Write What You Notice

Blame it on spring, but lately I’ve been on a kick about the ways in which writers—and everyone else—interact with the world. “Write what you know” is a common instruction for aspiring authors. Like most clichés, it holds a kernel of wisdom. But but don’t write only about what you know; write about what you notice.

Here in the West, it’s easy to get caught up in the larger aspects of being outdoors: the clear air and spectacular views, the aerobic challenge of mountain hiking, the attention-getting rocky terrain. Everything seems bigger and bolder. But here—like elsewhere—the real magic is in the microcosm.

Desert four o'clock, mirabilis multiflora

Nature reminds us daily to pause and look closer. We are surrounded by stories. A penstemon that was brown and dry a few weeks ago explodes with green leaves and a stem that appears to reach inches taller overnight. Heavy buds burst into bloom and bees follow, until the air vibrates with color and sound.

Look closer still: A nipped stalk might be the work of a javelina. Most Sedona visitors and quite a few locals have never seen a collared peccary, yet on nearly any trail you can spot its hoofprints, similar to deer tracks but smaller and closer together. Look for scrapes where a herd has searched for roots, or find scattered prickly pear parts, remnants of last night’s meal.

Look again at that prickly pear, and you might see a jumble of twigs, home to a woodrat (a.k.a. packrat) who cleverly arranges spiny cactus parts to discourage visitors. The nest, likely occupied for generations, may contain shiny treasures fallen from hikers’ pockets, or even pollens preserved since prehistoric times—a treasure for archaeologists. In so many ways, the world around us is interconnected, layered with stories.

“It is not a matter of miracles,” says Buddhist teacher and author Lewis Richmond, “but a matter of noticing.”

Opening your eyes, using all your senses, perceiving intimately—this is what separates tourists from travelers, whether you’re on the road to Grand Canyon or traveling the road of life. Write about what you notice, and your words are authentic, even inspiring. The everyday sparkles with the numinous, the deeper layers that call to our sense of beauty and connect us to the miraculous.