I was working with one of my reporters yesterday on a story
he’s writing about an 87-year-old farmer. Before starting his interviews, we
talked about the various details to be aware of. We talked about all of the
senses and how each one plays a role in bringing his story to life.
We talked about
physical details (i.e. Are his hands wrinkled? Freckled? Chapped? Calloused? Covered
with sunspots the side of a pencil eraser? Is dirt embedded in his nails?) and
details he might not think to collect. For example, I asked him the distance
from the main road back the lane to the farmer’s house. I asked him what
bordered all four sides of the farmer’s property. If you know me, then you know
I love details and so you can imagine what our conversation was like.
So yesterday we met, trying to figure out the best lead to
his story. He had a notebook full of wonderful details. And, yet, there were
still some things I asked him that he hadn’t thought to collect. They weren’t
the kind of details that make or break a story (or he would go back to get
them) but they were details that elevate the story to the next level.
