I had a strange dream over the weekend.  I don't really remember much other than I was speaking to someone -- a famous author, I think, but I can't remember clearly.  And he said, "It's all in the details."  This struck me and has stayed with me.  It's the rivulet of water running down the pane of glass as I look out, it's the new pair of shoes flung across the closet . . . that tells so much about the character or the story.  So many little details that if done right can say something about the person without overdoing and being too much.

I came home from our Writers Girls Group the other night thinking how cool it is to talk to these other writers and share experiences.  I realized that even though our experiences were all different, someone would share something and I'd immediately think of my own experiences and be able to relate and connect to that other person in some way even though our experiences might be vastly different -- they still linked in my mind and helped me relate to the other persons dilemma. 

I've been pondering this for the last few days along with the comment about details, trying to understand how I can better make those connections . . . build those important relationships and add meaningful details in my own characters. I should have seen the  little connections before more poignantly.  I have in my own life, but it hasn't clicked as vividly for me in my writing.  This whole idea that one person's experience connects to another's in a very small way (not like when you meet someone who is so similar to you that you have so much in common but more like being different but having a sliver of commonality that links you) was like someone opening the blinds and letting me see the rest of the world I've been missing.  This sounds stupid like I should have seen it before, and I think in some ways I have, but it's clearer.  I'm still trying to figure out the best way for me to show these connections and the building of these relationships in my writing.  I think this is where I'll still struggle.  But I'm so grateful that I see the bridge from real life to writing.  I'm not sure I've come up with the right answer, but I think awareness is the first step. I'm hoping this understanding will strengthen my characterization.
 
What about you?  What do you do to bring out those small connections and details that develop your characters and build relationships in your writing?