Day Two: Write from a Photograph

Choose a photograph that is especially meaningful to you, ideally with you in it, either alone or with other people. Then use the photograph to prompt your writing — you can start with concrete context (date, location, etc.), but ultimately the point is to delve into the internal life of the photograph: the thoughts and feelings of the person/people pictured (whether you or someone else), especially if in contrast to external appearances; something that just happened or is about to happen, etc. What is unseen? The photograph is a frozen moment in time, but on a continuum that’s always evolving; what was leading up to this moment? And what progresses from it?

This writing prompt was developed by therapeutic writing expert, Sarah Saffian.