A common tactic I see time and time again when trying to eliminate writer’s block is to use a picture to inspire writing but how? Just because I can see an image doesn’t immediately mean I know what I want to put on the page. What is it about an image that can inform writing?
Let’s use this holiday snap I took whilst in Benalmadena as our starting point…
Firstly, let’s analyse the picture. It’s a standard beach scene with crashing waves, a rock barrier, and a boat somewhere in the distance. Photos like these exist everywhere so how do we use it?
We need to now decide what is it we want to write. Are you looking at a beach photo because you want to feature a beach in your story and you need to set the scene? Are you wanting to write a poem and found a random picture? Or are you completely stuck and just hoping something unsticks it?
For writing a scene, your job is quite easy. You can use the picture as a prompt to remind you about what things you might experience whist there. The Show Not Tell method is a great one to couple with this technic and you can find a whole range of information on my previous blog post to help!
For poetry or general prompts, start to think about the emotion and memories you can tie to the photo. Does it remind you of holiday? Of loved ones? Do you wonder what is going on deeper in the ocean? Perhaps the broken shells on the beach tell a story or the waves whisper to you! Use your own emotions and connections to give you your base and start from there. When I see beaches I think of pirates, and mermaids, and adventure so that’s the route I’d go but others might see love and romance! There is no wrong direction, just run with it and see what sticks.
If you’re still sat there unsure of what to do, don’t panic! Sometimes the first photo isn’t for everyone. Look for more pictures of similar scenes, search for stories and poems written with those scenes in mind. Sometimes researching is the best way to get out of a slump and sometimes sitting back and taking the chance to read what other people before you have written is the best way to move forward. Just because this picture isn’t working for you, doesn’t mean you are a lost cause or doomed to never write again, just look for inspiration elsewhere! I’m writing this sat on a bus on holiday because you never know when inspiration might strike next!
Good luck with your next writing adventure and bye for now!
Jen x
Jennifer Pickering 