I Can’t Believe My Eyes
Apr 21st 2007
Sabrina JeffriesOn Writing!
I really can’t, most of the time. God help me if I ever witness a crime, because the police will get nothing usable from me. I’m not that observant. I can remember conversations as if they were played on tape, but images and smells and the feel of cool air on my skin? Not so much. Apparently, I’m what is called an “aural” person. I experience the world through what I hear. If you asked me right now what color all my friends’ eyes are, I couldn’t tell you. I don’t notice things like that.
If I walk into a room, I notice the music playing or that annoying buzz coming from the VCR or the conversations going on. I don’t notice the smell of almonds or the temperature or the blood-stained rug unless they’re really obvious (okay, I’d probably notice the blood. Probably.). Much as I love crime shows, I have a sneaking suspicion I’d make a lousy detective.
Unfortunately, my lack of observational skills is also a liability for me as a writer. Which is why I have to refer to pictures when I write–of furniture, rugs, costumes . . . hot guys. I can’t write about something I can’t see, so I study the pictures and then describe from there. For example, the hot guy to the right is John Abraham, the model I pictured while writing my Anglo-Indian hero, Colin Hunt, in my story for School for Heiresses—isn’t he yummy? There’s lots more pictures where that came from, but I looked through a slew of images of Anglo-Indian and Indian actors/models before I found the one guy that worked for me (ah, the sacrifices I make for my art). And I never did find a picture of an auburn-haired male sexy enough to stand in for Jordan and Gavin Byrne, my two favorite auburn-haired heroes.
What about you? Do you tend to be more aural, visual, or tactile? When you read, do you see pictures in your head or do you just hear the voices the way I do? Do you need lots of description to feel like you’re in the scene? Or do you skim over long descriptions as I do? And could somebody PLEASE give me a picture of a hot, auburn-haired guy, so I can prove to my publisher that they do exist?
34 Comments »
34 Responses to “I Can’t Believe My Eyes”
Carly Phillips on 21 Apr 2007 at 5:38 am #
Hi, Sabrina and Goddesses! I am so not visual. One of the biggest issues I have … I look from the face up. What was she wearing? No clue. Mom redid the wallpaper in the entry hall when I was 19 and came home from college. Did I notice? Nope. My husband shaved his goatee … two weeks ago and I ask him today why he just shaved. Yup, that’s me. Which somehow translates into lack of memory on characters in series books, so that readers call me on glitches ALL THE TIME. Humiliating, I tell you! My stories lack detailed description because trying to come up with words beyond, his lips curved in a grin kill me. Feel better? I do after reading this post!
Sabrina Jeffries on 21 Apr 2007 at 7:05 am #
OMG, that’s me!!! One of my girlfriends had to point out her new, spiffy haircut. I didn’t notice. Every book, I struggle to come up with some original description, and it escapes me! Sigh. But dialogue? That comes to me as if it were read off a tape. I’m so glad to know I’m not alone!
Beth on 21 Apr 2007 at 9:36 am #
Personally, I love dialogue. I can hear the tone of the voices in my head as the words are being spoken. Dialogue makes a story move. Long descriptions, on the other hand, bog down the story and are wasted on me. A description that says “her dress was blue,” is great. I’ll imagine a blue dress. But sentences describing the fabric, the cut, the design, the weight of the material, etc. I’ll skip right over. No matter how hard I try, the vision just won’t come into my head. Although…..now that I’m thinking of it…. a good sex scene with lots of description, now that’s another matter. I have no problem visualizing that
kimber on 21 Apr 2007 at 10:01 am #
What a wonderful question. I always wondered about how people read a book. I am a visual person. When I read I lose my self in the scene, I see everything around me like I am there. The characters become alive to me like I am in a movie. I guess that is why I like to read so much. However, as much as a good description helps, I can’t stand when the description of the furniture or the clothes goes to far. I don’t mind that the chair has a peach and cream flower print an looks spindally, but I don’t need much more than that to see the chair in my mind’s eye. And unless it is really important for the story I don’t like presice placement either because I have usually pictured it backwards anyway. I really like when the book is so good I don’t even see the word on the page them played out like a movie. I could’nt be a writer because even though I can see words become events, I can’t put events into words very well. I just don’t have the patience. lol
kimber on 21 Apr 2007 at 10:04 am #
And I leave typos like crazy.
