One Picture, One Thousand Words
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- 7/2/2009 |
- 10:00 am
You probably have heard the old saying: A picture is worth a thousand words. Well, for this month's exercise you'll actually get to put that to the test. Be prepared, however; this particular Big Brain Club exercise is a bit more challenging than others you might have tackled...but you can handle it!
It happens in three steps. Read on to find out how it will ignite your creative powers...
Okay, step number one: Go find a great picture. Wait, before you run off, let's be clear about this. A great picture for THIS project is one that has an incredible story hiding within it. Just a head shot of your friend, smiling at the camera, is nice, but doesn't offer too much to work with.
Perhaps you can find a photo that shows someone looking out the window with a sad look on their face, while a car is driving away in the background. Or maybe a picture of someone looking inside a box, with a very surprised look on their face. Now, go find a great one!
Step number two: Take some time to look closely at the picture. Find the tiny details that most people wouldn't see. Look for something in an expression, or, if there's not a person in the photo, look for minor details in the various objects you see (a house, a messy room, an empty stadium, etc.).
Now it's time to write, which is step three. You have your picture, and you've made a note of the obscure details. What story lies within that photograph? What happened to the people we see? Why does that house seem to sag with sorrow? You're suddenly the narrator of the picture, and you're free to explore in several different directions.
I've used this exercise in some middle school writing workshops, and it's always a big hit. It's almost like writing a caption, but WAY longer. If you can make it to a thousand words (maybe around four pages or so), then you've done a great job. And, you will have made that old saying a reality!
Enjoy!
