As I was heading down a narrow two lane road to pick my daughter up from school I crested a hill and realized that the car in front of me was stopped, waiting to turn left across traffic.

I slowed to a stop behind them, then looked in my rearview mirror as the next car crested the hill–and didn’t stop.

My mind noticed how fast he was going, that it was an old and large station wagon, and that there was room on the shoulder (to my right) if I needed to pull out of his way, all in the few seconds it took for him to apply the brakes.

Then one part of my mind spun into an image of him smashing into me, another noticed the blue smoke and black bits coming from his tires, I prompted myself to pull onto the shoulder, and I was surprised at how loud the squeal of his tires came through my closed windows, again, all in just seconds.

Of course, given that I’m blogging instead of whistling into the sterile confines of a hospital room, he stopped in time.  The accident was avoided.  But it left me wondering if my writing is capable of expressing that kind of quickly shifting imagery and thought.  How would the character really respond to the giant jack-o-lope leaping out of the fire?  How can those images be evoked through words?

Questions, what about answers?  Well, it helps to break up the words into tightly paced short sentences.  It helps to use fresh nouns and punchy verbs.  Evocative images delivered in quick-time.  Building a history of trust with the reader, so the reader can and will flesh out the scene is a must.

I know I’m not there yet, but perhaps if I work hard and pay attention I’ll get there.  Plus, I might be lucky enough to share the road with other crazy drivers, and therein enjoy a great deal of gainful research.