Sensory Focus: describing every single experience is going to overwhelm the reader. instead focus on those that stand out or actually advance the story.
Show, don‘t tell… unless you should tell: yes, usually showing is better than telling, but not everything needs to be packaged in wonderful words and metaphors. if it has no grander impact other than context or setting the mood, you can just say that the character is cold
Narrative Focus: depending on the narrator, the focus might be on different things. This can be influenced by interests, fears, emotional state, experience, ... (For example, someone who enjoys art/architectue/ fashion/... will focus on that particular aspect of their surroundings...)
Noticeable Abnormality: people are creatures of habit, they are unlikely to take conscious notice of things that are the exact same way they always are. Focus rather on things sensory experiences that are unusual; like an unusual scent when coming into a room, unusual heat, a car that doesn't fit into this part of the city, ...
Emotional State: someone‘s emotional state is going to influence how well they pay attention to their surroundings and which details they focus on (For example, someone who is frantic might miss details)
[Prompt Calender: June 24th, Celebration of the Senses Day]
Hair Type - refers to the attributes that make up your natural hair’s appearance and feel.
Your hair type depends on genetics, which dictates the following factors:
Dryness: As with skincare, moisture is essential for your hair’s health. Dry hair produces less oil on average. Some hairs might be greasier than others, especially after physical activity, and produce more natural oils. Special shampoos and deep-conditioning products can help with oil buildup to dry out and temper your hair’s oil production. You can also use serums or leave-in conditioners to boost hydration.
Texture: In terms of hair texture, the four main hair looks are straight, wavy, curly, and coily. Genetics can determine the shape of your hair follicles, which results in one or a combination of these different textures.
Thickness: Thick hair means your scalp produces hair in a higher density, while thin hair means there is more significant negative space between each hair follicle. Thin hair is not always a sign of hair loss or unhealthy hair; some people naturally have fine hair.
Types of Hair
The hair care industry categorizes hair into four types plus additional subcategories.
Knowing your hair type can help you choose mousses, hair masks, and other care products that can help strengthen your cuticles and improve hair strand health to prevent breakage.
Learn what defines each type and how they differ from one another:
Type 1: Straight hair, type 1, features round follicles, grows flat, and lies flat on the scalp. Type 1A hair is straight and fine, while type 1B has more volume and might hold more curls. Type 1C is thick and coarse, which can lead to frizzing.
Type 2: Wavy hair, type 2, has oblong follicles and grows in a slight zigzag pattern. Wavy hair can frizz in heat and humidity, making it look even curlier than usual. Type 2A wavy hair is fine and forms an “S” shape when it’s dry. Type 2B features waves at the mid-length, while type 2C is thicker and prone to extreme frizziness.
Type 3: Curly hair, type 3, has oval-shaped follicles that produce tighter curls than those of wavy hair. Curl patterns will vary in shape and size. Type 3A hair features loose, spiral curls, whereas type 3B has slightly tighter springs. Type 3C describes tight curls with a thicker texture.
Type 4: Coily hair is Type 4. Coily hair features coils, a tightly packed curl type resembling ringlets or corkscrews. These tight curls lend a heavier density to hair. Type 4A has defined coils, while type 4B has a crimped pattern. Type 4C is coily hair with a thick texture.
Hair Porosity
Hair porosity describes hair’s ability to absorb moisture.
The float test measures this porosity.
After brushing your hair, remove a single strand and place it in a bowl of warm water to see if it has low, medium, or high porosity:
Low porosity: If the hair strand floats in the water, it has a low porosity level, meaning it does not retain moisture well and needs hair care products for extra care. Avoid using oils, which will sit on top of the strands and not absorb well.
Medium porosity: If your hair sinks to the bottom, it has medium porosity. It takes in moisture easily and retains it fairly well. Your hair could benefit, if you desire, from the use of medium-weight products that will help it better maintain moisture.
High porosity: If your strand of hair sinks to the bottom of the water, it has high porosity. It takes in moisture easily but might not be able to retain it for long. Use deep conditioners and repair treatments, such as hair masks.
