Image Exploration Checklist for New Writers

Initial Impression & Gut Feelings:

 What’s the very first thing that catches my eye?

 What kind of mood or feeling does this image evoke in me? (e.g., peaceful, tense, mysterious, joyful)

 Are there any immediate questions that pop into my head when I look at it?

The Visual Details – Who, What, Where:

Characters/Subjects:

 Who or what are the main subjects in the image? (People, animals, objects, etc.)

 What are they doing? What actions are visible?

 What are their expressions or postures like? What might they be feeling?

 Are there any details about their appearance that stand out? (Clothing, features, etc.)

 If there are multiple subjects, how do they seem to relate to each other?

Setting/Environment:

 Where does this scene seem to be taking place? (Indoors, outdoors, specific location?)

 What are the key elements of the environment? (Landscape, architecture, objects present)

 What’s the time of day or year suggested by the image? (Light, weather, foliage)

 Are there any details about the setting that feel unusual or significant?

Objects & Details:

 Are there any specific objects that draw my attention?

 What might be the purpose or significance of these objects?

 Are there any small details that could hint at a larger story?

Asking “What If?” – The Seeds of Story:

Character Focus:

 What might have happened just before this moment in the image?

 What might happen next?

 What are the hopes, fears, or secrets of one of the characters?

 What kind of problem might one of the characters be facing?

Setting Focus:

 What is the history of this place? What stories might it hold?

 What kind of rules or laws might govern this environment?

 Could the setting itself be a character in the story?

Object Focus:

 Where did this object come from? Who might have owned it?

 What special properties or significance might this object possess?

 Could this object be the key to a conflict or a mystery?

Overall Narrative:

 What kind of conflict or tension is hinted at in the image?

 What kind of journey or transformation might be implied?

 What genre or type of story does this image suggest to me? (Mystery, fantasy, romance, etc.)

 What is the most interesting unanswered question the image presents?

Brainstorming & Connecting Ideas:

 Choose one or two elements from the image that particularly intrigue me.

 Try combining different observations and “what if” questions to see what sparks.

 Don’t censor any ideas at this stage! Just jot down whatever comes to mind.

 Could any of the elements in the image be metaphors or symbols for something larger?

Choosing a Focus:

 Which of the potential story ideas feels the most exciting or compelling to me?

 What single question or scenario do I want to explore further based on this image?