PICTURE THIS!
When a person includes 95 photos and a few illustrations in a memoir, readers will enjoy a unique and very personal adventure through time. Such was my consulting/ghostwriting experience a couple years ago at the completion of the beautifully expressed life-stories of two exceptional people. An extra bonus for me was that their project reinforced my understanding of the relation between photos (or illustrations) and story-telling.
During my school years, I remember several teachers telling me, “Royalene, you are definitely a visual learner.” I think they were frustrated by that revelation because it created a challenge for most educators of that era—except the art teacher, of course. However, as I grow into my chosen profession of writing—creating visual images with words—I appreciate their early analysis and I continue learning how to use this element to my benefit.
“Art,” they say, “evokes emotion,” and the artist/photographer will utilize this to express the essence of a moment captured in a millisecond of time and space. The writer must carry this concept further by selecting words, and combinations of words, that transport instant images into the readers’ view—images that evoke emotion. This ability will not only communicate their story well, it will also carry an author to the top of the Best Books list and possibly set them up for movie and/or television acclaim.
The visually shared experience will also have a greater sustained impact—one that will bring about contemplation of the various elements of the story and lead readers to discuss your book as their next Book Club selection! Here are a few tips for writing visually:
LOOK FOR the emotion in your characters AND their environment. Dissect the emotional anatomy of each of these elements, such as:
- What is the motivation behind a character’s actions, attitude, and perspective? What has your character experienced that brings about their reaction(s) to the events? Did they suffer physical trauma that brought an emotional response? What are they holding on to from their past that is creating current circumstances?
- What is the emotional impact of their environment? Do they live in a mansion or tent? Is there a lawn—mown and manicured—or is it a field of weeds? Has there been fire, flood, or drought devastation? Can they hear the birds singing? See flowers blooming? Watch butterflies float through the air? Is the air so clear the brilliant blue of the sky is visible, or is the fog/smog so thick vision and breathing are severely hindered?
My client/friend’s memoir told the story using all these elements, and I am the richer for reading it. That is my hope for all writers—that we can enrich the lives of our readers and enjoy every step of the process. And if expressing the emotional elements are tough for you, don’t hesitate to accept help. There are editors and ghostwriters out there—partnering with self-publishing teams of professionals who will help you complete your work.
 |
ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene Doyle is a Ghostwriter with Outskirts Press, bringing more than 35 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their writing projects. She has worked with both experienced and fledgling writers helping complete projects in multiple genres. When a writer brings the passion they have for their work and combines it with Royalene’s passion to see the finished project in print, books are published and the writer’s legacy is passed forward. |
Self Publishing Advisor 