I was writing along the other day, typing away happily, until the story stopped streaming from my brain down my arms and through my fingertips. I introduced a new, highly anticipated character (for me and for my main character) and then I had to stop.
I knew what her personality would be like, but I could not see what she looked like. Would she have dark hair and blue eyes like her brother? Would she be pretty or plain? Would she be skinny or athletically thin? Even though I knew how she would act and what she would say, I couldn't picture her doing anything until I could picture her.
So, I stopped writing. I walked away from the computer in a huff and did something else. Probably sat down to read a book. Not exactly productive.
Today, tired and groggy from a poor night of sleep, I sat down and started working on the story again. My main character studied her boyfriend's sister and told me what she looked like. Her reaction to this girl, who she was afraid to meet, helped me picture her. Her responses shaped the sister's mannerisms and appearance. What a relief!
I also pictured a girl I saw working in a craft store, probably five or six years ago. She had dark hair and tattoos, but she had a friendly face and soft features. I stole the beautiful orchid tattoo she had on the back of her hand and put it on my character's bicep.
It's amazing what you pick up and what you remember years later. I only saw that sales clerk once, but I remember staring at her tattoo. Not because it was so large and bold and probably painful, since it was on the back of her hand and used A LOT of ink, but because I thought it was beautiful and the kind of thing I might get if I was ever brave enough to get a tattoo (although on my shoulder or back, not somewhere that's likely to be extra painful like the back of my hand or top of my foot).
I guess everything is fuel for writing, no matter where or when you see or hear it.
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