Preparing for an Illustrator: How To Communicate Your Vision

Illustrations are a huge part of what brings a children’s book to life. As you’re writing, chances are your story’s world already feels alive to you. You know your characters inside and out: how they talk, what makes them laugh, what their bedroom looks like, and even what sneakers they wear to school. You may also have a clear picture of your setting: a kindergarten classroom or a backyard that transforms into something magical through imagination. 

But you’re not the one drawing it.

While you might see your setting and characters so vividly in your mind, describing them to someone else is a whole other feat. So, how exactly do you take what’s in your imagination and communicate it to an illustrator without losing the essence of what you’re visualizing? Let’s talk about it.  

Before You Hire an Illustrator…

Make sure you check off these five steps: 

1. Finish Your Story

Before you even consider an illustrator, you need to finalize your story. This means your manuscript is completely finished—it’s written, edited, and polished. 

Think about it this way: Let’s say you hire an editor while you’re still in the middle of your first draft. You’re writing—they’re illustrating. Everything seems to be going smoothly until your editor points out a part of your story that needs to change. Now, you’re rewriting, and your illustrator is changing the artwork—ultimately costing you more time and money. 

Finishing your story before hiring an illustrator saves you both the headache. Know that every step to publishing a book has a time and place—you don’t have to rush. 

2. Create Character Descriptions To Share

Spend some time with your characters. It’s not enough to just say your main character has blonde hair and brown eyes. Map out their personality—maybe they’re always in a hurry so their socks never match. Or maybe they’re shy and always stare at the ground. 

If your characters are animals, don’t only specify what species they are but make sure to personify them. If you choose a goose as a character, is he grumpy? Silly? Does he wear polka-dotted rain boots? 

Anything you can imagine—write it all down. To get started with your character descriptions, try using these guided questions to help: 

• What emotions does this character often express?

• How do they typically stand, walk, or move?

• What kind of clothes do they wear—and why?

• Do they have any quirks or habits?

• How do they interact with others? 

• What is something that makes them unique?

• What do you imagine them wearing? Do they choose bold, bright stripes? Or soft, pink pastels?  

3. Share as Many Details About Your Book as Possible

These details refer to the bigger picture—not just who is in your story. Try to share as much as you can about where it takes place and when it happens. 

Is your world magical or realistic? If your story takes place in a home, does it feel cozy and warm? Are there tiny details for children to discover on every page? The more you can share about your book with the illustrator, the more they’ll be able to match your vision—and sometimes enhance it in ways you might not even expect. 

4. Give Examples of Styles You Envision for Your Book

You may not be an artist, but you most likely know how you want your book to feel. Are the colours bold and bright? Do you imagine soft watercolours or playful cartoons? Do you see clean, minimal lines or textured, hand-drawn details? All of this can be helpful when communicating your vision. 

Here are a few ways to help communicate your style preference: 

• Show Book Examples: This can be one of the easiest ways to communicate what you would like your book to look like. Gather some children’s books you like and show specifics to the illustrator. Do you love how the text wraps around the art? Do you prefer full-bleed images or pages with generous white space? Are you drawn to the character’s expressions? Be as specific as you can. 

• Make a Pinterest Board: Create a board with photos, textures, colours, and styles that depict what you want for your book. This could include soft watercolours, bold graphics, pencil sketches, or pastel palettes. This is a great way to reflect the overall tone you are looking for. 

• Use Descriptive Words: Sparkly, enchanted, soft, gentle, warm, clumsy, goofy, bright—what words come to mind when you think of seeing your book for the first time? Descriptive adjectives can really help guide your illustrator in the process. 

• Express What You Hope to Avoid: Knowing what you don’t want is just as helpful. If you’re not a fan of cartoons or certain colour schemes, let the illustrator know upfront. Doing this before they get started can help you avoid unnecessary revisions down the road.  

5. Share the Heart of Your Story 

Don’t keep this part to yourself! Let the illustrator in on why you wrote your story. When you share your passion and the purpose behind why you wrote it in the first place, you’re inviting them in to be your creative partner. This can help them feel the emotion behind your story, which can guide them as they begin creating your artwork. 

Is This The Illustrator for Your Story?

After finishing your story and communicating your vision with an illustrator, take some time to reflect on whether: 

✔️ Your visions align

✔️ You’re communicating clearly

✔️ You’re vibing creatively

✔️ You feel like they just get it 

If all signs point to YES, then this may be the illustrator for your story. However, before you cross the t’s and dot the i’s, make sure you’ve covered all the contract essentials so you can move forward with confidence.  

Download the free guide: Find Your Illustrator & Protect Your Children's Book: 7 Illustrator Contract Must-Haves. 

I will leave you with this: “When text and illustration truly connect, the result is magic on the page.”

– Peter H. Reynolds, author-illustrator of The Dot

I hope you find the illustrator who makes your story magical. ✨

FAQs

What if I’m Not Visual Enough To Guide My Illustrator?

First and foremost, I would say: trust your illustrator. They are the visual creative in this process, so lean into that part of their genius. You may even be pleasantly surprised at what they come up with. 

How Do I Communicate My Vision to an Illustrator? 

Before hiring an illustrator, it’s important to know that they understand your vision. To do this, you’ll want to create vivid character descriptions, share as many details as you can, give examples of styles you like, and share the heart of your story. 

When Should I Hire an Illustrator? 

If your visions align, communication is clear, you’re creatively in sync, and it feels like they just get it—those are strong signs that this illustrator may be the right fit for your book.