IMAGERY

(Pronounced “im-ij-ree”)

IMAGERY is the technique of using one or more of the five senses in writing (or speaking) to convey a great “IMAGE” (picture) in the head of a writer’s reader or a speaker’s listener.

Ideally, it’s about “painting a picture” of what you want the reader/listener to know specifically. It’s also about giving FULL, specific, explicit, graphic details (in some cases) to describe a scene, episode, event, etc.

IMAGERY can be something that is really simple and basic:

  • A red-headed boy lit a match.

(In this case, maybe the reader can “hear” the sound of the match being lit, or maybe the reader can “smell” the aroma of the just-lit match. In most cases, a reader can “see” someone probably lighting a match. Maybe the reader can “feel” the heat of the flame of the just-lit match.)

IMAGERY can be something that is fully descriptive and detailed:

  • A dog chased a cat into a corner of the yard, and as the dog approached, the cat hissed and bellowed a mean, belly-deep growl just before lunging toward and pouncing upon the dog with two sharp-nailed claws. The cat’s claws dug a three-inch gouge into the dog’s side lip, causing blood to instantly spurt, sending the dog running home with its tail between its legs.

(In this case, the writer has used detailed, full-sentence descriptions of adjectives, onomatopoeias, and other general detailed word choices, including prep. phrases, to “paint” a vivid/detailed “picture” in the reader’s head, probably hitting more than just the sense of “sight”, however. This is IMAGERY in its most descriptive form.

When a young writer tries “IMAGERY”, do NOT write any of the following:

  • It sounded like…
  • It smelled like…
  • It felt like…
  • It tasted like…
  • It looked like…

It is the writer’s job to get across the five senses in a more advanced way and to do so with little (if any) reference to them. So instead of writing the above five “basic” sensory openings, a writer might try:

  • The thunder boomed like war. (Instead of “it sounded…”)
  • The boy’s feet were like raw fish, after he had practiced in the same socks for weeks. (Instead of “it smelled…”)
  • The blanket was a soft, velvety fabric that could keep you warm on a negative-50-degree night. (Instead of “it felt…”)
  • The broccoli was a mushy taste of earth, string, and cheddar cheese. (Instead of “it tasted…”)
  • The barn door was riddled with splotches of red, green, blue, and yellow paint that the boys missed their opponents with during the paint-gun battle! (Instead of “it looked…”)