Tips for Styling Different Hair Types
Each hair type requires special hair care and styling products. Ask your hairstylist for their recommendations, and follow these tips:
Dry your hair type correctly. If you have straight hair, dry it before bed and use natural hair products to keep frizz at bay. You can blow-dry wavy hair to give it a fuller look and style it in the direction of your natural wave pattern. For curly hair, avoid heat-styling methods as they can damage the hair cuticles. Towel-dry coily hair after showering to remove excess water. Since this hair type is already dry, avoid using blow dryers—air-drying it reduces the risk of breakage.
Keep a hair care routine. Different types of hair require different schedules of care. For example, straight, thin hair requires more frequent washing—about three times a week—than other types to control oil production. People with tight coils can wash their hair once a week to prevent breakage.
Use the right products. Using the best products for your hair type is essential to maintain hair health. For example, coily hair is the driest type of hair. Apply deep conditioners weekly. Curly hair has less natural oil and benefits from the use of a sulfate-free shampoo, which moisturizes the hair.
Haircuts for Thin Hair
The best haircuts for naturally thin hair accentuate the face shape while making the hair appear more luscious.
Asymmetrical pixie cut: As a dramatic take on the classic pixie cut, the asymmetrical pixie uses a deep side part to make thin strands sit higher on the head. This short haircut is a low-maintenance style that adds volume and shape to fine hair types. Hairstylists also recommend angling the side part according to your face structure, so your hair highlights your natural features.
Long bob: Also known as a lob, a long bob is a twist on the traditional bob haircut. The style extends the classic blunt bob to the collarbone or just shorter than shoulder-length. Unlike other types of bobs that incorporate different layers, the long bob is a one-length look. Long bobs work well for fine, straight hair since the flat hair strands show off the blunt cut. The blunt ends also add body to thinner hair and complement heart-shaped faces.
Layers: Face-framing layers, such as side bangs and mid-length angles, add extra volume and give the illusion of thick hair. If you wear ponytails, braids, or messy buns, opt for long layers to ensure the ends of your hair tie back. Adding layers to chin-length cuts also make the hair appear thicker, but these types of short hairstyles are more challenging to style in an updo.
Shag: For a low-maintenance look, consider styling fine hair with a shag haircut. With its choppy layers, shags makes thin hair appear thicker. Add a spritz of sea salt spray followed by a mist of hair spray to create tousled beach waves. Wavy hair is a signature feature of the messy shag and adds volume to thin locks.
Wispy bangs: Straight curtain bangs weigh down fine hair and make strands appear thinner. Opt for loose, wispy bangs along a middle part if you want to add bangs to your hair look. Apply a dime-sized amount of pomade to dry hair before separating your bangs and taming flyaways.
How to Style Naturally Thin Hair
Follow these hair care and styling tips to add volume and texture to your naturally fine hair:
Choose a layered look. If you have medium-length or long hair, opt for a hairstyle that adds height, such as a half-up, half-down look. For curly hair, consider using curlers or a curling iron to touch up the top layers of your hair. Defining these top curls adds volume and movement to your hairline.
Gently comb damp hair. Thin hair is more prone to breakage and hair loss than thicker hair types. To detangle your hair without causing split ends, let your hair air-dry most of the way, and instead of using a hairbrush, use a wide-toothed comb to brush your damp hair and detangle your ends.
Only condition the ends of your hair. While conditioner is nourishing and hydrating, too much of it can weigh down fine hair. To avoid saturating your hair with products, apply a nickel-sized amount of conditioner to the ends of your hair. As a general rule, always use conditioner on the bottom half of your hair, as it’s too heavy for the scalp region.
Opt for lightweight hair products. Heavy products weigh down thin hair and cause greasiness. Using the right products helps promote healthy natural hair growth and creates the illusion of thicker hair. Instead of oils and hair moisturizers, opt for lightweight mousses, texturizing sprays, and dry shampoos. These types of volumizing products minimize sebum buildup, reduce frizz, and lift the upper half of your hair for added volume.
Rough-dry your hair. Blow-drying your hair is another way to enhance naturally thin hair. If you have medium-length hair with long layers, consider getting a blowout to define your layers and increase volume. For shorter haircuts with minimal layers, opt for the rough-dry technique, which lets the hair shafts partially air-dry before styling with a blow-dryer. This DIY blowout method uses your fingers instead of a round brush to tousle and scrunch the hair as you move the blow-dryer around your scalp. Pushing the hair shafts up with your fingers is a quick way to enhance your hair texture and create natural volume.
