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Monday, October 6, 2008

Snap shots

Sorry to have been out of touch. My family is experiencing a state of emergency, and I haven't been by the blogs in awhile. Promise to do better.

However, I went through one of my 'many' journals yesterday and found a great writing exercise.

Snapshot!

Now, it can be done with any of our senses, but the point is to take a moment -- one that you're experiencing -- and list sights, sounds, smells, . . . well, you get the picture.

Two years ago, my son was admitted for an emergency appendectomy. They sent us home, then he developed complication and we returned to the hospital for another 72-hour-stay.

While all was quiet and my son was sleeping, these were the sounds that surrounded me.

Wheels on the floor -- gurneys, trays, and monitors.

The steady slap of tennis shoes against the squeaky clean floor.

The rise and fall of voices.

Clattering of metal trays.



The ever-persistent beep of the IV units. The occasional squall of an IV alarm when the bag empties.

The quick squeak of voiced announcements over the PA system.

The humming trill of the nurses' phones.

A child's protesting wail.

A toddler's piercing scream.

A muffled moan of pain

The ripping of plastic bags as syringes, medicine and needles are feed.

An occasional laugh.

I discovered that hospitals are anything but quiet and still. Constant motion, constant noise.

Observations are the basis for a good writer.
Exercising those senses is necessary to be a great writer.




Take a snapshot today and tell me what you saw, smelled, heard, tasted or felt.

It's raining today. Can't wait to get out on the porch for a little cool weather. Maybe I'll take a snapshot there.

~Until later,
Sandra

4 comments:

Becky Burkheart said...

So sorry to hear the family life has been too busy and 'not fun'. It's good to see you posting again.

I like the moment from your journal. It's a good idea to keep a little notebook with you and jot thoughts and sensations down at odd times.

Marilyn Brant said...

Sandra, I hope the emergency will be quick in passing...

I like your snapshot exercise and will try it out this week :).

L.A. Mitchell said...

I thought about this last night. I have a gorgeous vase in my kitchen filled with a dozen or so flowers of all kinds, most lavender and apricot colors. Its scent is both of heaven and regret.

Anonymous said...

Adding my good thoughts to your family.

And I'm saving my snapshot for the rain this weekend.

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