Using Photos as Writing Prompts

Photo of a 1970s woman with a journal and pen on the table behind it

I was going to throw this photo away. I've been on a mission to cull my personal photo collection and this one was a candidate for the trash bin. One of the criteria for keeping a photograph is whether it will have any meaning to future generations and the cropped head of my mother in this photo would make it impossible for anyone else to identify the subject.

But as I looked at the photo, mulling over it's fate, I began to notice that it contained multitudes of information about my childhood and sparked memories that I would one day want to write about. The trick was to sit with the photo long enough and focus not only on the person in the photo, but also the location. Once I began this process, I found I couldn't wait to get to my writing prompt notebook and start writing.

Of course, this my childhood photo and, as a writer who is focusing on the memoir genre, it is loaded with topics for future essays but even a fiction writer could find inspiration through this process of looking at photographs. It's inspiration for describing a 1970s kitchen; the Harvest Gold appliances are waiting for me to describe them in detail, the pattern on the linoleum floors could certainly be a detail to include when I am world building. The folded newspaper on the kitchen stool is a small detail that could make a short story sparkle with realism.

Character building can also benefit from this photo. See how the woman has tucked a dishtowel into the waistband of her skirt instead of using an apron? See the slippers she's wearing, while she prepares cooks a meal before the guests arrive? She'll quickly slip out of them and put on high heels when they knock on the door. These details could make your character come to life for your readers.

I could go on an on with examples of how this simple, poor example of photography, has inspired me today. Now it's your turn, find a photograph and see how many details you can pull out to use for your next writing project.

Comments

Anne ButeraJanuary 13, 2022 at 1:44 PM
It could be great inspiration for art, too! The pattern of that wallpaper!!!
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Dana BarbieriJanuary 14, 2022 at 5:28 PM
Great idea Laura. So much inspiration in that photo.
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UnknownJanuary 23, 2022 at 8:19 PM
Wearing a dress to cook in, I know my mom use to when I was a child back in the 60's, but I can not even imagine. The June Cleaver mom look! I love your ideas.
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NicoleNovember 23, 2022 at 1:27 PM
Laura, we had that same linoleum floor!!! And that stool/ chair in the background, my MIL has the same one! It sits by the phone that is on her wall - with a long curly cord!
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