#Capture a moment synonym how to#

Include details that give depth to the moment. They help the reader (or listener) put themselves in the moment. These details give you a better sense of who someone is or what they're going through. He gives small details like tennis shoes and faded jeans, the way someone is always early, or a flip phone with an obnoxious ringtone. One of my favorite songwriters, Ben Rector, does this. They have to point to a bigger picture of what you're trying to express. It's actually one of my favorite things about writing and reading.īut here's the catch. Pay Attention to the Small DetailsĬonfession: I love small details. You write best about the places and moments you've really breathed and allowed yourself to experience.ĭon't forget to breathe. There's something in that breath that actually gives you a better sense of your surroundings. (And when you allow yourself to be swept up in the overwhelming pressure, you either write nothing at all or complete crap.)īut you have to stop focusing on every smell and sound and breathe the moment. So let me tell you a secret: while writing in the same cafés as Hemingway, the pressure to write incredible, life-changing, perfect stories is overwhelming. Many of the world's best writers have written in the places I sit. I've struggled with this during my travels. But the secret to really capturing amazing moments is to breathe. Joe recently wrote a post about this. It is easy to get caught up in describing your surroundings and finding the perfect word for the rainy weather. You can edit later, but you can't relive the moment. Sometimes these descriptions might seem obvious or even boring, but write them down anyway. These descriptions and details are the foundation for describing any moment. What do I see? What do I hear? Taste? Smell? Feel? ( Here's another post about unlocking the five senses.) To begin capturing a moment, you need to go through each of these senses. This is the way you process the majority of your surroundings. The five senses are sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Here are five tips to consider while trying to capture a moment.

#Capture a moment synonym how to#

So in today's post, I want to explore just how to do that. The ability to capture these moments will change your writing. They are the moments that make up stories. These moments are what make up your life. It's hugging someone goodbye at the airport, not knowing the next time you will see them. It's holding hands for the first time in a foreign city, wondering what it all means. It's walking into a refugee camp in Greece, knowing your life will never be the same. These are moments you know you'll never forget. Every day I've seen something I might never see again.Īnd each day there have been moments I've desperately wanted to capture. I've been to Iceland, Athens, Lesvos, Amsterdam, Maastricht, and next week, I will be going to Paris. The last few weeks I've been traveling around Europe.