How to Style Curly Hair
Arguably the most important part of styling curly hair is the way you treat it beforehand. Follow these curly hair tips for great-looking, bouncy curls all day long.
Comb wet hair from the bottom up. Your curly hair will detangle best if you start at the tips and comb up toward the roots. Always use a wide-tooth comb and gently work your way through small sections, detangling any knots as you go. Comb while your hair is still wet to allow your curls to dry in their natural curl pattern.
Deep condition once a week. Use a deep-conditioning hair mask designed for your hair texture once a week to restore luster to your curls and lock in moisture. For extra moisture, apply the conditioner to dry hair and cover with a shower cap for twenty minutes, then shampoo and condition as usual.
Dry with a T-shirt or microfiber towel. Use a T-shirt or microfiber towel to dry your hair. Terrycloth towels are rough on curly hair and can create frizz and breakage, while T-shirts and microfiber towels are softer and gentler on curls. You can also let your hair air-dry, or try “plopping,” which involves placing your hair in a mound atop your head and then wrapping it in a T-shirt to dry.
Find the right hair products. Use a shampoo and conditioner designed for curly hair. If you have dry hair, aim for sulfate-free shampoos that won’t strip nutrients from your curls and use a moisturizing conditioner. Look for styling products that are good for your hair type: Coconut oil will de-frizz, a leave-in conditioner will hydrate, and a mousse or curl cream will add body to fine hair.
Trim your hair regularly. Split ends create frizzy hair. To keep your hairstyle looking smooth and bouncy, visit your hairstylist regularly for a trim. Ask your stylist how often you should come in for a trim and follow their recommendation.
Protect your curls at night. If you want to keep your curls from getting flattened or frizzy while you sleep, try the “pineapple trick” by gathering your hair at the top of your head in a soft scrunchie or hair tie to hold it together in a loose bun. Sleeping on a silk pillowcase will prevent tangling and frizz while you sleep.
Use a curling iron. If your hair refuses to cooperate, a curling iron will help you get rogue curls back in place. Use a curling iron that’s the same diameter as your curl type.
Use a curl-refreshing spray. A curl-refresher hair spray will give you bouncy ringlets after a night of sleep. Make your own out of warm water and leave-in conditioner, or purchase a spray designed for this purpose. Spritz liberally and scrunch your hair with your hand to create defined curls.
Use a diffuser to add body. When you want to blow-dry your hair, use a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer to avoid direct heat, which can cause frizz. Spray a thermal heat protectant in your hair before drying to protect your curls from heat damage. Always blow-dry your hair upside down to retain the body.
Tips to Treat Straight Hair
Using the proper techniques and hair products for naturally straight hair helps nourish and strengthen the follicles, combatting split ends and promoting healthy growth. Follow these tips to care for straight hair:
Condition regularly: To prevent breakage and dry ends, apply a moisturizing oil to the ends of dry or wet hair. If you have long straight hair, also consider using a conditioner with hydrating ingredients, such as argon, rosemary, or coconut oil to prevent frizz and flyaways.
Use heat protectant products: If you use a curling iron, straightener, or hair dryer on a consistent basis, apply heat protectant products to prime and protect your hair from heat damage.
Wash every other day: Unlike wavy or curly hair types, straight hair requires more frequent washes. Since the hair shafts are flat, oil buildup slides down the ends of the hair more easily, resulting in greasy hair. To prevent straight hair from laying flat and looking oily, wash your hair every other day with a sulfate-free shampoo.
Haircuts for Naturally Straight Hair
Straight hair types can pull off sleek styles with sharp edges. Here are some of the best haircuts to highlight your naturally straight locks:
A-line bob: This blunt cut is a twist on the classic bob. Known for its gradual slope, the A-line bob is shorter in the back and longer in the front. Straight hair works well with an A-line look since the flat hair shafts show off the angled hairline.
Long bob: Also known as a lob, a long bob highlights heart-shaped faces. Unlike a traditional bob haircut, which falls around chin-length, a long bob ends just above the shoulders. This blunt bob look also works well for blowouts.
Pixie cut: For fine hair, choosing a haircut with a deep side part is a way to add volume. A short pixie cut is an edgy hairstyle that typically uses a hard part to add height to the hair look. Defined by short layers on the back of the head and longer layers on top, the pixie cut is a low-maintenance look for straight hairstyles.
