Yes, you read that correctly - BUGS!
Now, what on earth do bugs have to do with writing?
Insects comprise the largest portion of the animal kingdom. They are found in nearly every climate and every region. The closer one gets to the equator, the greater the population of bugs. They invade our ground, our air, and our homes.
If bugs exist everywhere, have you remembered to include them in your story?
Believe me, I am just as guilty! (My Southern-based YA series doesn't even have cockroaches.) But insects are truly everywhere, and while they do not factor into every story, if you are going for realism, you'll need some bugs.
Your character steps outside - flies, bees, wasps, gnats...
He's in the house (even clean ones) - ants, cockroaches, spiders...
She's in the garden - butterflies, caterpillars, beetles...
Your character walks through the woods - ticks, moths, millipedes...
He travels to S. American - dear Lord, more bugs than one can imagine!!
So think about that next time your character visits a crime scene in the middle of the night in Savannah, GA...
You better remember the flying cockroaches, a.k.a. "The Palmetto Bug!"
10 comments:
Yep. Good advice. Leaving out those kinds of details really bugs me. :)
The Old Silly
Love the photos... Remembering bugs in a story is a great little detail that helps flesh out the story and make it seem more real. Great post!
I have to admit, I never thought of adding a bug sighting in any of my work, but it makes such good sense. Thanks for the idea. I'm not much of a bug fan, but your photos made some of those creatures look downright loveable.
It does seem like about the only time bugs are mentioned is when someone happens upon a body. Although, right now I'm reading Shotgun Wedding by Susan Rogers Cooper and bugs are mentioned and there's no body nearby.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Is there a wedding cake? Bugs gotta eat!
I've even got bugs that land on my computer monitor. When I'm writing at night and most of the lights are off, these little gnat things from I don't know where fly at my computer monitor and land there.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
http://www.morganmandel.com
Those are excellent photos and beautiful bugs. Nice post related to the details we sometimes need to add while we're busily removing unnecessary and useless words.
Morgan, we get those gnat things too. More annoying than flies!
I love bugs, too. I have poems about them. You should meet my friend May Lattanzio. She photographs them, too. I'll send her to your blog.
Best,
Carolyn
I may have mentioned a bug or two but never concentrated on them. I'd better get on the buggy ride.
Mystery Mania
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