Writing minute details

It is quite common for writers to blend together the real and imagined. Writers use their memories and recollections constantly in their writing, but you cannot tell what is fiction and what is fact. That’s actually a good thing. It allows the writer to maintain their privacy while exploring their thoughts, musings and experiences in an engaging way. Because you are writing fiction, you can add to your story whatever aspects of the narrative you want to develop⎯ setting, characters, plot, description, etc. It’s up to you.

You too can use minute details in your own writing. Below is a piece of writing that uses minute details. The writing is framed by the heading: Squirrel. The writer has been inspired by a real-life memory about a squirrel while teaching in Kent in England in the spring, however imagined elements have been added, such as the experience of the school student.

Example

As you read the following scene think about the types of sentences used and the juxtaposition of minute details and a tense situation.

Squirrel

The tree on our way to school was in the middle of the park where old men take their rest before walking up the steep hill to the meadow. One morning Johnno and I teased the squirrels and threw rocks at them. I wanted to hurt them. Don’t know why. Just felt good inside to watch something in pain.

Johnno opened his backpack and took out a slingshot. He picked up a pebble from the ground and placed it in the sling and aimed it at the white flowers covering the branches. Maybe he meant to hit one, maybe just scare them. I don’t know. I watched and said nothing. Johnno let go of the elastic. The pebbled hurled into the tree, disturbing the papery pink flowers which fell like snowflakes. We heard a crack like hands clapping.

A squirrel dropped out of the tree and landed in front of my feet. I bent down. It lay on a blanket of soft petals. I pushed it with my finger. Nothing. I pushed it again and looked at Johnny. I thought about how I liked watching the squirrels scurry up and down the trunk collecting berries. I wouldn’t tell Johnno that. Wouldn’t understand. I turned to Johnno. He was half way up the hill toward school. I could see his backpack half opened wobbling.

I looked out toward the park and up the hill. No-one coming. I pulled out my sports uniform from my bag and wrapped the squirrel in my t-shirt, careful not to touch its body and then covered it with my skirt. I threw my bag over my shoulder and carried it up the hill to the edge of the meadow, overlooking our town.

I looked for a spot where the grass was overgrown to bury the squirrel. I took out a pencil from my pencil case. I repeatedly jabbed at the soil, breaking up the earth, grunting softly. The soil was dry and gritty, cold and chalky grey. I wiped the sweat off my forehead. With my hands I scooped out the soil and dumped it on the grass like a tipper truck. Slowly, I dug a hole in the earth about the size of a basketball. I knew I’d be late for school. Didn’t care.

I unwrapped the clothing from the squirrel like it was a baby and stared at it. Its coffee eyes glaring at the sky. Its grey fur, flickering light. I leant my head towards it to listen for breath. The fur brushed the side of my chin lightly. But nothing, just the hum of the cars below. I placed my hand over the squirrel’s body, but pulled them back, ensure of its death.

A rustle in a tree diverted my attention. Nothing. This time I placed my hand on its body and kept my hand still. It was still warm and its fur tender. I glanced at the trees behind me. I placed the squirrel in its grave like it was fine china and covered it up. I stamped the grave with my feet. I looked out at the town. The continuous burnt orange rooftops, the cars gliding along the roads as if caught in a maze.

They gave me an after-school detention for being late that day. This time I deserved it.

Exercise

a          Using minute details, write a small scene inspired by a heading. It can be a real or imagined situation. Make a list of five or more headings. Go with the last one you come up with.

In your writing experiment with the following:

•          types of sentences

•          juxtaposition of minute details and an intense situation

•          the state of mind of each character.

Before you write your piece, you may like to brainstorm the following:

Heading:

Who is involved?       

What is intense about the situation?                       

What is the state of mind of each character?                      

What happens?         

How does it end?