I’m an artist with writer’s block. I interpret the world through an abstract lens, and my mind tends to think in images rather than words. When I brainstorm, I see colors, textures, and symbols.
At times, this unique quality makes it difficult to explain my ideas in academic papers, because I’m lost down the rabbit hole of my own free associations.
I’ve learned to overcome this difference by integrating imagery into my writing process, to allow one medium to enhance the other.
I’ll use diagrams, webs, and charts to illustrate my arguments, then expand on them.
Sometimes, I’ll make a collage or a painting as my pre-writing. Then I’ll respond to the work as content for my paper.
Even in writing this article, I got caught up in how to explain my ideas. So I took my own advice and made a digital collage. This image helped me see through the fog of my own thoughts and find the diamond in the rough amidst the mist.
Using imagery helps me ground my ideas to discover what I truly want to say in my writing. I encourage anyone to try using imagery to enhance their writing, especially if you’re having trouble getting started or letting the words flow.
Michelle Tobin
Virtual Writing Center
Antioch University
