While I don’t advocate overt spying on other people, I’ve often said that you can gain a lot from eavesdropping on conversations in a public place. This can give you an insight into the rhythms of speech and character quirks.

Here are three snippets of conversation that I’ve overheard in the past few days, whilst holidaying in the tropics:

1. Overheard on the wharf at a large marina (a young man in his twenties, astride a bicycle, had stopped to talk to a barefoot woman in shorts): He said: “… so I thought: maybe I’m not the no-talent monster I thought I was…”

2. Overheard at the Sunday markets (a family group was sitting behind the canopy that sheltered the racks of clothes I was browsing). A male voice said: “He’s just lost his wife, so he’ll need some time to grieve. We’ll give him about six months and then we’ll find him a girlfriend.”

3. Overheard at our holiday apartment. We were sitting at a table in a small outdoor area, accessed through sliding doors from our room, and separated from similar outdoor areas by a half-wall. Outside the next-door unit, a man was talking loudly (and at length) on his mobile phone. Suddenly there came an irritated female voice from the outdoor area on our OTHER side: “To the man using the mobile phone: could you be QUIET, please?”

(Gulp. Phone rage! We sat there tensely wondering if he’d appear at our table ready to throw the phone at us… )

All three of those overheard snippets had me wondering what could have happened leading up to the conversation or what might have happened afterwards.

If you carry a notebook with you (as I do!) capture these snippets. You may never use them – but on the other hand, you might find them useful for a scene in your novel, or for a writing exercise.

Categories: General Tips
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