Learn To Observe

byTGoudeaux

206 followers

Updated 6 years ago

In order to improve your writing skills about a particular location, you must learn to improve your observation skills. Period. How can you offer insights to something you cannot see? People want to know more than what is on the surface. They want to know what is the unspoken language of a place, the nuance, the feeling.

Suddenly you are a salesperson and your opinion matters. Now you can judge for your audience because they are not there. They depend on you to give them insight to this place and why (or why not) they would want to get off of their couch and partake in this location or activity.

As an example, yesterday I scouted a place as part of a larger article on coffee culture in a particular area of town. Of course there is a local Starbucks. It felt like Starbucks. There is a certain order to Starbucks. Certain items for sale. Certain uniforms, certain decorations or design. It makes Starbucks predictable for your enjoyment. You know what to expect at any Starbucks with a little room for the area it is in to mold itself. A college area shop may be slightly difference in its offerings than one in a corporate setting but 80-90 percent they are what you would expect.

This one was no different. Crowded, and tight to move around when a Starbucks is popular and every kind of person reflecting the surrounding area. Nothing really stood out except some fliers and publications making you aware that you are near a university. Extra chairs as if there are sometimes after hours events. But still there was a chain store feel.

The next shop I entered was in a revamped home. A single story mini "craftsman" so to speak. Initially it was less crowded with more open space to stand. The feeling was different as the staff was more casually attired. Logo t-shirts but not all the same one. More piercings, tattoos, and styles such as facial hair and man buns. As people entered, there were noticeably more Vans (skateboard culture sneakers), Dr Marten's boots, and leaning toward hipster styles. I felt this was a more "open" environment in a liberal sense (not political but people). It seemed as if the coffee they offered could be adapted toward styles and feelings, (where it comes from, quality, sustainability,) much easier as there isn't a large corporate structure to control decisions.

People came in from other businesses on the block as if this was just a part of their life not just a coffee shop. More of a meeting place and a haven. I saw the alternative lifestyle magazine and even a small quiet dog was allowed to relax here. You can see all of this in minutes by observation and start to see a demographic, especially after an hour of quiet spying. You could tell in minutes if not seconds that this was a community, not just a place to get coffee. To spread news and get news. Many who entered seemed familiar with staff and visa versa. People went out of their way to support this environment because they felt at home.

Whether it is a coffee house or an eatery or a hotel, there is a culture from rustic, to luxury, from Timberland or Red Wing boots to more well heeled Italian loafers. When you want to "sell" an environment, you have to learn the environment so you can sell that environment to the right set of people. Readers of "Rough Guides" travel publications would feel more at home here than those of "Conde Nast Traveler". Of course there are exceptions but as a travel writer you are looking for the demographic clusters more than the individual. There is a similarity as you post an article, to make sure there is an audience for it, and that article fits. We get better at this the more we do it.