At a quick glance, these two objects could be flowers. You can see the way the petals curve around each other, almost feel their velvety softness. The darkness of the background makes all the other elements nearly vanish, so that the barely-visible black column in the center could be the stalk of the plant on which these lovely golden flowers are blooming. Below them a nascent bloom begins to unfurl in the linearly cultivated field.

But a closer look reveals tiny glimpses of chains attached to the golden objects. The striations on the ground could be the planks of a floor. The object on the left suggests movement at its edges, as does the small yellow spot on the floor. Is it held in a hat of some sort, or perhaps an iron ring? Maybe the dark column is a post of some sort to which the chains are attached. For what purpose?

What are the golden yellow objects made of? Some sort of fabric gathered into itself, perhaps. Something soft, held together by the chains, though the one on the left appears to be shredding with the movement. Are they inanimate, or living beings of some sort?

What is the purpose of these objects that so closely resemble flowers? What is making at least the one on the left move? Are they being manipulated by an invisible force, or are they sentient in themselves, moving with intelligent intent? What do they want, and what will they do to get it? One wonders where this place is, what kind of setting these objects inhabit. Perhaps a deep cave below the surface of the Earth. Or another planet altogether…

Share your ideas of what this picture inspires in you.
Susan Tuttle

Writing Tip: Read the pages you wrote during your last writing session and make “tweak” edits to them as you go. Helps make final revisions less painful, and gets you back into the flow of your story for your current writing session. (From: Write It Right, Vol 13: Technicals and Editing)