TAT-DOs & Don’ts 333

Here are the ten DOs & Don’ts for Picture Story Writing:

1. Tackling the TAT involves imaginative story writing rather than simple picture description.
2. Your story should prominently feature a hero, representing you, as it reflects your personality. Ensure your hero is portrayed positively.
3. Craft a positive story with past, present, and future elements, incorporating the picture into the narrative, ideally in the present context.
4. Pay close attention to every detail in the picture without preconceived notions, and avoid forcing elements into the story.
5. Write in alignment with what the picture suggests. Even if the image appears negative, try to introduce a positive resolution instead of unnecessary negativity.
6. A typical story structure involves a hero, an explanation of events leading to the picture, and the hero resolving the situation, concluding on a positive note.
7. Present practical problems and solutions in your story, avoiding unrealistic or childish ideas.
8. Aim for a story length between 80-100 words, avoiding overly brief narratives. Select the age and profession of the main character based on what’s evident in the picture.
9. If multiple characters are present, choose one closest in age to you as the hero. In cases where age is ambiguous, opt for an age similar to your own. However, avoid assigning ages that clearly don’t match.
10. A good story should convey a practical, mature, and realistic motto, no matter how small it may be.