(I'm not proud to admit I've gone a few weeks without writing, and yes, I realize that the only thing worse than a broke writer is a broke writer who doesn't write. In my defense, I can say that I've been busy doing volunteer work).
Some of you may know from a previous blog post that I have a day job as a front desk agent at a hotel. Aside from the financial benefits of a full time job, of course, as an aspiring writer I benefit from observing unsuspecting people's behavior. While they go about their business, I observe and learn how real people behave so I can better characterize the fictional people in my stories.
The best time to watch without creeping people out for staring is during our complimentary continental breakfast. A specific trait that most people share is that of spot blindness, which in this case applies to those who can't see what's right in front of them no matter how hard they try. The bigger the object, the harder to spot.
For instance, the cereal dispensers have big knobs that, when turned, release cereal. These knobs have very visible red arrows indicating they should be turned clockwise. However, many people turn the knobs the opposite direction. When no cereal comes out, they seem to think it must be because they're not spinning it fast enough.
Another instance is when they can't find the coffee pot. Their first impulse is to ask the attendant, me, to which I reply pointing in the right direction, "The coffee pot is on that table over there by the window." Some people say "Thank you, sir," and happily pour themselves a cup of bad coffee. Others, however, stand in front of the table trying hard to find the coffee pot, growing frustrated by the second. Some even grab the smaller glass pot of hot water that's next to the BIG metal coffee container and ask me with an are-you-serious look on their face, "Is this the coffee?"
We've all experienced this type of spot blindness at one time or another, but by observing how often it happens, I've learned two things from this phenomenon. One, that the best place to hide something, especially something big, is in plain view. Second, as human beings we miss what's right in front of us, be it a coffee pot, a person, or a solution to a problem. It seems to me that our brain tends to dismiss simplicity.
Bottom line is, while you're leaving no stone unturned looking for an object, an answer, the right person, even love, it may just be staring you right in the face.
