Summary

The website content provides a guide for writers to use photography as a catalyst for storytelling through freewriting exercises, offering prompts and tips for expanding a snapshot into a larger narrative.

Abstract

The article titled "Freewriting Friday: Expanding Your Story from a Snapshot" encourages writers to delve beyond the surface of photographs to develop stories. It emphasizes the connection between visual imagery and story inspiration, suggesting that writers can use photos to better envision characters and settings. The piece, authored by Ellie Jacobson, offers a series of freewriting prompts and exercises, including writing from the perspective of a character, creating a photo essay, and reflecting on personal memories associated with photographs. Jacobson, who is writing her first novel, also provides practical advice for writers, such as setting the mood for writing, writing without distractions, and revising work after allowing it to "simmer." The article concludes with an invitation to submit writing to the "Flint & Steel" publication on Medium and connect with the author on various social media platforms.

Opinions

Ellie Jacobson values the use of photography as a tool for storytelling and character development in writing.
The author believes that a snapshot can capture a moment that can be expanded into a rich narrative.
Jacobson suggests that writers should immerse themselves in distraction-free environments to enhance the freewriting process.
She advocates for the importance of revision and editing as separate processes from freewriting.
The article implies that personal experiences and emotions can be effectively channeled into writing through the use of photographic prompts.
Jacobson encourages writers to explore different perspectives, including those of their fictional characters, to foster creativity and story development.
The piece promotes the idea that writing should be a personal and exploratory process, without the pressure of immediate editing or perfection.

Freewriting Friday: Expanding Your Story from a Snapshot

Dig deeper beyond the photo frame to tell your story

“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” ― Eudora Welty

May is National Photography month, so I’m drawing this month’s freewriting exercise from snapshots. I would describe myself as an amateur photographer and a great admirer of “real” photographers who understand the technical side of the art. I simply love to tell a story through photos.

But isn’t just about photography, but about story inspiration. As a fiction writer, I’m always looking for a story idea or a springboard when I’m feeling stuck with a story I’m working on.

As I write my novel, I scour the internet for photos that represent the characters in my book, as I see them in my head. Photos of the settings I’m using throughout the story. As a visual person, it helps me connect more to my characters and ultimately the story I’m telling.

We are going to take Welty’s wisdom and expand on it, like just a moment that is captured in a snapshot. A snapshot is just that, a one-second shot of a moment.

You can use that snap (snap with me) and tell a larger story. What is the story? You decide.

Set the Mood for Your Writing

Instructions

Use this time to write something personal or write from the perspective of a character from a fictional story you are working on. Or write a poem.

Allow your mind to wander, not worrying about the final product.

Allow yourself at least 15 minutes for a freewriting session.
Write in a place with no distractions.
Only allow yourself to write and use this exercise as a guide.
Only use your phone for the timer and turn off notifications.
Move from one prompt to the next or focus on one.
Don’t stop writing for the time allowed.
Don’t edit yourself.

Freewrite in response to all the prompts or focus on one. Whichever calls out to you. Use these prompts as a springboard to your next article, flash fiction, or short story. You can also write these as satire or rant pieces.

There is no right or wrong.

As a fiction writer, you can use any of these prompts from your character’s perspective to get to know them better; maybe a story will form through your freewriting.

First Prompt

Photo prompt. Take a look at the photo above. Expand on this snapshot in time and create a story from it.

Fiction: As a fiction writer, think about these questions: Where is she? What article is she burning? Why? Who is she? What is going on around her outside frame of this photo? Write a flash fiction, or short story based on this photo.

Novel: Take the main character (or a different character) from your novel. Place them in this situation (doesn’t have to be a female character), and describe what is happening.

Nonfiction: If this were you, what news article would you gladly be burning? Describe it. Why do you want to burn it? Write a rant about something in the news.

Set a timer for five minutes and write.

Second Prompt

Go through your photos, and find a theme. Or go for a walk and take a variety of photographs of the world around you. Not just the “pretty” sights. Go deeper.

When you do this, do old memories come to the surface? What are they? Tell us.

Create a photo essay to share with your Medium readers. Weave a story throughout the collection of photos. It can be factual. It can be your reaction and emotions to the photos. Tell us why these photos mean something to you at this moment in time.

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing ideas that come to mind for your photo essay.

Third Prompt

The prompt is “photograph.” Start a word bank. Start listing words that come to mind when you read the word. Then expand. What is your first memory involving someone taking your photo? Was it good? Was it bad? The first time you used a camera (before cellphones)? Why do you hate to be photographed? Why do you love it?

Remember as a fiction writer, you can use these prompts from the perspective of a fictionalized character.

Set a timer for five minutes and write.

Revision

When you freewrite, always allow your words to simmer before putting your editor hat on. When I write, I either only freewrite, with no editing or stopping. Or I edit and revise. Never at the same time.

After some time, go back over your words and add structure. Take away, add. Polish it up!

Submit your work to Flint & Steel

You can submit your writing to any of the freewriting exercises found at Flint & Steel anytime. There are no deadlines for these prompts.

If you publish your article with another publication, tag me so I can stop by and comment on your piece.

Visit the submission guideline page to sign up to be a writer at Flint & Steel.

Welcome to the Flint & Steel Publication

Submission guidelines (updated October 2021)

medium.com

More Freewriting Friday exercises

About the Writer

Ellie is a freelance writer and editor from Minnesota. She is writing her first novel, a psychological suspense novel, while finishing her MFA at SNHU.

Need writing inspiration? Check out Sparks, Ellie’s newsletter filled with Medium writing prompts to spark your creativity.

Want to read more? Or even join Medium as a writer? Join Medium and have unlimited access to so many excellent writers & get started on your own Medium writing journey.

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