anneriailin on 21 Apr 2007 at 10:09 am #
I totally agree with Kimber. I can picture things in my head when reading. I like description to a point, but then you just have to move on. I guess that makes me a visual person. I can go to someone’s house and then describe it to you in detail after I’ve left. I’m just good at putting things into words. Never have been able to do it. All those English papers I had to write in school that had word counts. I agonized to get it right down to the exact count. I guess that’s what makes some people writers and some people readers, eh?? lol
–dorothy
anneriailin on 21 Apr 2007 at 10:10 am #
I NOT good at putting things into words. See what I mean….I can’t even say what I mean!! lol
Kelly Ann on 21 Apr 2007 at 10:16 am #
I’m the exact opposite. I don’t remember conversations, just the jist of them, if I’m lucky! I’m a very visual person, when I read, it’s like a movie playing in my head. I also have the annoying habit of noticing everything and having an obnoxiously vivid imagination.
I wish I had a scanner, because my brother, Jeff, has aubrun hair, and is one heck of a sexy man, for a brother. He is 9 years older then me and my girlfriends have always drooled over him, actually all 3 of my brothers. One has blonde hair, one brown and one auburn. They are quiet amazing standing together. I’ll have to send you a picture of them and you can decide. Of coarse, my 3 sisters are the same. What is the oddest, is me, I have a mixture of all 3 hair colors and when I stand near each one for a picture I look like them. I’m the youngest of 7.
Karen Hawkins on 21 Apr 2007 at 10:37 am #
Great blog, Sabrina! And an excellent question!
I’m a visual person. If you tell me something that you want me to remember, you’d better make sure I write it down. If I SEE it in writing, I will REMEMBER. If I just hear it then, as Borat would say, Not So Much.
BUT I’m also a gereralist. I don’t do details. I “see” sweeping generalizations of an event or a situation, which helps me get the big picture very quickly and very accurately, but I have to force myself note the little details.
And Dorothy, God Bless all readers! What good would it be to write for a world of non-readers? Verrah lonely, indeed.
Keri Ford on 21 Apr 2007 at 11:09 am #
I’m visual, too. the long descriptions get on my nerves cause I don’t need all that to set me in my ‘movie’. However, since I am visual, when I write, I tend to put in those long descriptions, trying to get in everything I ’see’. (my critique partner is continually deleting my stuff) When I’m really bored or frantic (like running through a mall cause I’m late) I’ll remember everything I see, and can even recall on those ‘images’ years later as if I were there. Now when I’m in ‘normal’ mode, I can’t remember a thing.
TinaLouiseF on 21 Apr 2007 at 11:38 am #
I’m like Karen H, if I don’t write it down it will be forgotten. I may not need to read the note later, but it must be written down.
KMB25 on 21 Apr 2007 at 11:42 am #
Sabrina, you are so not alone in this! I’m something of a mixture between the aural and the visual. When learning music, I can learn either way equally as well, but I tend to remember things better when learning by ear.
When I’m reading, I will admit to sometimes skipping over some of the more flowery descriptive passages…(sorry guys!) I can’t always picture in my head what things look like and what draws me in is more of the story line and the character interactions. I love the dialogue between characters and the how they set the scene and carry the story.
To me, I associate this with how tempo and phrasing in a piece of music, work together to keep the forward momentum of the piece, to not let it drag, til it reaches the end. I know…I’m weird…
~Kim
MizMacgyver on 21 Apr 2007 at 12:38 pm #
I guess I am visual. I am the one that notices a new haircut or new outfit before anyone else. When reading, it is like a movie to me. Like in PPP (I finished it last night and LOVED it) I don’t just see the heroine gliding away, I see the train of her dress trailing behind her as she glides away. When I read a book the first time, I see it all, when I re-read, I will skip the details. If someone tells me something, I write it down, the act of writing it puts it in my memory. I have come across something in a book that I can’t visualize because I have never seen it. To the internet! Once I see it then it comes to mind again when needed. 15th century dress kept me on the internet for a while. LOL
Kasey on 21 Apr 2007 at 2:51 pm #
I am not visual at all. I am somewhat oblivious to my surroundings at times. I can walk by my own sister in the mall and not notice her first. This happens with friends, acquaintances and people I work with. If I am not in a setting where I am looking for someone then I totally ignore the people around me because I am lost in my own little world. However, sounds do catch my attention. If I hear a raised voice I may start to eavesdrop…yup I am one of those people.
