5 tips to bring to life the characters and settings of your children's story

Writing children's stories is an act of creation that goes beyond words. Here are five tips for planning characters and places that will captivate the little ones.

I'm Silvia Hijano, the soul behind @libracos_, and today I invite you to immerse yourself in a fascinating journey: the art of developing characters and places before bringing our children's stories to life. Because, believe me, writing for the little ones goes beyond words; it is an act of creation that begins long before we touch the pen or the keyboard. Ready to discover how to transform imagination into palpable worlds full of charm? Here are 5 tips for planning characters and places where your story will take place.

The magic of simplicity: a child's approach

When planning for a children's story, embrace the magic of simplicity. Children find charm in things that are simple and straightforward. Define characters with distinctive traits and places with visually appealing elements. Think about how your young readers will interact with each detail. Simplicity not only facilitates comprehension, but also sparks the imagination of the youngest readers. Let the magic of simplicity guide your planning and watch your story come to life in the curious eyes of children!

Details, details, details...

Small details are the very essence of your imaginary worlds! Imagine you are painting a picture: every brushstroke counts. From the peculiar smell of a bakery to the texture of a character's hands, these details give life and credibility to your scenarios and stories. Don't underestimate their power.

Get to know your characters like old friends

Before you dive into writing, immerse yourself in the psychology of your characters. Get to know them like old friends: their dreams, fears, joys and challenges. Not only will this make your characters more authentic, but it will also naturally guide you in creating realistic situations and dialogue.

And at this point, I have something special for you! I've prepared some character and place development sheets that will help you define the identity, character and details of each character. You can download them for free below:

The magic of unexpected encounters

Sometimes the best stories are born from unexpected twists and turns. Allow your characters and places to evolve organically as you explore your own narrative - the magic is in the surprise and creative flexibility!

Awaken feelings:

Emotional connection goes beyond colors. It is a symphony of sensations that captivate the hearts of little readers. Before you dive into writing, think about how to awaken these sensations. Will the forest convey warmth or mystery? Will the sky carry with it the serenity of a sunset or the vibrancy of morning? It's all about creating a multisensory experience that invites children to immerse themselves in your story.

If you are eager to take your stories to magical dimensions, I invite you to dive into my course on Domestika: "Creating children's pop-up books". Here you will learn how to develop your story and build a book that will allow the little ones to play and actively participate with the characters and places you have created. I hope to see you there!