Character first, everything else follows
Stories come to us any number of ways: starting with the basic plot mechanics, or a “what if?” question, or an unexplored setting. Story seeds are everywhere. But no matter how you begin brainstorming, a strong story always starts and ends with a character we care about.
Vivid, well-crafted characters create universal connections, and this is especially crucial in children's books. Young readers are constantly trying to understand themselves and their place in the world. When they encounter a character who feels real—who has authentic emotions, genuine struggles, and believable reactions—they see possibilities for their own lives. They learn empathy by caring about someone different from themselves. They feel less alone when they recognize their own experiences reflected back.
Why characters matter
When a reader cares about a character, they're emotionally invested in the outcome of the story. This is what transforms reading from a passive activity into an active experience. Without it, even the most beautifully written prose or stunning illustrations become simple decorations, because character drives every other story element.
Plot without meaningful character arcs feels mechanical—things happening because the writer decided they should happen. But when plot grows organically from character choices and motivations, it feels inevitable and surprising at the same time. The character's internal journey gives weight and meaning to external events. Setting becomes more than just backdrop when we see it through a character's eyes. The character's relationship to their world makes that world come alive.
That investment in the characters of the story is what will keep a reader engaged, compelled, and it’s what will make a story stick long after the book is closed. The character journey creates a sense of bonding with the reader, and without that, stories will fall flat.
In today's competitive market, editors and publishers see hundreds of stories with solid plots and charming writing. What can make them champion a book—what can make them believe it will find its audience and create lasting impact—is a character who feels authentic and whose journey matters.
Returning to character at any phase in the process
It never hurts to return to the basics, especially when turning attention to a brand new story or when revising a project that might not be working well enough.
No matter what stage a project is in, there always exists the opportunity to revisit characterization, character arcs, and how character works together with other elements of the story.
Over time, I’ve put together a list of questions to help me get to the bottom of why a character isn’t as vibrant as I imagined them in my head, or why a character arc doesn’t have the satisfying payoff I was reaching for. Take these and use them for development of your own story, whether it’s a novel or a picture book, a graphic novel or a chapter book, a new portfolio piece or a series of sequential art you might build up to a dummy.
Questions for character development
Building blocks: foundational questions
What does your character want (and I mean, what do they really want—not just the plot goal, but the deeper need driving them)?
What's standing in their way?
What are they afraid of?
What makes them laugh?
How do they move through the world?
Digging deeper: specificity
What do they do when they think no one is watching?
What's their relationship with rules?
What would their best friend say is both their greatest strength and most annoying habit?
How do they handle being wrong about something?
What small thing brings them joy?
Rich layers (like a cake): full of contradictions (also like a cake!):
What do they say they value versus what their actions actually show they value?
When do they surprise themselves?
What would they never admit they secretly enjoy?
How do they act differently with different people in their life?
What belief about themselves is completely wrong?
An advanced deep dive: questions for complexity
What lie do they tell themselves?
What would have to happen for them to completely change their mind about something important?
What do they think other people see when they look at them versus what people actually see?
How do they sabotage themselves?
What would their character arc look like if the story started one day earlier? One year later?
For illustrators: show-don't-tell questions
How can you show their personality through their posture in the first illustration?
What does their living space reveal about who they really are?
How do they interact with objects?
What expression do they wear when they think no one sees them?
How do they take up space?
Truly get to know your characters
The better you understand them and the more effectively you can bring them to life on the page, the more your stories will stand out—not only to editors and acquisition teams for publication, but for the young readers who need them in their lives.