Writing Exercise

We recently led a workshop working with paintings, photographs and sculpture (Ekphrasis). We asked a number of questions to help the students develop character and setting for their story or poem. Try this:

• Without reading the story, take a photograph of a person on the front page of a newspaper or magazine.
  Ask a few questions.
• What is this person's occupation?
• Is he/she happy or sad?
• What is he/she most proud of?
• Is he/she keeping a secret?
• What does he/she desire most right now?

Take a few minutes to answer these questions. You will probably find a poem or story is now waiting to be written.