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?
story ideas A young person with pale skin and freckles wears a textured scarf and a sculpted mask resembling an insect, featuring antennae. They look to the side with a serious expression against a dim background.
story ideas An old wooden chair sits abandoned on a narrow, overgrown sidewalk beside a rural road, with tall grass and a large tree nearby under a cloudy, moody sky. A distant house is visible on the right.
story ideas A person in ornate, futuristic armor rides atop a giant snail with a detailed, metallic shell, set against a muted, pale background with mossy ground beneath.
story ideas A vast, dimly lit underground industrial complex with high arched ceilings, scattered machinery, construction equipment, and tiny workers illuminated by beams of light streaming through overhead windows.