Side-swept bangs: Another cut that offers various styling options for straight hair is one with side-swept bangs. This look adds shape and volume to thin hair and round faces. Side-swept bangs also work for different hair lengths, so you can incorporate these bangs into a long or mid-length hairstyle.
Undercut: If you have thick hair and prefer a short haircut, consider styling your straight hair as an undercut. This trendy style has short sides that frame a long top piece, creating a striking look. You can play with the top layer of hair, styling it slicked back with a pomade or letting it hang down naturally across your forehead.
How to Style Straight Hair
Depending on the length of your hair and face shape, you can style straight hair with different grooming techniques.
Short hair: Use pomades and hairspray to style shorter hair. Applying these types of styling products prevents frizz and helps your style lasts throughout the day. When using a pomade on short haircuts, apply a dime-size amount to your hair to create a slick hair texture. Stylists also recommend using a lightweight moisturizer on skin fades to prevent the back of your head from becoming dry and irritated. You can use texturizing sprays and mousse to add volume to short hairstyles and incorporate dry shampoo into your hair routine to prevent oil buildup.
Medium-length hair: If you have mid-length hair, you can style your hair up or down. Casual updos, such as low ponytails and side braids, work well with straight, medium hair. You can dress these easy hairstyles up with a colorful barrette or hair tie. For a twist on your natural hair look, add a spritz of sea salt spray and let your hair air-dry to create tousled beach waves. Finish this wavy hair look with a thin layer of hairspray.
Long hair: To prevent tangling and split ends, use a boar-bristle brush or wide-toothed comb on damp hair. When blow-drying long straight hair, use alligator clips to divide sections of hair into manageable pieces and style with a round brush. You can try several long hairstyles, including half-up looks or updos like messy buns, high ponytails, or intricate braids. To style bangs with longer hair, use a blow-dryer and round brush, combing your hair away from your forehead.
Bob Haircut - a short style that frames your face and ends near your jawline.
This versatile hairstyle suits different hair types.
A bob creates a sleek look for thin hair and helps tame thicker tresses.
Different variations of the bob incorporate fringe, layers, and face-framing angles to add movement and shape.
Types of Bob Haircuts
Bob haircuts complement different face shapes and styles. Hairstylists cut long and short hair into the following bob variations:
A-line bob: This chic hairstyle features an angled cut. Shorter in the back and longer in the front, the A-line bob adds volume with its gradual slope. Consider opting for an A-line bob if you have a square face.
Classic bob: Also known as a blunt bob, this short hairstyle is a simple cut that remains the same length around the base of the hair. The blunt cut gives the face a round look, balancing the appearance of long face shapes.
Lob: Also known as a “long bob,” a lob is a longer version of the classic bob. Lobs end around shoulder-length and suit all face shapes. You can use a middle part to create a modern look or style your long bob with a deep side part to add volume. Lobs are a great option if you have long hair and want to try a short haircut while still keeping some length.
Layered bob: This short bob style uses choppy layers to add body and movement to the cut. If you have straight, fine hair, a layered bob gives the illusion of voluminous, thick hair.
Shaggy bob: Known for its razor cut, the shaggy bob is a bouncy, textured bob that features rough layers. Wispy fringe or side bangs are other common elements of shaggy bobs. This tousled, messy bob style is a low-maintenance look.
How to Style a Bob Haircut
While most bobs are too short to tie into an updo, there are many other styling techniques you can use to enhance the look of your bob haircut. Here are styling tips for different hair types:
Curly hair: Maintaining a curly bob involves preventing frizz and enhancing your natural hair texture. Apply a dime-size amount of styling cream to damp hair, gently scrunching the product into your curls. This application method defines your curls and helps prevent frizz. Avoid brushing your hair, as this crimps curls and causes flyaways. If you need to detangle your curls before styling them, use a wide-tooth comb and remove knots gently when your hair is wet. Finish the look with hair clips or a headband.
Straight hair: Unlike curly hair, which has natural volume, straight hair can appear flat. To enhance the look of your straight bob, apply a texturizing spray, dry shampoo, or mousse to your hair to add volume, or use a round brush when blow-drying your hair. Start with the bottom sections, gently curling the layers as you blow-dry, and apply a lightweight hairspray to make your blowout last throughout the day.
