Hi Reader!

I am a big Ansel Adams fan. 📷

There is something about the way he captured emotion in his photographs that just ✨ lights me up.

But only some of his images evoke that gut-clenching, tear-inducing feeling of rapture in me.

🤔

And I wonder why that is? Even though I know he was a skilled photographer, why aren't I affected by all of his images?

(Never heard of Ansel Adams? Check out some of his work here.)

Sometimes the story we're trying to tell is not the one that comes out on paper.

It's all about how the story is framed.

So how can we be sure we're writing for our ideal readers, the ones who want to read exactly what we want to publish?

👇

Let's look at two example photos...

What 3 words do you feel when you look at this image?

☝️ That is a photograph I captured at Big Sur a few years ago. It hangs over my fireplace now, and when I look at it, I feel:

🌱 Hope

🌄 Possibility

😌 Peace

For me, this image evokes the promise of new beginnings, an escape from the gray mundanity of everyday life, and a glimpse at a path to happiness.

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Now think about how this photo makes you feel… 👇

Did you experience:

😰 Anxiousness?

❓ Uncertainty?

🥀 Sadness?

For me, this photo captures the essence of conflict, doubt, and worry.

These photos were taken at the same beach, within 30 minutes of one another, by the same photographer (me).

👉 Yet they inspire vastly different emotional experiences. 👈

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One small writing decision could change the entire tone, feel, and reader reception of a book.

That’s part of why writing a healthy first draft can be so challenging and why typing “the end” can feel so intimidating.

The quickest way to write a strong first draft is to “frame” your hero’s journey.

Even though both photos share a setting, time frame, and creator, each image appeals to different viewer expectations and preferences.

🤔

Let’s break down WHY each of the photos above is unique, even though they share a common foundation.

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#1 Landscape (wide) ➡️ vs ⬆️ portrait (tall):

✍️ In a story, this element might be your word count or book length.

Longer stories have room to explore more themes, where shorter stories must dig deeper into a narrower range of topics.

💡 Choose your page length to perfectly contain the themes your story explores.

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Color 🌈 vs monochrome:

✍️ In your story, this element might represent the personality of your prose (your storytelling voice).

How much energy does your writing voice bring to your stories? Is it dry? Bright and energetic?

💡 Will readers feel relaxed, energized, or exhausted after reading your story?

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The focal point 👀 (rocky shore vs. a peek into the horizon):

✍️ Story and character themes should be curated with intent.

In the (bottom) monochrome photo, my intent was to convey conflict and chaos. But in the (top) pastel-toned image, I wanted the viewer to feel hope and peace.

💡 I chose intentional visual elements to draw your attention to the influential details first.

When a reader chooses a book to read, they are seeking out a particular experience. They expect your story to take them on a specific emotional journey.

The heart of the "story" is not in the ink it's printed with or the subject of the content.

It's in the way you make your readers feel when they read your words. Just like how I feel when I look at those special Ansel Adams photos that—somehow, curiously, maddeningly—always make me cry. 😭

But I am only the perfect niche audience for some of his work. That's why certain photos make my gut clench, while I have zero interest in other images... from the same creator.

Ansel Adams wasn't creating photos just for me (or any particular set of buyers). He probably just did what he loved and didn't worry too much about who enjoyed his work.

But YOU should.

📋

So when you are framing out your next story draft, make these three decisions first:

✔️ What is your target word count for the finished story? Try to keep your draft within 20% of (over or under) that total.

✔️ What type of energy do you want the reader to experience? Adjust your prose and dialogue to match that feeling.

✔️ What main theme or takeaway does the story communicate? Select your plot's primary milestones to facilitate that journey.

📸

A hero’s journey in a story is merely a snapshot in that character’s life. So be intentional about your story’s snapshot.

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Need help with one of the checklist items above?

👉 For newer writers:

Use my Author Brand Voice Starter Kit to define who your ideal readers are so you can write for them every time.

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👉 For experienced writers:

Learn how to script out your hero's Story Snapshot, a line lib that literally frames the pivotal beginning and ending decisions they must make in their hero's journey.

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<3 Sue Brown-Moore Story Revision Coach for writers of character-driven fiction ​Website | Instagram | Facebook​

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PS: Whew, this email was really long! Since you made it all the way to the end, do you think I should split this up into multiple parts (like in a website article)? 🤓 Hit reply to let me know!