Use Your Thoughts Like a Paintbrush

How to use your thoughts to produce memorable word pictures.

I was reading an item on Writing.Com, and one of the writer’s phrases caused me to think of the idea of how to use our thoughts like a paintbrush, and what that means. Immediately, I thought about my wife and how I see her. Though she is 64 years of age, her smile lights up any room with a glow of warmth and love. Her eyes carry a smile that draw you into her love of those around her. When she hugs you, you feel her acceptance as waves of sincere expression. Her love of others is as obvious as a sunny evening where the sun paints a warm red hue across the sky behind the clouds of the day. Far from being perfect, you still can sense the stark and clear devotion she has for her God as the chicks eagerly desire the attention of their mother. This is my wife.

As you can see, with a little effort, I can express my thoughts as feelings which (hopefully) promote the idea of pictures in the mind. The above can still be worked on and improved as any writing may. But, my goal in writing about this idea is to encourage you to make the effort to include the expressions of your thoughts as word pictures that can help improve your writings. While we do not want to overuse this idea, any writing may become even better due to the inclusion of this method. Some persons may decide that this is too hard to do, but I want to argue against that conclusion and attempt to show how anyone can use this technique in their writings.

First of all, consider what it is that you are writing about.

Secondly, choose one or two of the thoughts you would like to improve on and ask yourself how you feel about those thoughts. Consider which of your feelings are the strongest. What is it that you want the reader to still be thinking about after they have finished reading? What is the point that you want the reader to understand?

Thirdly, think about how you might relate your thoughts, points, and feelings to pictures, expressions, ideas, and other things like this. For example, if you want your reader to remember how much your protagonist hated his antagonist, you might think of a storm with lightning bolts, heavy rain, hail, and strong winds. You could then write about your protagonist’s was filled with the rage of a powerful storm. Or, you could think about to angry rams, fighting over a ewe. Then you could write about how his attacks against the antagonist were synonymous with the battle of two rams as they butted horns.

Fourthly, consider color. For example, the sun painted the sky with a warm hue which contrasted with the whiteness of the clouds. Consider your writing as a canvas upon which you paint the feelings you are trying to express. Take your time and play with the idea, let it become an enjoyable tool.

Fifthly, don’t forget sound. Just because you are putting letters and numbers on a blank page it does not mean sound should be forgotten. Imagine this. Marisol was enjoying the coolness of the evening's soft breezes as she picked some flowers when she heard the whistling in the air. Quick notes and then slower ones, and longer one and now several short ones. Ah, she knew that tune, and she knew who like whistling it. Francisco was coming to visit her.

And, finally, for now, do not forget the objects found in real life. Trees, grass, oceans, mountains, and so forth. Many of those objects can produce emotions and bring up happy memories which will move the reader to respond much better to your writing.