Writing about a thousand words
Posted on November 20th, 2007 by Natasha
I’ve been working a report this week, and I wrote a page of text to explain a particular concept before deciding to replace it with an image that really said it all.
Which got me thinking…
Writing about writing, Week #9
This might be a silly question to ask writers, but in your opinion, is a picture really worth a thousand words?
If you’ve answered this question in your blog, please leave a link to the entry in the comments box below. Alternatively you can write/paste your answer directly in the comments box.
Of course not, I’m a writer! If I thought that I’d be a photographer (or a graphic artist).
Both pictures and words are complementary and each can enhance the other. Sometimes a picture can speak for itself but usually they work best as illustrations.
I’m not a writer but I find that pictures and photos but more particularly diagrams and figures and charts, put me off what I am reading. They add nothing for me - are just an interruption to the text. I love pages of words.
Hmmm…. this is a tough one. I am a writer, so of course I believe there is always a need for touching words. Words themselves can paint a picture in one’s mind.
I also believe that a picture can “say it all” as you suggested.
Furthermore, my grandmother always taught me, “Actions speak louder than words.” Someone can see that you love them by your actions. You can say, “I love you” twenty times a day, but one special, meaningful gesture will speak even louder without you ever opening your mouth…
Sometimes a picture can tell a whole story and sometimes it can’t. Sometimes words are needed and sometimes they aren’t.
Well, that’s my fortune cookie insight of the day.
Oh I have to agree with Reluctant Blogger on the diagrams and charts thing. A good graphic CAN enhance words but the operative word is ‘good’ - it’s a rare beast!
The worst thing is PowerPoint presentations that use too many graphs. Especially if it’s a column graph and you can’t actually tell whether it’s 66% or 67% or 68%. Drives me batty especially when as a journo I’m trying to put it into words.