Creative writing - Mike Sanders 2014

Through a camera’s lens
Potent setting
Character, setting, and types of stories

Most people lead rather busy lives, which cause them to miss out on the story ideas constantly unfolding around them. Often, if you don’t write down an idea, you’ll forget it. (Hence the aforementioned importance of keeping a journal on hand.)

Some of you might find yourselves stuck for writing ideas because, instead of looking to the world you live in for inspiration, you only see the rushed, unromantic, day-to-day duties you’re forced to perform. However, a little imagination and mental discipline can change that. Try looking at your life through the lens of a camera, and suddenly things will appear quite different.

Have you ever gone on a journey to a new place and been amazed by the beauty of your surroundings? Do you wish you still had the sharp imagination you had when you were little? Do you wish you could better keep track of the story ideas you get when you’re on trips or visiting new places? You can dig deep into your childlike imagination to establish setting through photography.

One way to be sure you remember the narrative ideas you get from nature, or the things around you, is by taking pictures with an actual camera or your phone’s camera. Then, you could use your pictures to create an electronic or print story photo journal. Alongside the pictures, write about how the place made you feel, along with setting, characters, histories, and narrative ideas.

When you come across areas that inspire a work in progress, get detail shots. If you’re in a forest that inspires you to write about glow fairies, be sure to get up close and personal with the blades of grass, toadstools, and tree bark. Those detail shots will help you word things better when you write.

Of course, if you’re able to go wherever your story is set, do so.

WRITING PROMPT

Arrange printed photos on the ground around you or on a table. Or create a set of photographs in a notebook. Go through your photos and pick out eight to start with, and add as you go. Then put together a narrative with your photos. Remember, you can interpret the photos in any way to make your piece more interesting. This is an exciting way to find new ideas because you’re using the tools of creative writing in conjunction with visual stimuli.