How To Write Word Pictures

Many, many years ago I started my mail order biz journey, which naturally lead to learning about copywriting.

I recall one little handbook/manual written by Charles Margolis titled “How to Write Copy That Sells.” And by the way, this excellent little book packed with top-quality instructions on writing copy that sells really helped me on my way to writing sales copy that actually produced sales for my business.
Here’s an interesting quote you may find helpful taken from the introduction of Mr. Margolis’s book, “We try to use picture words, that help you see what the benefits are: words that help you smell, taste, touch, and hear the benefits. We use images to create mental pictures which help us see, touch, taste and feel the benefits, so as to experience the actual product. We use metaphors, such as “the eagle soars in lonely majesty” and similes, such as “it drops like a thunderbolt to the sea below”, to create the mental pictures that help us sense the eagle’s essence.”

This got me thinking about “word pictures” and how it could make your writing better.
So, thought I’d try something different, and see what A.I. (yeah, I have a bit of “geek” in me) had to say about writing “word pictures” and here’s what I got . . .
To create vivid word pictures in writing, you aim to engage the reader’s senses and imagination, allowing them to "see" or "feel" what you're describing. Here are a few effective techniques:

1. Use Descriptive Language: Incorporate sensory details—sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. For example, instead of saying "The garden was pretty," you could write, "The garden burst with vibrant red roses, their fragrance sweetening the air with every breeze."
   
2. Similes and Metaphors: Compare unfamiliar concepts to familiar ones. For example, "Her smile was as bright as the morning sun," creates a visual comparison that strengthens the image.
   
3. Active Verbs: Choose dynamic verbs over passive ones. Instead of "The door was opened by her," say "She flung the door open," which gives the reader a clearer, more engaging picture.
   
4. Precise Adjectives and Nouns: Opt for specific nouns and adjectives. "The old house" becomes much more evocative when transformed into "the crumbling, ivy-covered mansion."
   
   
5. Engage Emotions: Use emotional descriptions to evoke feelings in the reader. "The abandoned house felt eerie" could become "The house stood silent, a chilling reminder of forgotten lives."
   

Incorporating these elements creates a rich and immersive narrative that paints vivid mental images for the reader.
So what do y’all think? Do you agree with this A.I. output? And what about what Charles Margolis said? Do you agree?
Until next time, peace and success be yours,
Em