Wavy hair: For wavy hair types, play with your hair’s natural texture to create the tousled look of beachy waves. Add a spritz of sea salt spray to your hair, scrunching your wavy bob to accentuate your hair. You can also use a curling iron to touch up your beach waves—just apply a heat protectant spray to prep your hair.
Shag - a haircut defined by choppy layers, tousled volume, and wispy bangs.
As a versatile hairstyle, the shag is adaptable to different hair types and lengths.
The classic shag features soft beach waves, but variations on the shag style include the undercut shag, which has a razor-cut side shave, the wolf cut, and the shag mullet, which combines long layers in the back with shorter layers in the front.
You can have a straight or curly shag haircut and different length cuts, from long hair that extends beyond your shoulders to just above the collarbone (like a lob, or long bob haircut).
Wolf Cut - a hairstyle that features choppy layers on top and longer layers around the sides of your head.
Inspired by the retro rock 'n' roll look popular throughout the 1970s, this cut concentrates volume on the top half of the head, becoming thinner toward the hair ends.
The signature fringe of the wolf cut ends around brow length; however, you can customize the length of your bangs according to your face shape.
Straight, wavy, and curly hair types can create the type of tousled, bouncy lift that defines the voluminous wolf haircut.
If you have a naturally wavy or curly wolf cut, use a curl cream to add definition to your locks.
For straight hair, add a texturizing spray to create body and movement.
The wolf cut look also suits different hair lengths, so you can adapt this style into a long or short haircut.
Types of Hair Clips
Regardless of your hairstyle and whether you have straight or curly hair, there are different types of hair clips to help maintain your look throughout the day.
Alligator clips: Unlike other types of clips, alligator hair clips function as a temporary piece to hold hair back during haircuts or styling. Alligator clips have a unique pinch style that grips hair and prevents it from slipping out of the clip. Since alligator clips have a strong clasp, hairstylists use them to hold curls in place and pin hair off the face.
Banana clips: Known for their unique shape, banana clips have a row of stretchy teeth enclosed by two flexible pieces of plastic. Popular during the 80s, banana hair clips create a voluminous ponytail. You can also use a banana clip to secure a French braid or bun hairdo.
Bobby pins: As a versatile, lightweight clip, bobby pins are a staple hair accessory. Both thick and thin hair types can use bobby pins. You can use them to create messy buns or clip bangs back. Depending on how you position the bobby pins, you can either display them or hide them in your hair.
Claw clip: Also known as jaw clips, claw clips are a hair accessory made with a single clamp and row of teeth. Claw hair clips range in size depending on the number of teeth; however, most claw clips can hold a large section of hair. You can use a claw clip to replace a hair tie and create an elegant French twist or a classic half-up, half-down look. Butterfly clips are small claw clips that look like a butterfly.
Duckbill clips: Similar to alligator clips, duckbill clips are for haircuts or styling rather than for use as an everyday fashion accessory. Made with a large, flat prong, duckbill clips divide the hair into sections so stylists can easily cut and style hair. Using duckbill clips also makes the blow-drying and styling process easier if you do your hair at home.
French barrette: Unlike other types of hair clips, French barrettes have a tension bar positioned under the clip’s flat surface. Since small sections of hair are secure between the top and bottom piece, the tension bar is out of view. French hair barrettes come in various colors and patterns, from minimalist pastel shades to bold prints.
Snap clips: A great option for fine hair, snap clips secure small sections of hair without slipping. Snap clips open and close with a simple push.
"Now I've shot so many Nazis, Daddy will have to buy me a sable coat." (From his Wikipedia article).
Neil Munro "Bunny" Roger
June 9, 1911-April 27, 1997.
Bunny Roger killed a bunch of Nazis and then invented Capri pants.
He was expelled from Oxford for his indiscrete gayness (discrete gayness being perfectly fine at Oxford and part of the curriculum until...today probably, at least like 1992?). Then, having been sent down to London, he started his own fashion business, and his first client was Vivien Leigh.
Bunny served in WWII, killing fascists in North Africa and Italy, and often wearing a mauve scarf in the field. Roger claimed that he had gone into a battle brandishing a rolled-up copy of VOGUE and commanding: "When in doubt, powder heavily!"
