Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. My body trembled as the Great Tortoise of Fis came to a halt in front of the scout. The scout was hollering frantically at the cleric but I could not make it out. There was no need, the mahout cleric’s bellowing and waving sword told all. It was time to return. The roving cities of Bas were in peril and so was Sol’Ashe.
The saying “A picture is worth a thousand words.” could be a little over rated both in reality and the world of make believe. I’ve written an opening based on a picture crated in response to a challenge. I neither know the challenge nor how accurately the picture matched that challenge. I interpreted my way to suit my purposes.
Another creationeer might want the horseman to be an adversary or one getting ready to flee and offering one last challenge. Is the city a garrison, town of clerics, farming community or a tower of magic? Is the tortoise gigantic or the people tiny? So many questions. When a story is developed the purpose of the story from the creationeer to the reader needs to be clear.
Is the story going to be a short story with a single laser sharp idea, event, concept or question being conveyed to the reader. Is the sole purpose to leave the reader puzzling and thinking about the subject of the story? Maybe it is a short story with its own conclusion but also can be an event that is part of a much larger world and longer story. The reader, again, brings their owner perceptions and experiences to the story which affects the outcome of their read. The link here is that with language being filtered so finely the picture is even more so. Having both together strengthens the message but is still open to interpretation by the receiver.
Now, you say, reality is different. Wish it was, our legal system and all the “eye” witnesses would not lose so much credibility if this was true. Indeed, the stop motion cameras of the football world is all about the “angles” since the picture does not tell all. How dull would our world be if it did!
Keep creating and challenging those interpretations.