|
Music. Talk Radio. The TV in the other room. The
neighbors indulging in their daily bedroom shenanigans or screaming
match. The cats purring on her lap. The poodle down the
street yapping at all hours of the day or night. Obnoxious cell
phone ring tones and conversations so loud that the phone is
unnecessary. The jacked up SUV with the bass booming so loud
the windows shake as it drives by. The guy on the bus with his
headset cranked so the tinny boom-boom-boom after a long day at work
could drive you to murder. Crickets just after the sun goes
down. The red-tailed hawk keenin above the cow pasture as it
goes after a gopher or mouse.
Sounds are all around us and finding even a few moments of peace and
quiet can be a real challenge. You have people who rush home at
the end of the day, close the door and only then relax because it's
finally quiet.
And then there are some people who can't stand even a second of quiet
and the TV or radio or telephone is always going. Maybe they
can't stand being alone or the constant input makes them feel safe.
This next week, go to the park, a café, a bookstore, take the
bus, or even just go out in the back yard. Pretend your
character is sitting there.
WRITE the answer to the following questions:
What sounds does she hear? Describe them.
How does that make her feel?
What does she do?
If someone was watching her (but couldn't hear anything) how would
they know what she feels or might be thinking as a result of the
sounds around her?
Try this in different places and for each of your characters.
How could you use this in your current story? |