Roger was known in high society for his themed soirées; Diamond, Amethyst, and Flame Balls were held to celebrate his 60th, 70th, and 80th birthdays. He wore a curious plum colored catsuit with a feathered headdress at his 70th birthday ball in 1981. At his 80th, he made his entrance in a catsuit of scarlet sequins with a cape of orange organza, greeting his guests from behind a wall of fire. His parties were covered by the newspapers, including a New Year's Eve Fetish Ball where the proper upper class mixed with young guests in rubber S/M gear.
From an obituary: "Beneath his mauve mannerisms, Bunny was stalwart, frank, dependable and undeceived; to onlookers a passing peacock, to intimates, a life enhancer and exemplary friend."
and EVEN WHEN things were more muted/neutral, the neutrality was OFFSET by ACCENT COLORS and HIGH CONTRAST between the wood tones and everything ELSE
ALSO AMERICAN COLONIAL INTERIORS POPPED OFF, Y'ALL (IN TERMS OF COLOR/COZINESS)
PEOPLE USED WHITEWASH AND COLORFUL TRIM OR EVEN JUST COLORFUL FURNITURE IF THEY COULD AFFORD TO DO SO
AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON FRENCH AND BRITISH AND AMERICAN WALLPAPERS
"ELIZABETH" YOU CRY, "WHY ARE YOU BEING SO EXTRA THIS MORNING?! IT'S MONDAY"
Because, my friend, my war on GREIGE will NEVER end.
Historic interiors were filled with LIFE and LIGHT and COLOR. ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.
Part of the reason we don't see a lot of textile art is because, frankly, textiles tend to degrade over time - especially ones that had utility! And yes, pigments and weaving and dying all boosted the expense of things, when we were finally reliably block-printing fabrics and broad reams of paper, it was no longer just the wealthy who could afford pretty patterns!
In the Americas, a far wider variety of pigments also became available because of the abundance of... well, a shitton of flora and minerals, some of which weren't as common in Europe.
WHY THE HIGHLIGHTER COLORS? you ask.
CANDLES.
Those colors reflect candlelight and natural sunlight REALLY WELL.
Humans LOVE bright colors, it's NOT just a thing for kids. We live in a brilliant, vibrant, multifaceted world. We ALWAYS have.
(STOP MAKING YOUR HISTORIC SIMS 4 BUILDS BE BLAND. STOP IT.)
Curiosity - the impulse or desire to investigate, observe, or gather information, particularly when the material is novel or interesting.
This drive appears spontaneously in nonhuman animals and in young children, who use sensory exploration and motor manipulation to inspect, bite, handle, taste, or smell practically everything in the immediate environment.
The Five-Dimensional Model of Curiosity
Deprivation sensitivity—recognizing a gap in knowledge the filling of which offers relief. This type of curiosity doesn’t necessarily feel good, but people who experience it work relentlessly to solve problems. This dimension was derived from Berlyne and Loewenstein’s work.
Joyous exploration—being consumed with wonder about the fascinating features of the world. This is a pleasurable state; people in it seem to possess a joie de vivre. This dimension was influenced by Deci’s research.
Social curiosity—talking, listening, and observing others to learn what they are thinking and doing. Human beings are inherently social animals, and the most effective and efficient way to determine whether someone is friend or foe is to gain information. Some may even snoop, eavesdrop, or gossip to do so. This dimension stems from Renner’s research.
Stress tolerance—a willingness to accept and even harness the anxiety associated with novelty. People lacking this ability see information gaps, experience wonder, and are interested in others but are unlikely to step forward and explore. This dimension builds on recent work by Paul Silvia, a psychologist at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Thrill seeking—being willing to take physical, social, and financial risks to acquire varied, complex, and intense experiences. For people with this capacity, the anxiety of confronting novelty is something to be amplified, not reduced. This dimension was inspired by Zuckerman's work.
The researchers conducted surveys across the United States to discover which of the dimensions lead to the best outcomes and generate particular benefits.
For instance, joyous exploration has the strongest link with the experience of intense positive emotions.
Stress tolerance has the strongest link with satisfying the need to feel competent, autonomous, and that one belongs.