darlingbeachgirl on 21 Apr 2007 at 3:16 pm #
I am both too I mean I love the dialogue and laugh if they are sarcastic cause I can hear the tone in my head. I also can remember conversations and details from like weeks before but I am also visual (unless distracted) I notice the hair cut I notice when your losing weight I can tell you exactly what my husband was wearing what he looked when we met I can tell you if you just bought a new outfit but I have to be paying attention. Although all you have to tell me is there is a chair cause in my mind I picture the chair the way I want anyway. Or what the guy looks like and then I conjure him up. By the way sabrina my husband is sexy and he has auburn hair but I have to get him to grow it out a little before I can send you a picture cause he keeps it in a military style hair cut.He also has these to die for emerald green eyes.
gannon on 21 Apr 2007 at 4:33 pm #
I am definitely more visual. I notice right away if something is different about something–haircut, etc. And I always picture scenes in my head when I’m reading.
It’s interesting you should mention smells; I associate smells with different places or times in my life. My dh used to wear Halston 1-12 (hard to find anymore), but if I smell it, it’s like I’m transported back in time to when we were dating and the early years of our marriage.*sigh*
Suzanne Enoch on 21 Apr 2007 at 5:11 pm #
I think I’m attuned to both, though I’m better at recalling visually — as long as whatever it is happens to be completely trivial. My family hates it when we’re watching a movie and I’ll start going, “oh, hey, that’s so-and-so, remember him from such-and-such”?
When I’m writing, I see it in my head, like a movie. Dialogue is easier, because I’m just repeating what’s in my head, but with the visuals I have to think a little harder. Like many of you have said, there’s a limit to how detailed a description can be and still have it remain interesting.
pam on 21 Apr 2007 at 5:22 pm #
Deb–Sabrina– check out Toby Stevens (he’s Maggie Smith’s son). He was Mr. Rochester in the most recent Jane Eyre, and though he’s dark-haired there, I’ve seen him in a number of things, and he IS auburn haired. He’s EXACTLY how I pictured Byrne!
Pam
kimber on 21 Apr 2007 at 5:52 pm #
Oh, Suzanne E, My mom and I are always going “hey , thats so and so from such and such” cause we love to reminisce about movies and such. We even sit there and spout lines from movies at each other; it drive my hubby nuts. We can do parts from movies together and he practically runs screaming to another room. I have what is called a visual memory, smells and songs and such can totally take me back.
Stacy S on 21 Apr 2007 at 5:54 pm #
My husband can shave his beard and a few days later I’ll notice it. So I’m not real visual. Like Suzie E I’m more of a trival person. If it’s not important I’ll remember.
kimber on 21 Apr 2007 at 5:56 pm #
augh, bad typing day for me I guess, that was supposed to be a photographic memory by the way, and there was supposed to be a though at the end of that last sentence. lol
Beth on 21 Apr 2007 at 6:08 pm #
Pam - you are absolutely correct - Toby Stephens is verra verra yummy! Go here for a great pic of him with auburn hair: http://tobystephens.moonfruit.com/
-Beth
dbrown3400 on 21 Apr 2007 at 6:41 pm #
I want everything the author has to give in books. The author can describe the characters down to their underwear and beyond and I never associate them with a living person. That’s why I don’t like to watch movies made from books so my picture of James Malory or whoever will always be the same. I do enjoy the descriptions, esp. in historicals because I didn’t live during that time period. And I hear my characters talking as though they were in the room.
pam - Toby Stevens is a perfect auburn example.
I’m with MizMacGyver, in fact, I like reading Susan Johnson because she’ll put footnotes in her historicals and James Michener would write chapters on the Canadian goose before getting to his story. I think that was Chesapeake. Well . . . . If I come across something I want to see or understand. I’ll make a note to Google, or check further.
Donna
DebMarlowe on 21 Apr 2007 at 7:07 pm #
I love descriptions in books. I really want to feel immersed in the story. But I want witty dialogue and vivid action too. What can I say–I want it all!
I usually notice things like haircuts, etc, right away. I also tend to remember personal stuff about people, like their favorite drink or that they only like thick chunky pasta and not skinny angle hair. My friend Caren says it’s because I’m a Pisces.
