Scott Fitzgerald oda novels-uh padichu irundheenga naa ungluku theriyum, avroda works evlo visual ah irukum nu. The Great Gatsby idhuku oru best example. Beach pakathula irukra veetu jannaloram madhayanam adikra kaathu-la epdi window screens asayadhu-ngradha, avru verum vaarthayala mattum sollama, andha scene uh namma kan munnadi kondu vandhu kaatirpaaru.
The Great Gatsby la avru ezhudhraaru:
“The windows were ajar and gleaming white against the fresh grass outside that seemed to grow a little way into the house. A breeze blew through the room, blew curtains in at one end and out the other like pale flags, twisting them up toward the frosted wedding cake of the ceiling, and then rippled over the wine-colored rug, making a shadow on it as wind does on the sea.”
Indha maadhri visual ah ezhudhradhuku, verum writing skills irundha mattum podhumnu namba nenaippom. Aana adha thaandi namaku innoru mukkiyamana skill venum: observation skills.
Why Observation is Critical to Writing Visually
Adhu irundha dhan endha vishyathayum creative details oda namlaala solla mudiyum. Nalla writers-kum mokka writers-kum irukra periya vithyasamae indha observation skill dhan. No amount of creativity and writing chops can compensate for the lack of observational skills.
Take this following description by Toni Morrison for example. Sooriyan sayangalaam marairadhu oru simple aanuh event. But adha avru epdi describe panraaru-na:
“By the time they reached the field, the sun was lowering and its glaze slid down the bright blue buttercups. The grass lay down as though it were swept. The flowers looked at the beaten-down grass until the night left them alone and the sun came back.” – from the novel Beloved.
Verum “the sun set” nu summa solradhukum, the sun was lowering and its glaze slid down the bright blue buttercups nu solradhukum evlo vithyasatha iruku la? The latter lines immediately send us visualizing the sun setting behind those trees or hills.
A small observation dhan, yet it makes a huge difference. The keener we observe, the more vivid our writing becomes.
How Does Travel Enhance Your Writing?
Oru writer indha maadhri subtle observations-uh different different landscapes, cities, and places la pannum bodhu, avnuku neraya inputs kedaikum thannoda work la use panradhuku. Indha inputs could be anything like an interesting event, phenomena, interesting characters, stories of places nu enna venumna irukalam.
On top of that, travelling sparks epiphanial moments. Oru epiphanial moment uh experience panna oru writer ezhudhra description of that moment will have an insane level of intensity and heightened creativity.
It’s for the same reason why detail-oriented writers neraya travel pannanuvaanga. They carefully collect these moments and memories that they can later use in their art.
New Place, New Inspirations
Neraya artists paatheengana avanga work panra edatha suthi artistic and creative things ah vechirpaanga. Adhu paintings ah irukalam, home decor, sculptures, posters nu enna venumnaalum. Adhu en na, looking at these creative objects when the artist is sitting with his thoughts will spark new ideas and inspiration.
Adhae maadhri dhan travelling um.
Udhaaranathuku Na. Muthukumar uh eduthukonga. 2010 la Madarasapattinam padathukaga ella songs-um ezhudha avru commit pani irundhaaru. So Director Vijay oru naal, GV Prakash and Na. Muthukumar kita poi ‘namba en Malaysia poi songs ezhudha koodadhu?’ nu oru idea propose panraru; avangalum poranga.
Malaysia oda outskirts road onnuthula car la poite irukum bodhu, anga Na. Muthukumar oru scene-uh paakraaru: Road orama irundha maraththu mela oru parava onnu thaththi parandu podhu, and andha paravai ponadhuku aprom andha impact-aaluh branches aaduthu. Adhu varaikum Pookal Pookum Tharunam song oda first charanam ezhudhi mudichi irundha avaru, indha bird scene uh paathu ezhudhna lyrics dhan:
“Kaatril Paranthae Paravai
Maraintha Piragum
Kilai Thødangum
Nadanam Mudivathillaiyae..”
Ipo, Na. Muthukumar veetula irundhu ezhudhi irundhalum vera oru lyrics nallavae eludhirpaaru but andha place change pudhusa onna yosika vachirku avra.
Authenticity Through Direct Experience
Another reason why you may want to travel is because it adds authenticity to your description of places and people.
Ipo, Paris la oru café ku velila irukra table la rendu lovers kulla chinna sanda nadakra maadhri scene irukunu vechikuvom. Appo anga avangala pathi describe pannanumna, andha yedathula ennenna elements irukunu theriyama oru writer aaluh theliva solla mudiyaadhu: andha edathula trees neraya irundhucha? Table-uh enna ennalam things irundhuchu? Wind breezy ah aduchudha, ila sooda irundhucha? How widely did the senile street artist smile while saying thank you to the little girl who bought his art? What were his hand gestures? Do middle-aged men usually gather around in groups at the lakeside stone benches, enjoying cigars and coffee to the sunset? Indha maadhri neraya details help aagum oru scene uh pathi andha author realistic ah describe panna. Experiencing that place in person will allow you to describe that place genuinely and accurately, which adds a layer of authenticity.
Adhukunu nan ellarayum bag ellam pack pannitu kelappu da Malaysia/Paris ku nu solla varala. I mean, if you have the luxury of time and money, why not go there for those elements? If the story demands it, why not?
And adhe maadhri, apdi anga polana, writing nalla irukaadhunum solla varala. Engayume travel pannamalayae research mattume panni nalla ezhudhravangalum iruka dhan seiraanga. Unglala travel afford panna mudinjudhuna, make the best use of it. Apdi ilana, even short trips to places that are nearby can transform your writing.
Maybe neenga village sambandha patta kadha ezhudhreenga na, unga city ku pakathula irukra edhachu gramathula poi konja naal irungaa; avangaloda vaazhkai murai ellathayum paathutu, aprom ezhudha arambeenga. It all depends on the type of story you write about. To reproduce art better, you have to live it first.
But What About Nonfiction?
Idhu fiction ku-nu mattum ila, nonfiction kum porundhum. Changing your writing location sparks fresh ideas and engaging sentence structures. Try it and see for yourself epdi unga sentences oda phrasing different locations la different ah marudhu-nu.
So whenever you feel stuck in writing, konjam neram velila vera engayachu poi innoru draft ezhudha try panunga. Pakathula irukra café la try pannunga or even car la. It will be a game-changer.
Aaguh, writer’s block ah? Yedatha maathunga. Pudhu ideas venuma? Yedatha maathunga. Innum visual writer ah maaranumaa? Place uh maathi paarunga. New location, new elements, new ideas.
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