Social curiosity has the strongest link with being a kind, generous, modest person.
They also explored attitudes toward and expressions of work-related curiosity.
In a survey of 3,000 workers in China, Germany, and the United States, they found that 84% believe that curiosity catalyzes new ideas, 74% think it inspires unique, valuable talents, and 63% think it helps one get promoted.
In other studies across diverse units and geographies, they have found evidence that 4 of the dimensions—joyous exploration, deprivation sensitivity, stress tolerance, and social curiosity—improve work outcomes.
The latter two seem to be particularly important: Without the ability to tolerate stress, employees are less likely to seek challenges and resources and to voice dissent and are more likely to feel enervated and to disengage.
And socially curious employees are better than others at resolving conflicts with colleagues, more likely to receive social support, and more effective at building connections, trust, and commitment on their teams.
People or groups high in both dimensions are more innovative and creative.
A monolithic view of curiosity is insufficient to understand how that quality drives success and fulfillment in work and life. To discover and leverage talent and to form groups that are greater than the sum of their parts, a more nuanced approach is needed.
Psychologists have compiled a large body of research on the many benefits of curiosity:
It enhances intelligence: In one study, highly curious children aged three to 11 improved their intelligence test scores by 12 points more than their least-curious counterparts did.
It increases perseverance, or grit: Merely describing a day when you felt curious has been shown to boost mental and physical energy by 20% more than recounting a time of profound happiness.
And curiosity propels us toward deeper engagement, superior performance, and more-meaningful goals: Psychology students who felt more curious than others during their first class enjoyed lectures more, got higher final grades, and subsequently enrolled in more courses in the discipline.
Since the 1950s psychologists have offered competing theories about what makes one person more curious than another. Rather than regard curiosity as a single trait, we can now break it down into five distinct dimensions. Instead of asking, “How curious are you?” we can ask, “How are you curious?”
We’ve all been warned about the dangers of using too much description. Readers don’t want to read three paragraphs about a sunset, we’re told. Description slows down a story; it’s boring and self-indulgent. You should keep your description as short and simple as possible. For those who take a more scientific approach to writing fiction, arbitrary rules abound: One sentence per paragraph. One paragraph per page. And, for god’s sake, “Never open a book with weather” (Elmore Leonard).
But what this conventional wedding wisdom fails to take into account is the difference between static and dynamic description. Static description is usually boring. It exists almost like a painted backdrop to a play. As the name suggests, it doesn’t move, doesn’t interact or get interacted with.
There were clouds in the sky.
Her hair was red with hints of orange.
The house had brown carpeting and yellow countertops.
In moderation, there’s nothing wrong with static description. Sometimes, facts are facts, and you need to communicate them to the reader in a straightforward manner.
But too much static description, and readers will start to skim forward. They don’t want to read about what the house looks like or the stormy weather or the hair color of each of your protagonist’s seventeen cousins.
Why? Because they can tell it’s not important. They can afford to skip all of your description because their understanding of the story will not be impacted.
That’s where dynamic description comes in. Dynamic description is a living entity. It’s interactive, it’s relevant. It takes on the voices of your narrators and characters. In short, it gives us important information about the story, and it can’t be skimmed over.
So how do you make your description more dynamic so that it engages your readers and adds color and excitement to your story? Here are a few tips.
(I have a TON more tips about setting and description. These are just a few. But I’m trying to keep this short, so if you have any questions or want more advice about this, please feel free to ask me.)
Here is a massive list of synonyms for the most commonly over-used words in the English language. All sources are linked below each list if you click the bolded “x” below each individual section.
When idle, what expression shows on the character’s face?
Do they have a classic case of RBF? Because I know I do. Do they tend to scare people off or invite them in? Do they narrow their eyes or widen them? Do they stick up their nose towards others or stare down at the ground? How quickly does this expression change when approached by another person? Does it become more off-putting or more welcoming?
How much does their idle expression contrast with their personality? For example, does a frightening person in appearance actually have a soft, sensitive heart? On the other hand, does someone swear that their face only looks mean and that they wouldn’t hurt a fly, when inwardly, they really are judgmental or moody?
Has the character’s typical expression ever affected interactions with others? Were one of their present day friends ever nervous to interact with them before befriending them? Or did a person pleasant in appearance help a shy individual make their first friend?
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