By Ariela Zucker
We’ve all heard the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words." It’s familiar, maybe even a little overused, but as writers, it’s something we can’t afford to ignore. Pictures hold a special kind of magic, a way of capturing moments that words sometimes struggle to convey. But why do they carry such weight? What is it about a simple image that can evoke emotions, memories, and stories so powerfully?
It all comes down to how our brains work. Did you know that our brains process images 60,000 times faster than text? And that 90 percent of the information our brains take in is visual? These statistics are more than just trivia—they reveal something fundamental about how we experience the world. We tend to remember 65% of what we see, but only about 10% of what we hear. It’s like our brains are naturally drawn to pictures, soaking them up even when we’re not really paying attention. Think about the last time you saw a commercial—those images, colors, and even the music stick with us, often without us realizing it. The connection between image and memory is deep.
Photographs also tap into a different part of our brain, offering a richer, more layered experience than words alone can provide. When we look at a picture, we’re not just seeing it; we’re feeling it. The visual information enters through our eyes but reverberates through our emotions, our memories, and even our senses. A photograph of a beach, for instance, doesn’t just show us sand and water—it can make us feel the warmth of the sun, hear the gentle crashing of the waves, and even smell the salt in the air. This multi-sensory experience is something words alone often struggle to achieve. In this way, photographs give us a new perspective, helping us see the world—and our writing—in a more textured way.
There’s something comforting about the idea that a single photo can hold so much. It’s like opening a treasure chest full of memories, just waiting to be rediscovered. As writers, we have the opportunity to dive into that richness, to let those images inspire and deepen our stories. Imagine the possibilities—each photograph we encounter can become a portal to a story, a character, or a scene waiting to be written.
"Show, don’t tell"—we hear it all the time. We’re encouraged to fill our writing with concrete details, to engage the senses and bring our scenes to life. Photographs can be our allies in this mission, opening up sensory pathways that words alone might not reach. They’re like keys to memories and emotions we might have forgotten. The shadows in a photo can hint at secrets, the light can suggest hope, and the expressions on faces can reveal unspoken emotions. These visual cues can enrich our writing, making it more vivid and alive.
And the best part? Pictures are something we all have. Most of us have a few tucked away, whether in albums, on our phones, or stored in the cloud. These photos bring back memories of special times, places, or people. For this class, all we need are a few photographs. As writers, we can use these images to fuel our creativity, to unlock memories we didn’t even know we still had, and to bring a new dimension to our storytelling. So, next time you find yourself searching for inspiration, why not start with a picture? You might be surprised by the thousand words that come pouring out.
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Join us for Ariela Zucker's four-week WOW workshop, starting January 13th:
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