What I suggest to young writers is that they take a hike in another man's shoes. This is that man's turf so he probably doesn't notice anything. But YOU have never been there before. So, as you walk along in his shoes you want to be asking yourself some questions..
What kind of trees are these?
What kind of birds do I see?
What kind of animals are about here?
What kind of tracks am I looking at?
How old are the tracks?
Where do animals cross the trail?
Why are they crossing here?
Which way does the wind blow most often?
Are these trees, or shrubs, or a mix? Are they stunted?
Are there any vines? How big are they? How long did it take for them to grow this big?
Where is the nearest water?
How thick is the underbrush?
What sounds am I hearing?
As there are almost as many sounds of silence as there are sounds of water, what silences are you hearing?
What smells are coming your way?
What is the weather doing?
How does the weather affect what you are wearing, doing, thinking?
Are there any vibrations to your feet?
What kind of terrain are you moving through?
What are you not seeing? Not hearing? Not smelling?
If you see no birds, why not?
What is the purpose of your walk?
What signs are there that others have passed this way as well? What do those signs tell you about those others? For example, limbs that swing at your face are often snapped back, broken. This tells you how tall the person is.
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