Snapshot of Relationships

Twelve legs remain.

As writers, with our awareness focus, we learn to project the elements of story on all situations. Our minds spin with ideas and notions of what happened in a location? How did it happen? Who became involved? Do we shift beyond the obvious to another point of view?


Consider the setting above. Potential for story teases the viewer with myriad sensations. Ask questions to formulate a story or poem.


What does the display of table and chairs reveal about who arrived and left?


What conversations attracted and distracted the individuals here?


Move into details to use: the dry grass, position of the chairs, the ash tray on the table. What else could you bring to this scene or take away?


Knock over the chairs and table or re-arrange them.


How would you populate the situation?


Add a dog or cat.


What clues could you give to reveal motives and repercussions of an event that unraveled?


What qualities of a relationship reside here without people?


Bring an Aha! moment to the attention of your reader by showing a relationship in sensory details.


Go beyond a predisposed notion of mood. How could you change it by adding or subtracting from the scene?


Creative Write: When you have collected details, do a freewrite to describe the experience. Avoid the tendency to skip the experience and go into the idea. Don't tell the reader what to think or feel. Communicate with imagery and sensory detail. . Start with the imagery and move into emotional connections. Use the power of suggestion to lead the reader.


Unfold a truth in a snapshot view.