Are you an observer?

You would think, that as a writer, I’d almost have to answer this question with a yes, right? Seems obvious. But I realized recently that I’m really not much of an observer. I was talking to a friend who said something about people watching on the boardwalk at the beach. And I started to agree about what a great activity that was, but then I realized I don’t really do that. I’m sure I’ve said that I do, and probably meant it, but the reality is that when I walk down the boardwalk, I’m mostly trying to keep from getting run over by the crowd while window shopping.

Same thing with airports. Classic people watching place, right? Yeah, my nose is stuck in a book. Well, glued to my iphone, to be perfectly accurate. Sure, if someone has an interesting conversation going on next to me, I might tune in. Or if a group of soldiers walk by, yep, that will grab my attention because I’m a total sucker for a man in uniform. But for the most part, I’m not paying a whole lot of attention. I drive past a movie studio on my way to work, and have done so nearly every day for seven years and not once have I noticed anyone famous coming or going from the lot. It seems statistically impossible that nobody I’d recognized has ever been driving in as I’m driving past—the fact is, it just never occurs to me to look at who’s in the car next to me. I’ve always figured if I were a jogger, I’d be the idiot who runs right through a police situation without ever realizing there are guns drawn. Which is why it’s safer for everyone if I just stay home and keep my couch company. See, I’m much better at rationalizing than I am at observing.

This doesn’t really have anything to do with anything, it’s just something that occurred to me recently, and surprised me. Although, it does have something to do with my being single, according to my mother. She theorizes that since I’m so oblivious (my word, not hers), I don’t notice if a guy is trying to make eye contact with me. I tried arguing about the statistical probabilities of that being the case very often, but she wasn’t interested in my self-doubt. And she’s probably not wrong, to some extent. If you’re not focusing outward, then you’re almost by definition being closed off. So. Huh. I should probably work on that. But, enough about my love life, back to me as a writer. :P I think I’m a pretty empathic person, so while I’m not observant in the people-watching sense, I am very aware of the people that are actually part of my life. And there are plenty of crazy interesting people that are part of my life, so I do soak in a lot of good stuff, which I can then use on my poor, unsuspecting characters. Hmm, maybe being empathic (in a non-psychic sort of way) is actually part of the problem. You know, closing off from the randomness, so you don’t feel too much? Well, I could probably keep digging and find some deep, dark truth about myself, but this has gotten me thinking about one of my characters and I’d rather go screw up her life a bit. Much more entertaining for all of us, I’m sure!

So, how about you? Observer? Or oblivious? Don't forget, I'm giving away another ebook tonight. Just leave a comment with which of my books you'd like to win (see yesterday's post). I'll draw a winner at 10pm (PST).

I hope I haven't bored you with my rambling because tomorrow I need your help!

KB Alan
www.kbalan.com
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