In the beginning there was . . .

For many writers, in the beginning is the word.

But for some of us, in the beginning there is the image.

All of my stories begin with an image. Sometimes it is static, like a photograph, and other times it’s a bit of a scene – no more than a few words or part of an action – and sometimes, the best ones of all, I see an entire scene, which leads to the next, which leads to the next.

When I have been asked what it’s like to be a visual writer, the quickest answer has always been, I write the movie...