Since the year is new, I wanted to write a post with something new or different than I normally write about. I have thought of using images to spark creativity in the past but never did take action on that thought. Today seemed like a good time to explore using an image as a writing prompt. Images can say different things to different people and most of us aren’t aware of how an image affects us because we don’t take the time to study how we are affected by visual stimulation, perhaps because we are visually over-stimulated most of the time. But, we do react to visual stimulation. The key in using images to spark creativity is to write about that reaction.
Below is an image I ripped out of a magazine a long time ago to use in an art project. Write your initial thoughts on seeing the image. Do not edit your thoughts, simply write them down without judgment.
Now that your initial thoughts are down, look at the image again. What emotion do you see within the image or what emotion do you feel when viewing the image? Write it down, then under the emotion write how you might describe that emotion to a reader. There can be more than one emotion stimulated within any image. Write each emotion separately with ways you can express that emotion.
If you want to explore different ways or find creative words to express emotions, try doing the clustering technique I wrote about in this post.
Now revisit your initial thoughts on the image and write a single paragraph incorporating your initial thoughts with the emotions the image stimulated. Show rather than tell the reader how to feel. Then develop a story or character outline from that paragraph.
Most of my life my primary creative expression was when improvising music. I sometimes felt like I’m in the middle of en endless space and didn’t know where to start and where to go. And so I liked creating and using all kinds of prompts. Lately I’ve been playing less and less and writing more and more. Mostly, I write when I feel like writing, and I improvise like I would do with music, without planning, trusting the creative intelligence.
And yet, there are times when there is an urge to write and yet nothing to write about - sort of.
Until I read your post (this is my first time here) it never occurred to me that I could use prompts, just like I did with music.
I like the idea of using images for writing stimulation very much. There is a freedom to it - not one word spoken until I speak it - or it speaks itself - just seeing, feeling, experiencing…
Thank you so much and I’m looking forward to exploring your blog further…
Halina (Denmark)
Halina, thanks so much for taking the time to comment and offering a bit of information on your creative process. I hope to put up more images in the future. Its not for everyone but I love images (especially faces) and trying to articulate what they mean to me is not always easy but always challenges me in ways other creative inspirations don’t.
I’ve been playing with the idea of using a landscape as the main character for a story. I’m not quite sure how to accomplish that yet but the concept intrigues me and the landscape I plan to use might surprise many people. Who knows, it may never get written but I like thinking about it.
Hello I found you through Katie’s blog. I like how you use imagery to help develop the creative word. I also liked your link to your old post about the thesaurus it certainly has given me something to think about and to use for my personal journal writing. I am not a writer but I am interested to see what techniques writers use to create their stories. Thank you.
I love the look of your blog. Continued success on your writing. Cheers
smalltown, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Journal writing is, in my opinion, one of the most meaningful forms of self-expression that anyone can do for themselves, regardless of their personal writing abilities or their desire to be a writer or not.
Glad you like the idea of using an image to spark your journal writing.