# Exercise Put yourself into the picture.
Examine one of the six paintings/pictures below, using your five senses, and bring that era to life
Examine one of the six paintings/pictures below, using your five senses, and bring that era to life
- Sight – what do you see overall? Consider the colours. Now hone in on the tiny details.
- Sound –Look closely and listen to your inner voice. Is there movement? Does the picture and/or its characters speak to you?
- Smell – Does the picture suggest any fumes, aromas, perfume? Are they camphor, musk, flower, mint, ether, acrid, or putrid. spicy smells? Mown grass, salty spray, stale boots, pollution?
- Taste – is there anything to stimulate your sense of sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness, and umami (savory)?
- Touch – Do you feel: cold, heat, contact, or pain? Texture (of the paint) the fabric, bark?
Now that you have studied your chosen picture
Step into the picture. You are immersed in the NOW of this scene.
Are you dressed to suit in clothes of the day? Or are you an intruder, dressed as you are?
Either way, your view has changed.
You do not have to follow the theme of the painting as you know it, unless you want to, but you should let your imagination run free.
Being inside the picture,
- using some of the 5 senses, you sense … what?
- you feel…what? (one of the 6 universal emotions): Happy, Sad, Surprise, Fear Disgust, Anger?
Walk to the edge of the painting and peer around the corner, inside the frame.
Write for 15 -20 minutes from this new perspective:
What is happening just outside the viewer's vision?
Show us what you see; draw us into and beyond the picture.
METHOD
There is no right or wrong interpretation, only your vision.
You can read it out if you want to, or give us the gist of what you have written.
Has anything surprised you?
This exercise can be used with old family photos if you are writing a family history. By using your senses and emotions, you will add realism and depth to your account.
Step into the picture. You are immersed in the NOW of this scene.
Are you dressed to suit in clothes of the day? Or are you an intruder, dressed as you are?
Either way, your view has changed.
You do not have to follow the theme of the painting as you know it, unless you want to, but you should let your imagination run free.
Being inside the picture,
- using some of the 5 senses, you sense … what?
- you feel…what? (one of the 6 universal emotions): Happy, Sad, Surprise, Fear Disgust, Anger?
Walk to the edge of the painting and peer around the corner, inside the frame.
Write for 15 -20 minutes from this new perspective:
What is happening just outside the viewer's vision?
Show us what you see; draw us into and beyond the picture.
METHOD
- Let you imagination do the work, your research has given it plenty of fuel. You can look at the picture again if you must, but it might be better not to so that your imagination is free to wander where it will.
- Write FAST, keep your pen on the page. Keep writing even if you have to repeat the last word several times, but keep writing. Don’t cross out or worry about typos, punctuation, spelling or especially the weird phrases and imagery that come to mind. These could be the gems. Just get it all down.
- If you are using a laptop, turn off the screen while you type. You’ll be less inhibited and more surprised at the outcome.
There is no right or wrong interpretation, only your vision.
You can read it out if you want to, or give us the gist of what you have written.
Has anything surprised you?
This exercise can be used with old family photos if you are writing a family history. By using your senses and emotions, you will add realism and depth to your account.
# Picnic 1.
Imagine a big tree where you would love to have a picnic. This tree can be real or fictional.
a) Write about the family who picnicked here in the distant past. Consider the size of the family, clothes, food, carrying basket, manner of speech, music, transport, climate, activities.
b) Now write about the family who picnics under this tree in the distant future.
Remember to mention the change in appearance of the tree and the surrounding environment as well as the difference in family size, clothes, food, carrying basket, manner of speech, music, transport, climate, activities etc.
c) Was it easier to write about the past or the future? Why?
d) What details could be improved with research?
e) Would you be tempted to research when and why picnics came to be?
Imagine a big tree where you would love to have a picnic. This tree can be real or fictional.
a) Write about the family who picnicked here in the distant past. Consider the size of the family, clothes, food, carrying basket, manner of speech, music, transport, climate, activities.
b) Now write about the family who picnics under this tree in the distant future.
Remember to mention the change in appearance of the tree and the surrounding environment as well as the difference in family size, clothes, food, carrying basket, manner of speech, music, transport, climate, activities etc.
c) Was it easier to write about the past or the future? Why?
d) What details could be improved with research?
e) Would you be tempted to research when and why picnics came to be?
Here is a tree if you need one for motivation.
Is this how it looked in the distant past or the distant future?
# Picnic 2.
Using the 5 senses (sight, smell, touch, taste and sound), become a guest or family member at one or both of these picnics in two different eras.
Using the 5 senses (sight, smell, touch, taste and sound), become a guest or family member at one or both of these picnics in two different eras.
What is the occasion?
Which member has been hiding something and is about to drop a bombshell?
What is it that will change some, or all, of their lives before the picnic ends?
Which member has been hiding something and is about to drop a bombshell?
What is it that will change some, or all, of their lives before the picnic ends?
# Universal Themes -
"To produce a mighty book you must choose a mighty theme.” - Herman Melville.
Think of a strong universal theme; one to fit any era. e.g.
Identity and Society
The Importance of Family
The Power of Love
Sacrifices Bring Reward
Valour in War
Decide in which period you want your characters to live.
Where will they live?
Chose two characters.
Chose a goal, pursuit or desire for each one that will conflict with the other character’s goal.
1. Write a story précis first - A short summary of your story in about one paragraph.
2. Write a scene for this story - It can be from the beginning middle or end. Write for 15 minutes without research.
3. Note which era you want to set your story, and we’ll make suggestions where we think research would clarify and enrich the story.
4. Make a list of the historical elements you’ll need to research
5. Where will you begin in this hypothetical research? Best to begin with the easiest first. That might be all you need.
"To produce a mighty book you must choose a mighty theme.” - Herman Melville.
Think of a strong universal theme; one to fit any era. e.g.
Identity and Society
The Importance of Family
The Power of Love
Sacrifices Bring Reward
Valour in War
Decide in which period you want your characters to live.
Where will they live?
Chose two characters.
Chose a goal, pursuit or desire for each one that will conflict with the other character’s goal.
1. Write a story précis first - A short summary of your story in about one paragraph.
2. Write a scene for this story - It can be from the beginning middle or end. Write for 15 minutes without research.
3. Note which era you want to set your story, and we’ll make suggestions where we think research would clarify and enrich the story.
4. Make a list of the historical elements you’ll need to research
5. Where will you begin in this hypothetical research? Best to begin with the easiest first. That might be all you need.