A trick I learned from working in magazines is that a great image can grow a piece of writing from so-so to stellar.
I can’t tell you how many times that finding the right image provided not only an interesting visual for an article, but the picture also offered a metaphor to create a great hook.
For example, take the post: Get on the Bus: How to Find Your Peeps. This piece started out as an uninspired how-to post on social networking and community building. So as I often do when I’m struggling for the right hook, I turned to images for inspiration.
My go-to source for images is Flickr, where you can find an enormous range of photographs available under the Creative Commons license. These images are made available for non-commercial digital use. There are no fees or royalties. All that’s required is a link back to the photographer’s Flickr home page.
What I often do when I’m writing a piece on an abstract topic (which is almost always) is go to Flickr and type in a keyword that is loosely based on some idea I’m trying to get across. I choose the “most interesting” tab, which brings up the work of professional-level photographers.
For the “Get on the Bus” post, for example, I typed in keywords like “community,” “social” and “groups” and spent 10-15 minutes scrolling through photos to see if anything grabbed me. And that crazy bus did. So instead of the prosaic “How to Build Your Online Community,” the headline—actually the entire post—riffs off the bus metaphor, which is a more compelling hook.
So try this technique out next time you’re struggling to find the right words—the words you seek may just be lurking in a picture.
-Maria Schneider
Flickr photo by kacey
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
In my writing class, I do a number of exercises where we just have to describe a photo. Students have to write the whole time – 2 to 5 mins – and try not to repeat themselves. They are more creative than they think.
Great idea, Maria! Thanks for the tip!
Fantastic idea! Thanks for the great post!
This is what I needed this morning inspiration-wise. I have often used images to get my ideas going or to add to a blog. I was wondering recently about where images can be taken from, so it is good to know that Flickr is the place to go.
Thanks for this Maria. I’ve noticed your Flickr photographs and intended to follow up on them. But it seems things do come to those who wait (or procrastinate long enough).
One last thing – I notice the green of your signature. Something about the day that’s in it? :-}
Maria, thanks so much for this info! Comes at just the right time for me. I had questions just a day or so ago about use of photos, etc. Thanks!!
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, and for good reason. A good image evokes so much that we can take it and run. One of my favorite flash stories I wrote was done for a photo contest.
As a thank you, I wish I knew how to post a picture of a writer at her computer experiencing the “transformational moment of insight”, or maybe she is in the middle of the road and a bus is heading toward her and….
ps. The first look at your mushroom picture, I missed the leprechaun. That is probably another lesson from pictures can have hidden surprises and double messages.
Hi Maria,
Good point about the images. Sometimes I’ll get more comments about a post’s images than it’s content!
It’s also great writing prompt fodder.
Cheers!
George
Thanks Maria! I didn’t know about this site (though I’ve noticed your pics), and I was scrambling for a good photo the other day. Now I know where to go… Peace, Linda