Are you using imagery in your writing?

Imagery. Imagery. Imagery.

Imagery is the foundation of all good writing – poetry. Short stories. Speeches. Novels. Movies. Opinion pieces.

Writers have to work hard to create powerful images which pull and position readers to see the scene. Powerful imagery or one single image can carry a whole idea.

1. A picture paints a thousand words

Writers have to make words work hard to create powerful images.

Typically, many works will start with a sensory description to evocatively describe a setting.

For example look at the opening line of The Drover’s Wife by Henry Lawson – it’s very simple but clearly establishes a strong sense of place in the opening lines.

The two-roomed house is built of round timber, slabs, and stringy-bark, and floored with split slabs. A big bark kitchen standing at one end is larger than the house itself, veranda included.

2. Use the senses

Great writers always use sensory imagery to lift and animate a scene. If you want to lift your writing write down what can your character:

See

Hear

Taste

Touch

Smell.

If you do this, your writing will instantly lift off the page.

the monstrous anger of the guns. (sound)

Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle…(sound)

And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. (see)

These powerful images convey his message and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

We explain how you can utilise creating powerful images in your own writing in both of our books: Creative Writing and Persuasive Writing which you can see here:

Improve your writing!