's amazing how much you can intuit just by getting into that observation mode. Hey David–

I love that anecdote about the pizza box. I think sometimes it takes getting out of your head to be able to really observe–taking long walks is my preferred method. I walk for a few hours, just roaming, with no plan, and in the first hour I’m trying to see and straining too much to make sense of things. But in the last hour these little unexpected observations creep in, and THAT’S when I really start to see. For me it takes getting into a particular state of mind, just seeing without thinking or trying to think so much. At least in my opinion.

I also think one of the greatest things about traveling is the ability to get a thrill out of observing the most minute details of daily life. I love taking the subway here in Japan because there’s just so much to take in, and I can find the ad for octopus balls and the girls sleeping on each other across from me fascinating. It’s amazing how much you can intuit just by getting into that observation mode.

]]> By: joshywashington http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-2441 joshywashington Thu, 21 May 2009 19:07:15 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-2441 living in the heart of Seattle, people watching is a daily ritual. It helps me wake up into the city that is teeming around me, and the person I am in that soup of humanity. To be a fly on the wall is to watch the story of the city has it unfolds... Great article David, I am going out to sit on a park bench now... living in the heart of Seattle, people watching is a daily ritual. It helps me wake up into the city that is teeming around me, and the person I am in that soup of humanity. To be a fly on the wall is to watch the story of the city has it unfolds…
Great article David, I am going out to sit on a park bench now…

]]> By: Eman http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-2439 Eman Thu, 21 May 2009 18:40:45 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-2439 This is great. Thanks for the article. I love coming up with stories based on pictures, or watching people interact. It gets the mind going. Cheers. This is great. Thanks for the article.

I love coming up with stories based on pictures, or watching people interact. It gets the mind going.

Cheers.

]]> By: Travel-Writers-Exchange.com http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-write-better-by-excercising-your-observation-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-2438 Travel-Writers-Exchange.com Thu, 21 May 2009 17:33:44 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=1148#comment-2438 Great post and so true. I love to people watch. I often wonder what they're thinking (it's probably better that I don't know this), where are they going, etc...Many people tend to judge others and judge them by their appearance. You may make assumptions about others, but later find out that they're a multi-millionaire or editor-in-chief of a publication. You never know...I wouldn't be too quick to judge...Better yet, don't judge people at all :) Great post and so true. I love to people watch. I often wonder what they’re thinking (it’s probably better that I don’t know this), where are they going, etc…Many people tend to judge others and judge them by their appearance. You may make assumptions about others, but later find out that they’re a multi-millionaire or editor-in-chief of a publication. You never know…I wouldn’t be too quick to judge…Better yet, don’t judge people at all :)

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