Write On Wednesdays--People Watching in Austin

Gill at INKPAPERPEN continues to inspire this writer wanna be! I do have to say I am going off assignment a bit this week. As an avid people watcher, I can't go to Austin, Texas, the city whose motto is "Keep Austin Weird" and not commentate. If you offend easily, you might skip today's writing.

 

Write On Wednesdays Exercise 15 - Give yourself some time to notice the people around you. The people who may cross your path each day. The lady in front of you at the supermarket, the man who helps the school kids cross the road, a neighbour, a waitress in a cafe, a librarian, anyone at all. Choose one person, someone you don't know, and this person will become the basis of the week's writing exercise. Describe this person as you see them, describe their surroundings. Then imagine a problem, create conflict for this person. Describe the conflict. Describe how your character deals with the problem. The conflict might resolve itself, it might not. It is up to you. Perhaps, the lady in the supermarket has forgotten her wallet. Does she bursts into tears? Maybe the librarian finds a lost child. The aim is to show how your character responds to conflict and in the process, reveal something about that character. Tell us their story.

Unique and Funky Art Installment
at the Austin, Texas Airport

Hello, fully tatted, with sleeves and leggings, pixie cut Goth girl. Your spaghetti strap tank and hot pant shorts gave your pretty but pierced face that Girl With The Dragon Tattoo chic-ness. However, the cowboy boots were a poor choice.

Excuse me, VERY, VERY pregnant mama hollering at the toddling little cherub behind you as you push the stroller with the other precious angel sleeping, 1) if you can't figure out what is causing that, I can give you the answer, and 2) I don't think you're supposed to be flying.

Ahem, Adonis looking airport worker who's yelling at the poor night manager of the greasy spoon airport Mexican restaurant about why he didn't hire you to work at his little venue, you're just ugly. I don't care how svelte your physique was! You're rude and ugly.

Hey! Completely bald business man in the $500 suit, you're an a-hole. Not one of us wanted to hear your entire telephone conversation while waiting to board the last flight out last night. You're lucky I was too tired to start some stuff with you when you didn't end your call and power down your phone after the captain and two flight hostesses asked you nicely. I swear I wanted to thump you in the back of your head!

Young enough to be my Mama morning cab driver, you're too old to have a roommate that has to wake you up in the morning (why did I have to know this information?), and neon green acrylic nails aren't even cute on a 13-year-old.

Barely old enough to drink afternoon cab driver, you probably shouldn't swear while spouting Bible verses and trying to convert me to your cult.

Sad, weeping woman sitting by the loading gate furiously typing on your Iphone and trying to catch the escaping tears, sitting over the engine on your flight home did a mighty fine job of drowning out your sobs. Wait...don't I know you? Oops! That was me.