Image and StoryImage and Story

Developing ImagesDeveloping Images

The goal of these next activities is not The goal of these next activities is not “acting” or “illustrating” things for an “acting” or “illustrating” things for an audience but rather getting as much as audience but rather getting as much as possible of your self invested. This is possible of your self invested. This is practice in giving words.practice in giving words.

These activities are most useful in a partner These activities are most useful in a partner or group situations. While it is possible to or group situations. While it is possible to do them by yourself asking a friend or do them by yourself asking a friend or parent to participate can only helpparent to participate can only help

Activity OneActivity One: Letting Words Grow: Letting Words Grow

Start this activity by thinking of a small object that Start this activity by thinking of a small object that you know fairly well. The goal of this activity is to you know fairly well. The goal of this activity is to be able to describe that object so well that the be able to describe that object so well that the reader/listener can reader/listener can seesee it. it.

It is important to take your time and to focus on It is important to take your time and to focus on seeing your object. Don’t try to see what the seeing your object. Don’t try to see what the object is on or around. After you can truly see object is on or around. After you can truly see the object say/write what you are seeing, letting the object say/write what you are seeing, letting the words take care of themselves. the words take care of themselves.

Activity One: ContinuedActivity One: Continued

This activity should not take long for all This activity should not take long for all participants. Short descriptions are perfect and participants. Short descriptions are perfect and nothing past four to five sentences is needed.nothing past four to five sentences is needed.

A few guidelines that should help:A few guidelines that should help:No people or big scenes: These things are simply No people or big scenes: These things are simply

to much to do a good description of in a short to much to do a good description of in a short sentence.sentence.

Go easy on feeling: The goal of this activity is to Go easy on feeling: The goal of this activity is to present the object, not your feelings about the present the object, not your feelings about the object.object.

Activity TwoActivity Two: Can Listeners See It?: Can Listeners See It?

After everyone, or just you, have had a turn After everyone, or just you, have had a turn presenting a small image, go around again presenting a small image, go around again presenting new images, using the same presenting new images, using the same procedure as before. procedure as before.

This time let the listeners, or yourself, give some This time let the listeners, or yourself, give some feedback telling you/others if they could feedback telling you/others if they could seesee any any of the details being told.of the details being told.

If someone can’t see anything that is ok. It If someone can’t see anything that is ok. It happens frequently and you shouldn’t give up.happens frequently and you shouldn’t give up.

Break!Break!Does this look like a spiral? Does this look like a spiral?

Take a closer LookTake a closer Look

Does this look like a spiral? It's actually a Does this look like a spiral? It's actually a bunch of concentric circles. Use your bunch of concentric circles. Use your mouse to trace one circle and you will see mouse to trace one circle and you will see that you come back to where you started that you come back to where you started instead of spiraling into the center.instead of spiraling into the center.

Activity ThreeActivity Three: Listeners Ask: Listeners Ask

This would be hard to do by yourself so at least This would be hard to do by yourself so at least one participant would be good.one participant would be good.

For this activity let the listeners ask for details you For this activity let the listeners ask for details you may not have thought of. Also the listeners may not have thought of. Also the listeners should be allowed to ask about other senses should be allowed to ask about other senses that are involved with the object such as smell that are involved with the object such as smell and sound.and sound.

Don’t make up answers. Look at the object and Don’t make up answers. Look at the object and see what the real answer is and than speak.see what the real answer is and than speak.

Activity FourActivity Four: Moving to a Story: Moving to a Story

For this activity you should be able to relax, while For this activity you should be able to relax, while focusing on your object, and allowing yourself to focusing on your object, and allowing yourself to see that object in a simple story.see that object in a simple story.

Don’t try to make a story up and don’t allow Don’t try to make a story up and don’t allow yourself to make it long. It could be as simple as yourself to make it long. It could be as simple as your image being a walking stick and the story your image being a walking stick and the story that comes is that it is being used by an elderly that comes is that it is being used by an elderly gentleman walking. gentleman walking.

Of course you want to be more descriptive but Of course you want to be more descriptive but keep it simple and keep it to what your mind is keep it simple and keep it to what your mind is seeing, not what you are making up.seeing, not what you are making up.

LastLast

With all of these activities being more verbal in With all of these activities being more verbal in nature it is best now to take what you have nature it is best now to take what you have ‘seen’ and simply expand that into writing. Let ‘seen’ and simply expand that into writing. Let yourself use the words that come naturally while yourself use the words that come naturally while focusing on your object.focusing on your object.

Allow the story to flow and write for ten to fifteen Allow the story to flow and write for ten to fifteen minutes.minutes.

Afterwards allow someone to read what you wrote Afterwards allow someone to read what you wrote and ask them if they can literally see the story. If and ask them if they can literally see the story. If they cannot than focus more on short very they cannot than focus more on short very descriptive sentences.descriptive sentences.