Writing Exercise: Look for Stories in Textures
Introduction
You’ve probably seen a shape or a face in the clouds on a sunny or stormy day. What stories can you create from those formations?
Have you seen shapes elsewhere? What about within the texture of a ceiling, fabric, or wood furniture? What stories could you create?
Practice
Let’s practice. What do you see in these pictures of a textured ceiling?
What I See
I’ve outlined what I see below. Did you see the same thing as I did, or something else? Mention what you saw in the comments section below.
In this first image, I see a person with their back to the wind, their hair blowing against their face. I imagine a character received some bad news and ran outside to the sanctuary of a nearby hill, taking solace in the wind’s gentle touch.
In this second image, I see the Man in the Moon, taking the crescent shape with a profile. I see a large nose, puckered lips, and a tiny chin. I imagine a character watching the world below, wishing to live on Earth for a day. He longs to know what it feels like to be surrounded by life instead of darkness and distant stars.
In this third image, I see a skull. Perhaps it is Death coming through a portal from his realm, entering into the land of the living to guide lost souls into the Underworld.
Now that I’ve given some short examples of what stories can be told just by looking at textures, I’ll share a more in-depth example.
I saw this face in the fabric texture of my couch. He looks like a cool villain or anti-hero for a graphic novel or comic book.
Character Synopsis
As a child, his country was in a civil war. His family was brutally murdered in front of him. The right side of his face was badly burned. Somehow, he managed to survive, even after the war was won by the opposing side.
Years later, hardened by the war and its aftermath, he decided to take revenge.
He infiltrated the enemy’s government and started working up the ranks. He became a trusted ally and military operative, protecting the country by day and acting as a vigilante by night. While seeking vengeance in the dark, he wore a horned mask that was half man and half animal. The animal half covers his burns, symbolizing the monster he believes he has become because of the war.
First, he took down the individuals involved in his family's deaths. Second, he hunted all the soldiers who wronged his people. In the process, he gained the name "The Minotaur," becoming an infamous killer.
He continued these killing sprees at night while gaining clearance by day to become the personal bodyguard of the country’s leader, his final destination. Now face-to-face with the leader who started it all, he can finally destroy the man he had sworn to protect.
Conclusion
I enjoy doing these exercises because they test how fast I can develop a story idea. It’s also fun to see if the concept interests me enough to develop into a long-term project or if it is simply a short-lived idea. It's also fun to see if and how the story changes and evolves.
When you have a minute, scan your surroundings. Take note of any objects that have patterns or textures and see what stories you can create within the ordinary things around you. I hope you have fun with this writing exercise. Good luck on your writing journey!