The Importance of Finding Your Story’s Heart

What is at the heart of your story?

What do you want a reader to take away from your book?

What is your story’s point?

Sometimes, when I’m deep in the weeds of writing or stymied by a revision problem, the point of my story may seem pointless. The heart of my story seems to have flatlined.

But finding your story’s point may be the jolt your story needs.

If you’re stuck in the middle of a draft or revision and feel like things are off the rails, this is the first place to return to. Your point will guide your protagonist, how you layer emotion on the page, the obstacles you put in her way. Your point will literally point the way.

Sound too simple?

Just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Let’s take a look at some of our favorite advertising slogans.

This ubiquitous slogan has been everywhere since 1988.

Seriously. 1988. That’s some staying power.

Why does it work? It gets to the heart of what Nike stands for. Nike partners with the world’s elite athletes to inspire the every-person that with the right equipment and attitude, they, too, can just do it. It’s about the doing. And Nike is here with the products to support you in the doing of whatever it is you do.

Nike has used athletes from Michael Jordan to Serena Williams in sports from football to skateboarding. The slogan is universal, easy to understand, and memorable. Building a variety of campaigns around this tagline is easy because it’s so clear. The story and messaging keep the campaigns grounded and, as a result, consumers are motivated to not only do, but to buy.

Who remembers this one? Apple has always marketed itself as the outsider, the product for the renegade thinkers, the early adopters, the techno-savvy. This campaign made use of innovators from a variety of subjects, people like Jim Henson, Jimi Hendrix, Amelia Earhart, Jackie Robinson, Martha Graham, John Lennon, and so many others. Apple appealed directly to their audience with this slogan: be an individual, use your unique talents, and make a mark on the world. Again, the campaign told so many disparate stories from names who may have little in common beyond how they think: different. The heart of their story is clear in just two words.

You don’t even need it on the gif, do you? You know that tagline already.

Because you’re worth it.

Marketing to women to buy make-up products could hone in on a variety of singular messages around beauty, but L’Oreal’s heart is about a woman’s worth. It’s a subtle distinction that while they are selling a product that is literally skin deep, their message speaks to a deeper level. It’s an empowering message.

(Fun fact: did you know that it was created in 1971 by a 23 year old female copywriter? That’s a story I want to know more about!).

Time to think about your story heart. What is your story’s slogan?

Perhaps it sounds a little cliché:

• Love conquers all
• Good triumphs over evil
• All that glitters is not gold
• The grass isn’t always greener on the other side

Great! If it starts to sound cliché, you are probably on the right track.

NOTE: This does not mean that your writing is cliché. It merely means that you’ve found a touchpoint that resonates.

Just look at love conquering evil. I’m sure you could name a number of books from a variety of genres that fit that bill. Everything from the romantic love in the romance section of the bookstore to the parental and friend love of Harry Potter.

How do you determine your point?

Go back to the start of this post. Ask yourself what you want readers to take away from the book? Think about what you are trying to say. What is the message close to your heart that you are exploring through words? Chances are, that answer is close to the heart of your story.

Dig deep on this exercise.

Free write about all the things you are trying to say, all the things that your protagonist is struggling with and has to learn, all the things you want a reader to experience when they read your book. Then sift through all that raw data until you can land on your point.

Use that information, your story slogan, so to speak, to polish up your story’s point. Put it on a post it. Hang it above your desk and refer to it every time you feel lost or frustrated or confused about what comes next.

When you’re writing a novel, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture when you’re mired down in all of the details. The story point is the key to that big picture. Take a moment with the larger view every now and again to make sure that the details fit into the vista you’re creating.

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Read more about it here and schedule a discovery call to see if this package is right for you.