How to Find Your Narrative Core

A writer friend recently told me she's been having difficulty finding her narrative's core — the essential driving force or central truth that gives purpose, direction, and emotional resonance.

In short, what's the piece about?

If you're wondering the same thing, and we all are at least sometimes, try a funnel strategy.

Distill your main theme into one clear sentence. ➡️ Then compress it further into a single powerful word. ➡️ Visualize it as a striking image, ➡️ then imagine how a character might voice this truth in conversation.

These writing exercises likely won't make it into your final draft, but they will sharpen your vision and ensure you're writing with purpose. And purpose, friends, is the key to effective self-editing.

Ask yourself: Do I truly understand what I'm exploring? Have I fully processed both the intellectual and emotional dimensions of this idea? Clarity of purpose transforms scattered thoughts into focused storytelling.

Edit Well