Take a simple sentence of action like one of the examples below, and write a paragraph that provides a richness of concrete detail to show the meaning of the sentence. (1) He was afraid of the dark. (2) He fell and assessed the damage. (3) The men looked me over. (4) She felt a little ashamed.
Can you put your finger on the scene's focal point?
→The Primary Image
Instead of starting with a character, start with an image. Locate yourself in a setting that interests you, perhaps someplace you have traveled, or would like to travel, or a place that scares you, or thrills you. Identify something in the setting that evokes a response in you. Write freely for 5 minutes about that image. Now imagine a character in that setting confronting the same something, and having a reaction. Will the character be engaged in an activity that draws attention to the image you have in mind? Or will the image be a distraction? Or will it be a projection of something emotional in the character? You have many possibilities, but begin with the image.