Brandy on 21 Apr 2007 at 7:09 pm #
I am both. When I read it’s more of a “hearing the voices of the characters thing”, but when in real life I am more of a visual person. I tend to remember faces, clothes, looks, places, etc. WAY better than anything the actual person says! Um, and names of people, I NEVER remember unless I’ve met them 3 or 4 times.
DebMarlowe on 21 Apr 2007 at 7:11 pm #
Oh, my! Pam and Beth–I just went to check out the delicious Toby! I’ve always loved Sabrina’s Byrne–and now I’ve got a whole new picture in my head. I’m going to have to go read his book again!
Karen Rose on 21 Apr 2007 at 8:13 pm #
Oh wow. I had not heard of this Toby Stephens. Verra nice!
So where can I see this version of Jane Eyre? It’s always been one of my favorites!
Sabrina - I’m more visual I think - I have to be. I have a hearing loss and read lips, so if I don’t see it, it often doesn’t register.
Sabrina Jeffries on 21 Apr 2007 at 8:34 pm #
Ooh, yes, I forgot about Toby Stephens. He IS cute. I’ve seen him in two different things now, some movie on BBC America and the latest Sharpe movie (as the villain–he was sooo yummy), but sadly I haven’t yet caught him in Jane Eyre. I really wanted to see that version, but I missed it. Now I’ll have to rent it, I guess.
One caveat about the aural vs. visual, I DO have an affinity for faces. I never seem to forget a face, which is odd, I suppose, for someone not very observant or visual. It’s about the only thing I remember, though. And if you asked me to describe the face later, I couldn’t. But if I saw it again, I’d remember it. Very weird.
I see books like movies, too, except that they’re extremely vague, with generic furniture and costumes and people. It’s the dialogue I remember.
ladydawgfan on 22 Apr 2007 at 12:01 am #
Sabrina, catch the expression on Toby’s face in the shot at http://walford.smugmug.com/gallery/2554074#134355179 !! Who does THAT remind you of???
Julia London on 22 Apr 2007 at 8:57 am #
Wait….that is auburn hair??? I have auburn hair!! I always thought auburn was more brown than red.
Anyway, Toby is a hunk.
Sabrina Jeffries on 22 Apr 2007 at 4:26 pm #
Yep, Viv, that’s definitely Byrne. Except that I don’t like the curliness of his hair. I don’t know why but I see Byrne with darker auburn and very straight hair. Although God only knows what I described in the book–that’s four books ago for me!
Sonja Foust on 22 Apr 2007 at 9:12 pm #
I have to say, I’m a smeller. I remember smells before I remember anything else. In college, I loved the smell of our dorm basement laundry room because it reminded me of Mondays at home, since that was always laundry day. (I was a little homesick that year.) A hot auburn-haired guy, huh? I’ll keep an eye out… No trouble, really.
TheNightPoet on 22 Apr 2007 at 11:24 pm #
I am more of a visual person. I can remember places and certain things in visual detail that others can’t. When I read a book, I always visualize what the characters and the places they live look like. In my mind I have these places and people conjured up that I’m afraid if I were to see what something described in a book really looks like (if it is real), I would be disappointed. Sometimes I need lots of description and others times I hate a lot of description. I think it depends on my mood. I read a book about a year ago that didn’t have much description and I didn’t like it. I realized after reading it that I love the descriptions and understand why they are in the books. It gives a more richer meaning to the story. I like that.
Andrea
Caren Crane on 23 Apr 2007 at 10:26 am #
I fully agree with the hottitude of Toby Stephens! I am also not visually oriented at all. Sabrina and Deb Marlowe will attest to the fact that I notice almost nothing. However, I expect others to (it was my cute haircut Sabrina did *not* notice).
Actually, though, I notice haircuts and cute clothes and shoes. You know, the important things. But I don’t notice buildings or store signs or large trees or other things people consider “landmarks”. I guess I notice people more than things. I usually notice the person I’m talking to or the book I’m reading. I’m one of those people who never turns around to see who came into the room through the back door. Whoever it is doesn’t have my attention - the speaker does.
It does work against me, though, when everyone (even Sabrina!) notices something I miss. But I can usually piece together a great image from the description. I am aural, but I like pictures, too!