Author: selfpublishingadvisor

OPP—Other People’s Photography

In the early months of this year, I began working with a client who is a professional photographer in the art world.  His second book will be available in late August or early September—both are self-published.  He is considering re-publishing the first (through my favorite self-publishing group) in order to take advantage of the new marketing methods.  I am extremely excited for him; not only because his art-photography is exceptional, but also because he is doing the manuscript preparation work in order to promote excellence in photography within the next generations.  An amazing legacy, indeed!

As he and I are crafting his book—placement of photographs with his accompanying verses—he has reminded me of the beauty of our surroundings.  Even the simplest of things (such as a garden crocus or ripples at the water’s edge) can bring peace and inspiration to the viewer.  So it is that once again I am justified in storing the hundreds (well, maybe a thousand or more) photos I’ve collected over the years.  Some of these saved photographic treasures are in calendar form, giving me a vision of castle estates in Ireland; waterfalls from Argentina, New Zealand; the mountains of Colorado; and space views from the Hubble Telescope.

I’m just sayin’ do you have your own photo collection yet?  If not, why not?  I am one of those folks who is just not a world-traveler and yet I love seeing the world and learning as much about it as my brain can absorb.  Then, when I’m writing (creatively constructing) a scene—whether from someone’s real life or within a fictional setting—I can look through my photo collection and visualize the place.  I can imagine the sounds within that environment, the tastes in the air and the texture of grasses, trees, stone walls, pine fences, etc.

Here are a few ways I’ve learned to categorize my photos so that I can find them when needed; there is nothing worse than not being able to locate images when you need them.

1. Family pictures (always top on my list)
2. Parks and “playgrounds” (the concept of playgrounds can be most anything that reminds you of where you’ve had FUN, such as amusement parks, hiking trails, backyard BBQs, dances, theatre performances etc.)
3. Trees: this is a “seasonal” collection for me; but for the tree expert this could also  be categorized by tree species.
4. Clouds: weather patterns create amazing cloud formations that can “tell” all sorts of fanciful stories.
5. Places: this category can be divided into multiple sub-categories such as—houses/castles, barns, landmarks, streets (famous and not-so-famous), state capitols, bridges…and lots of others that only you will notice.
6. Sunrises/Sunsets: these two times of the day seem to inspire me and many authors.
7. Space (as in Outer Space)…where more humans will travel.
8. Critters: I have shared my life with several 4-legged friends. Their antics can stir up most any flat story scene.

Of course, there are as many photo collection categories as there are photographers and authors.  Each and every one will help us motivate the writing gifts within us.  WRITE ON, fellow authors.  WRITE ON!

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.

PERSONAL SNAPSHOT

I love the idea of utilizing personal photos to inspire writings.  I don’t mean the family portraits (although those are excellent memory-making-moments in themselves).  I mean the candid, spur-of-the-moment ones that catch folks off guard or the scenic ones that touch heart, mind and spirit and renew remembrances of events-of-the-time.  As you might imagine, reviewing photos such as these are excellent ways to develop memoirs.  Several of my friends/clients have built marvelous memoir manuscripts and published them in various formats.  However, they are also great “starters” for creating books of poetry, children’s picture books, cookbooks and pet stories.

When working with a recent true story, my starting point to understand the heart of this person’s life was seeing the photo of a cemetery headstone.  The inscription and design selected as forever statements about that person were crucial in helping the author tell her story.  She could have sent me the wording and a word-description of the design, but seeing it brought about a whole new level of understanding.

Years ago, I helped my Dad create a cookbook—JRs Memorable Meals.  He became the “family chef” when his work hours allowed him to arrive at home an hour or more before my mother (who also worked full-time).  The method we used to help him remember his cooking adventures—and the recipes he used—were mostly our family photos.  Even remembering the refrigerator helped him recall ingredients.  However, other cooking adventures were triggered by events surrounding his service in the Navy during WWII.  Putting that book together was a special time between us—one that I will remember with fondness—his “cookin’” sown into future generations.

Psychologists and sociologists will quickly acknowledge the valuable connections made when looking through photo albums with the people they are supporting.  What a person notices and actually takes a picture of opens many doors.  Years later the view behind the moment of that photo is still there to be explored.  Often there is an emotional reaction from both the original photographer and the people seeing it at any given moment.  The story discovered there—interpreted and re-interpreted—can be truly amazing.

So…when I’m struggling with my own, personal writings I take a Photo-Break.  I look through my computer files of photos—scenic and family photos—and before long my mind is relaxed enough to write, write and write some more.  I recommend this to my clients, too.  Whether I’m ghostwriting a book for them, or helping them finish a book project they’re about to self-publish, taking a photo-journey is an excellent way to move forward.

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.