Why Visual Thinkers Get Stuck
Most content tools — and even school systems — are built for linear, language-first thinkers. The standard path is: write first, then add visuals later.
But if you're a visual thinker, your process is often the opposite. You sketch first. You see the idea before you say it.
Harvard professor Howard Gardner calls it visual-spatial intelligence — the ability to think in images, patterns, and relationships. If that’s your strength, no wonder writing feels like swimming upstream.
Here’s the good news: AI can bridge that gap.
Not by replacing your thinking, but by acting as your translator.
It helps you start where you shine — with visuals — and then shape those into words that resonate.
A 3-Step Visual-to-Verbal Framework
1️⃣ Start with the Visual
Capture your idea in the format that feels most natural: a sketch, framework, mind map, photo of your whiteboard, or something else.
2️⃣ Frame the Prompt
Tell the AI what the visual shows, who it’s for, and what kind of writing style you want. Try this template. (Fill in your own words between the brackets.)
Imagine you’re a [persona]. I’ve created a [diagram/framework/sketch] about [topic]. It shows [how key elements connect or flow].
Help me turn this into [blog post / website copy / social caption] written in a [tone — e.g., warm, conversational, confident] voice.
It’s for an audience of [describe the audience], who want to [desired outcome or action — e.g., understand a new concept, feel inspired to take action, decide whether to work with me].
Here’s an example filled in:
Imagine you’re a brand copywriter for creative a sketch, framework, mind map, or a photo of your whiteboard..
I’ve created a sketch that maps out the 5 stages of a client transformation process. It shows how people move from confusion to clarity to confidence through my coaching program.
Help me turn this into a short piece of website copy in a warm, professional voice.
It’s for independent creatives who are considering coaching but unsure what to expect.
3️⃣ Refine the Output
AI generates a rough draft. You add your expertise. Include examples, polish the phrasing, and make sure it sounds 100% like you. (Remember: AI is your sidekick, not your substitute.)
The result? Clear, compelling copy that starts with your best (visual) thinking.
This Week’s Build:
Your Visual-to-Verbal Translation System
Here’s your action plan:
🔵 Choose one visual idea, such as a sticky note, sketch, or diagram.
🔵 Use the prompt template to describe what it shows and who it’s for.
🔵 Paste it into your preferred AI tool.
🔵 Review and refine the output — make at least three edits to personalize the voice.
🚀 Pro tip: Save your best prompts as templates. They’re reusable assets in your communication toolkit.
This week’s SOLO Insight:
Visuals spark ideas.
Words spread them.
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With AI as your assistant, your sketches can become standout content — and your ideas can travel further than ever.
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Fresh Finds for Creative Minds
Here are three gems this week from around the Web for visual thinkers and solopreneurs:
🎬 ChatGPT’s New Visual Creation Superpowers
OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT 4o update can now generate impressive images, animations, videos, and storyboards from simple text prompts. In this video walkthrough, Matt Wolfe delivers what he calls “a total nerd-out fest” of 50+ possible uses. Whether you’re excited or concerned, understanding these new tools is essential for staying competitive. Just remember: While creating high-quality visuals is more accessible than ever, imagination remains the essential ingredient AI can’t replicate.
🌱 Beyond the Fail: Smart Recovery Strategies for Solopreneurs
This archival post from Josh Spector isn’t another generic “failure is good for you” pep talk. Instead, he offers six practical ideas for processing disappointments and setbacks. His framework makes it easier to learn from, cope with, and bounce back from any failure — particularly valuable for solopreneurs, where failures can feel intensely personal. A thoughtful read for those moments when you need more than just motivational platitudes.
🔍 Find the Perfect Software (plus landing page inspiration)
Searching for that “just right” digital tool? ToolFinder catalogs nearly 800 software solutions you can filter by category, platform, pricing, and more. Bonus for visual thinkers: with one click, you can see hundreds of SaaS landing pages — perfect inspiration for your own website design.
⭐️ Have an item I should share in this section?
Don’t keep it a secret. Email me with your find!
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News about programs and resources at the Solo Business School:
🚀 Content Velocity: Create Like You, Just Faster
Want to write quality content with AI as a creative sidekick — without sounding like a bot? My upcoming online course, Content Velocity, shows you how. Get details and hop on the waitlist to be first in line for special bonuses when it launches in a few weeks.
💻 Tuesday Coworking Sessions: The Secret Weapon of Women Solopreneurs
Designers, lawyers, professional organizers, artists, writers — the types of women solopreneurs who join our free weekly coworking sessions is growing. We all share the goal of getting stuff done, and enjoying the focus of an hour of silent work in this online peer community. We meet via Zoom each Tuesday at 10amPT/1pmET. A quick email to me gets you full details and adds you to the list.
🧰 Terri’s Tested Tools and Resources
The Solo Business School now features a curated Solo Resources section filled with a tested collection of tech tools, software, and office gear I use in my own solo business. These are the trrusted resources I recommend to clients who want efficient, reliable solutions without the overwhelm of too many options.
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SOLO Marketplace
Introducing a curated marketplace of solopreneur resources and opportunities, supported by affiliate or listing fees.
My Top 2 Writing Tools
As I’m finishing up building my new online course, Content Velocity (see above), I’m spending a lot of time at my keyboard. Here are my two favorite writing tools these days:
Lex is my AI writing assistant. Think of it like Google docs with AI (and more) built in. You can choose from more than a dozen AI models all for one monthly or annual fee, and your writing is never shared to build the algorithms. Developed by and for writers, it has built-in checks for grammar, brevity, cliches, readability, and more.
WisprFlow enables seamless speech-to-text capabilities across every app, including AI. It’s three times faster than my typing (and I type pretty fast). No more aching fingers at the end of the day — I just hold down one key and speak. Like magic, my words appear. It’s astonishingly accurate, learns your style, and has changed my daily work.
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Want to check out past issues?
Visit the SOLO Newsletter archive.
Know someone who wants to know more about using visuals to communicate and stand out? Share this newsletter with another solopreneur!
And if you received this issue from a friend, I invite you to subscribe.
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That’s a wrap for SOLO issue #59 and Visual Assembly #15.
Thanks again for being a SOLO reader and coming along on this adventure!
Until next week,
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Terri Lonier, PhD
Founder, Solo Business School
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