Photo by J.L. Martin

Have you tried writing with old photographs? It offers a certain freedom to create because you have no idea who people really were. An old photo gives the subconscious an image without strings attached and this allows characterization to bubble up. Here’s how it’s worked for me.

The photo above is of my main character. I found him in an antique store. Tucked into the back of this old daguerreotype was a scrap of paper with a scribbled first initial and a last name but no other information. Eventually I discovered who this boy was in real life. By then of course I’d come up with a completely different reality for him. The one in my book.

My boy grew up not knowing his real destiny. He has a special talent that everyone wants, but that no one would ever wish for if they knew the consequences.  He is gentle, serious, and not a fan of bowties. But sometimes you have to put up with them, at least until strange and exciting things begin to happen, and especially if they involve a raven and a really great ham sandwich.

Writing with photographs may not work for everyone, but if you’re looking for new or deeper characters, it’s definitely worth a try. You never know what will happen. Some online sources I really like are Shorpy, Dead Fred, and the NY Public Library Digital Gallery. Or try rummaging around in an old dusty antique shop on some rainy afternoon. Characters are out there just waiting for us to find them.

I also have several deliciously creepy old photograph postcards of kittens. They relate to another character in my book. One who’s quite frightening. But I’ll save that for another post.