Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
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February 5 question - Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?
Interesting question.
At first thought, my response would be no.
Then I remembered the upcoming WEP prompt and had to go with yes for that piece.
That triggered other thoughts.
I enjoy photography and take a lot of photos of people and our scenery here in gorgeous Northern Ontario. The vast majority of pictures I take are because something triggered an emotional response in me.
I'm a writer who isn't triggered by people or problems first. Instead, it's always the emotion that traps me into a story. That emotion spawns a character feeling that emotion and then the trouble that created it.
Many paintings and photos create those emotions in me, so they probably have triggered more stories and ideas than I realized!
How about you? Anyone else like photography? Anyone else get those gut reactions to images?
It's interesting how everyone interprets and is inspired differently. Situations and ideas inspire me, and I can get those from images, movies, or music.
ReplyDeleteMusic definitely does a lot for my inspiration as well!
DeleteI'm a photographer but it's been the emotions of dreams that have inspired my fiction writing.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting! My dreams are always too scary!
DeleteMy hubby is really into photography. I love when he takes pictures of ordinary people doing ordinary things. They always make me wonder about the people's back stories, what their lives are like etc.
ReplyDeletePeople are endlessly fascinating and those snippets of real life tell so many tales!
DeleteI love photography, too. :) It's my second favorite creative outlet.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably my 3rd - I love playing the piano as well! :)
DeleteIt seems you and I are on the same page when it comes this month's question!
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing when I read your post!!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI love photography but I get triggered by people. Watching people has me spinning stories.
Wishing you all the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I love people watching! But I have to tell my Tigger Brain to do it as it's usually lost in the wonderings :)
DeleteMost of the pictures I take are of my cats, so no story ideas there. My story ideas all come from "what if" scenarios, usually brought on by news stories.
ReplyDeleteBut the cats are happy with the attention!
DeleteI love spinning out the What Ifs!
I do, but not often enough. hehehe
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
I'm not a real visual writer but I will need to look at some pictures before writing book 2 in my series. If I ever get there.
ReplyDeleteI'm not super visual either, Natalie. You'll get there - I have complete faith!
DeleteI am intrigued that two people now have been inspired by the WEP prompt for this month - a prompt I struggled with (and am still struggling).
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to reading your take on it.
Just wait until you read mine though - it is so completely sideways from the prompt!
DeleteI love art and museums and am always inspired. I've also starting collecting photos for my novels. Deviant art is a great site.
ReplyDeleteI need to try that at some point - I've heard so many good things about deviant art!
DeleteI totally get that. I'm much the same.
ReplyDeleteProbably why I'm such a Gracie fan!
DeleteThanks for sharing your process!
ReplyDeleteYep. The emotion traps me, too. And I absolutely do have gut reactions to images. Part of the reason why I love photography so much. And Pinterest. :)
ReplyDeleteIt really is all about the emotion!
DeleteHaven't really done Pinterest yet - one day!
Yes, definitely. Music too. Happy IWSG!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely music as well - full of power and emotion!
DeletePhotography is a wonderful way to be inspired. I'm drawn to images of foggy mornings over the lake.
ReplyDeleteThose foggy pictures are some of my favourites too - I got a few really good ones this summer!
DeleteMy initial thought was also a 'no', but when I thought about it more, there are many things that inspire, including the visual.
ReplyDeleteSo true! I don't always know where the stories come from - they are just there attached to that emotion!
DeleteI love photography but I dont get the emotional response that you do. That's pretty cool.
ReplyDeletewww.alliebock.com
I love seeing how different we all are - makes the world much more interesting!
DeleteI completely get your emotion-centered approach to stories. So many of my stories started with some sort of emotional confrontation in my head, while I have no idea who are the people talking and why they take the stance they do. That comes later.
ReplyDeleteAs for WEP stories, as I'm the one making badges, I go full circle. First the theme. Then I search for an image that would fit the theme and the possible stories based on that theme. Then I write my own story. So the art and the words create two interconnected layers.
Exactly! That gut punch is the spark and the rest follows!
DeleteI hadn't thought of your process for WEP - that's such an interesting angle - you have all those images and thoughts swirling far before you start to write!
You so echo my thoughts Jemi. Most of my writing is also triggered by emotions..Both poetry and short fiction...Even prose..
ReplyDeleteSonia
Yes! All of my writing is emotion centred too!
DeleteI also enjoy photography and agree. The images are inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThey are indeed! I've pictured many a fantasy land behind my lens!
DeleteI'm hopeless at photography but I do appreciate it. A lot of my stories start from an emotion too and the details come together afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if my photos will ever be anything much above hopeless but they're fun! :)
DeleteLove that emotional start - it's what carries me through the whole process
I do admire good photography skills... does that count?
ReplyDeleteOf course!!! :)
DeleteIt's awesome that you're able to be inspired by your photographs. For me, photos of my travels are a handy reference when I'm trying to recall a place while writing, along with a journal.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your upcoming release!
I wish I could journal usefully - but I tend to be too Tigger Brained for that! :P
Delete