Pictures capture a whole world within them and as aspiring writers and readers we can always find new ways to describe and give life to pictures. Using the given pictures try to describe a situation involving a character in the snowy forest, a character who likes tulips, or a character using the painting of these tulips for a particular purpose.
Here’s a short illustration:
For 6-8 years old – You can begin by describing what you see in the pictures. Colours and objects are a great way to start your story. Think about placing your character inside this picture and describe one thing that they would do.
Example: Lila was walking in the snow behind her house. She saw a small path and started following it. She came to a clearing and saw many trees standing together. In the middle she saw a bunch of fallen tulips. She rushed to save the flowers from the white freezing snow. She wondered how the tulips fell here.
MERRIN ABRAHAM
Merrin completed her Integrated MA in English Studies from IIT Madras. She is a storyteller, bibliomaniac and a lover of indie music who had a passion for the English language that she dedicated her childhood to reading Victorian literature. Besides drinking bitter coffee and analysing Asian media, she is trying to find a horror story worthy of the genre.
For 9-12 years old – Depending on the type of story you want to tell – adventure, fantasy, comedy – you can use the picture to set the tone for your story.
Example: The snow fell heavier than last year. Daniel looked at his calendar and wondered how many more days he would have to wait until he could use his treehouse in the woods. He had just finished building it and had told all his friends about it, but the unexpected snowstorm put a stop to all his plans. He wanted to show his friends the hideout where they could play and pretend to be treasure hunters looking for the long lost prized treasure.
For 13-15 years old – An interesting way to make stories interesting is to add multiple layers to your story. These picture prompts could kick start your story while also being an active part of the story itself. The painting of the tulips could be a motif that recurs within the story – as a painting, as flowers gifted to someone, as a flower in a diary, as an embroidery on a handkerchief or dress, etc.
Try your hand at some writing this week with these picture prompts. Happy writing!
