Words, Pictures, or Feelings: How Your Thinking Style Shapes Your Writing

Have you ever stopped to wonder how your mind works as a writer? Do you think in words, pictures, or something else entirely? Understanding your thinking style can be a powerful tool for enhancing your storytelling and making your writing more engaging.

Here’s why: the way you process the world shapes the way you describe it on the page. And recognizing your unique thought patterns can help you lean into your strengths and address areas where you might struggle.

The Three Thinking Styles and Their Impact on Writing

1. Words-First Thinkers
   If your thoughts come in the form of words—a running narrative that describes your day or creates stories in your mind—you likely excel at crafting dialogue, internal monologues, and poetic turns of phrase. However, you might find it challenging to include rich sensory details or visualize your characters’ surroundings. Being aware of this allows you to deliberately work on those areas, balancing your natural strengths.
2. Visual Thinkers
   Do you see vivid mental images when you think? You might be a visual thinker. This strength often translates into detailed scene descriptions and striking imagery in your writing. But because your inner world is so visual, you might need to focus on conveying the emotions or inner lives of your characters, ensuring their development is as rich as your imagined landscapes.
3. Feeling-Based Thinkers
   If you process the world primarily through feelings or sensations, your writing might naturally convey deep emotional resonance. Readers may connect strongly with the moods and undertones of your stories. However, you might need to work on anchoring those feelings in concrete details to create a more vivid and tangible world for your audience.

Why Mindfulness Matters for Writers

Mindfulness—the practice of paying close attention to your thoughts without judgment—can help you identify and embrace your natural thinking style. By noticing how your mind works, you can lean into your strengths while addressing potential blind spots in your writing.

For instance:

• A words-first thinker might practice describing scenes visually to expand their narrative toolkit.
• A visual thinker might write exercises focused on their characters’ internal monologues to deepen emotional resonance.
• A feeling-based thinker might make a conscious effort to add physical details and action to their writing.

By understanding and expanding beyond your thinking style, you can create a more balanced and compelling narrative.

Applying This Awareness to Character Creation

Understanding thinking styles doesn’t just help you as a writer—it can also enrich your characters. People process the world differently, and this diversity of thought is key to creating multidimensional, believable characters.

For example, a character who processes through words might narrate their own experiences or have a sharp, witty inner monologue. A visual thinker might focus on noticing the details of their surroundings, while a feeling-based thinker might be deeply attuned to the emotions of others. By varying your characters’ thinking styles, you can bring a unique authenticity to their perspectives.

Exploring the World Through Writing

One of the great joys of writing is the opportunity to explore lives and perspectives far beyond our own. Understanding your own thought process—and learning to stretch beyond it—can open doors to more dynamic storytelling.

So take a moment to reflect: Do you think in words, pictures, or feelings? How does that show up in your writing? And what steps could you take to embrace your strengths and expand your creative range?

No matter how your mind works, there’s one universal truth: every thinking style has something unique to offer. The key is understanding your approach and using it to tell the best stories you can.