Note from the Editor-in-chief, Marilyn L. Davis
The idea that a picture can convey what might take many words to express was voiced by a character in Ivan S. Turgenev’s novel Fathers and Sons, 1862: “The drawing shows me at one glance what might be spread over ten pages in a book.”
But, is a picture always worth a thousand words? Not necessarily. So, here’s the challenge for all of Two Drops of Ink’s writers and readers.
Capture the Image Using the Power of Words
Many times, an image is captured without a backstory, and that’s where the writer has the advantage of using their words to give us context for that still photo. Click To Tweet
As the writer, you get to describe the picture. But it’s got to be more than just a park bench in autumn, regardless of how beautiful the leaves are. Show us how this park bench gave relief to the elderly couple who walked that path for twenty years or sat forlornly waiting for the bulldozer so the city could have another parking deck, or how this bench and all it stood for united a community.
Now I See It!
Do you see how those words add meaning? See how those words evoke a feeling in the reader? That’s the power of words and images combined.
Let’s have a contest to see if the words don’t carry the message better than just the image or create a memorable story from a picture prompt. Click To Tweet
Contest Rules
- For this contest, you’ll write at least 1000 words to tell a story, enchant us with a poem, or provide memoir-based problem-solving for the blogger or writer from the images.
- Our monthly contributors may enter as well. It gives them an opportunity to get outside of their comfort zones and entertain, educate, or enchant us.
- In the subject line of your submission, write, “Best 1000 Words for the Image Contest.” Send to twodropsofinksubmissions@yahoo.com
- Deadline for this contest is December 8, 2018
- Then, we’ll let the readers vote for their favorite.
- The post that gets the most “likes” is the winner. The “like” button is below the “Help us share” button. And do be sure to share!
We’ll post the winner on December 24th, 2018.
Pick Your Prompt
In many cases, the image will dictate what type of post you submit. Poetry, short fiction, memoir-based, or helpful hints.
For this contest, any genre is welcome. Short fiction, how-to, memoir, essay, or poetry. And what do you get for your efforts? $100. Click To Tweet
Number 1: Man, Bike, Clouds
Number 2: Men, Checkers, Antique store
Number 3: Man, skyline, large city
Number 4: Woman, butterflies, symbols
Number 5: Woman, Evening gown, Trash-strewn room
Number 6: Girl, Book, Fantasy
Image Number 7: Restaurant, Meeting place, no people
Image Number 8: Abandoned building
Image Number 9: Man, mechanical, brain
Image Number 10: Park Bench, Autumn
Tell your friends and families after you’ve submitted. Every vote counts.
Two Drops of Ink: The Literary Home for Collaborative Writing
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We chatted last night and WHY did I not see this contest????? Or even think of it????? Brilliant Idea Marilyn! Always “thinking outside the page” LOL. I’ll share this one on my Book and Writer Blog now… CAT
https://anauthorandwriterinprogress.wordpress.com 🙂
Hi, Terry. No, I’ve never seen that film, but will probably now look for it on Netflix. Thanks for commenting. Hope you enter the contest.
Hi Marilyn,
Not sure if it’s just me. You say when you will post the winner’s details but I can’t see what the deadline date is.
Carol (aka Lady Cee)
Hi, Carol. Thanks for catching that. The deadline is December 8, 2018. Hope you enter the contest.
If I can come up with something I will Marilyn.
Hi Marilyn,
Is it, indeed?? Such an interesting question and long-time debate between artists and writers!
Have you seen the movie “Words and Pictures” released in 2014 about an Art Instructor and English Teacher who battle this very issue? It was a movie whose portrayal of the question really reasonated with me, although I still don’t know if I have decided on a definitive answer for myself. But, I bet you can guess what direction I am leaning towards.