After I had spent over an hour in the art gallery staring at a painting that intrigued me, someone who had noticed that I had been there for a long time asked me what I was doing. "Writing a story inspired by the painting, " I said. Then they asked me where was my pen and paper. "It's in my imagination," I responded. But then again, this didn't really happen. I just made it up...
The Insecure Writer's Support Group
The co-hosts for the February 5 posting of the IWSG are Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes, Cathrina Constantine, and Tyrean Martinson!
February 5 question - Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?
When I was young I used to look through photos that my mother had taken over the years. Many were pictures of me and my sister while others were taken before we were born. As I would look through these photos I would often make up stories about what I might be seeing in the photographs. Whenever I would go back to those pictures the stories would come back to me or I'd think up new ones.
I never wrote down any of those stories although some of those stories in my head certainly influenced other stories I wrote. And other stories have been influenced by pictures I'd clipped from magazines and newspapers. In fact I still have a file of "photos for stories" in my idea file that I started compiling fifty or so years ago. They're there if I ever need them.
In more recent years I've become less interested in fiction writing to become more focused on memoir. Well, not actually writing, but I've been thinking about going back to my old favorite writing genre. Maybe it's a good time to dig out some old photo albums.
If you wouldn't mind taking a extra few minutes, I'd love for you to visit my Battle of the Bands post which has a February theme of first love.
I love the idea of using your old photos for inspiration!
ReplyDeleteLiza, old photos conjure up memories--and sometimes questions.
DeleteLee
Those old photos can certainly help with the memoir writing.
ReplyDeleteAlex, they might make good book illustrations as well.
DeleteLee
You've had such a unique career with your family. It would make a really interesting book, a slice of American life.
ReplyDeleteL.Diane, I keep thinking that as well, but I need to get on this project.
DeleteLee
I imagine you could come up with a plethora of stories with your photos. :)
ReplyDeleteLoni, I think we all can--all who have family photos or just photos in general.
DeleteLee
So many different ways to go about writing... I always appreciate these posts, even if my laziness gene has conquered my "long story" gene..
ReplyDeleteCW, and so the story often goes for me as well.
DeleteLee
Great idea. Relive some old tales. Who knows where it will land. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Anna, a photo albums can be a great resource for stirring up memories that can lead to stories.
DeleteLee
What a great idea. Using old photo's to get that memoir off the ground. Go for it!
ReplyDeleteYolanda, I'm thinking! I'm thinking! Now to go from thoughts to actions.
DeleteLee
Old photos are priceless! I've discovered several in doing some ancestry work. Talk about fodder for the imagination. Using your own for memoir work is an excellent plan.
ReplyDeleteLee,
ReplyDeleteThe only time I remember making up stories to go with pictures I looked at was when I was a kid but it wasn't of old photos. It was illustrations out of books. I guess I was too young to read. I think the idea of using old pictures is a wonderful way to spur the imagination. What better way to create a story than to worm your way into these people's life through a series of questions and answers that you come up with. Who knows maybe you won't be too far off from real life and then again maybe you'll spin an intriguing yarn. :) However I've been inspired on more than one occasion to use a photo or work of art to create my own. :)
Sounds like you've got a rich archive of material to draw from. I'm sure there'll be a few sparks left there!
ReplyDeleteHa! You had me going at the beginning of this post. Another blogger wrote about paintings this day so I was really caught up in your 'staring at a picture' story. Short, but affective. And I too can get lost in old photos. If only we could jump in and be thin again..er I mean be there again.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a "Photos for Stories" file! So often a picture tells its own story, but pictures being worth a thousand words has fresh meaning when one has inspired a new story.
ReplyDeleteAt this part of our life, we have many many photos, too. Forget the posed photos where people line up for photo, the best are ones with personality.
ReplyDeleteNever really used pics as inspiration for stories, but more words/phrases/situations that I've heard/observed throughout a given day.
ReplyDeletePhoto albums would be a mighty fine resource if one is inclined to write memoir. I still prefer fiction, which sometimes feels more real than real life anyway.
ReplyDeleteHa, ha ! Love the introduction Arlee. The unreliable narrator ! In memoir writing, you won’t be able to get away with that , although memories are a tricky business. Do you keep a diary ? I do and reread them regularly. It’s amazing how different things can be and even sometimes you discover great ideas never acted upon and completely forgotten. Looking forward to the AtoZ.
ReplyDelete