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Writing advice
How to Sharpen Your Powers of Observation (Without Turning Into a Creep)
Because writers are professional noticers – with notebooks, not binoculars
If you want to write well, you have to see well – and not just with your eyes.
Writers are professional noticers. We catch the flicker of doubt in a smile, the way someone fiddles with a paperclip when they lie, the mismatched socks that hint at a chaotic morning. These small details are what make characters believable, settings vivid and stories alive.
Observation isn’t just about noticing things – it’s about noticing meaning in things. The world offers up endless material, but only if you’re paying attention. Hone your observational skills, and you’ll never run out of things to write about.
Here are ten ways to get sharper, funnier and weirder with your noticing skills:
1. Keep a Daily Noticing Journal
Every day, jot down five things you noticed that most people might overlook. The crack in the sidewalk shaped like Elvis. The bored teenager who says “no worries” with the intensity of a hostage negotiator. These are your gold.
