How To Generate Fresh Ideas for Your Children's Book
You grab your favourite mug, your laptop (or notebook if you like to do things old school), and head to your favorite writing spot. Today is the day. You’re ready to brainstorm ideas for your children’s book. You open a fresh document and stare expectantly at your cursor.
Only then….
A nagging thought creeps in: “Hasn’t this idea been used countless times?”
“It’s just first-draft nerves,” you tell yourself. You shake it off and start typing—only to stop mid-sentence: “Wait, isn’t this already a book?”
Before you know it, you’re spiraling: “There are so many possibilities… how do I know which one is actually worth writing?”
Deep breaths. Try speaking this out loud:
It’s only day one. I’m not trying to write a bestseller in one go—I’m just coming up with ideas.
Inhale and exhale (again).
The blinking cursor is not the enemy here. Whatever your idea may be—it’s unique because it’s coming from you. Sure, there might be a dozen books out there about kindness, friendship, or overcoming fears—but none of them have your voice or your perspective. Those two things will always be original.
If you’re feeling stuck in the idea stage, here are four ways to generate fresh ideas for your children’s book.
4 Tips for Coming up With Fresh Ideas for Your Children’s Books
You never know when a fresh idea will find you. Start with these four tips:
Read Books Similar to the Story You’d Like To Write
What stories do you naturally gravitate towards? Put your writing down for a moment and take a trip to your local library or bookstore to read picture books. Start by grabbing any book that sticks out on the shelf. Is it the illustrations or the title that draws you in? Make note of this.
Then, read! Observe what kinds of stories pull you in and what makes them stand out. Do you find yourself intrigued with magical worlds and whimsical language? Or maybe you’re drawn to more realistic stories with humorous moments. The chances are, the books that stand out to you are the same ones that you’ll feel passionate about writing.
Remember, just because you see one book on the shelf about overcoming self-doubt, doesn’t mean you need to pivot your idea. Allow other books to be a source of inspiration for you. There will always be room for your book on the shelf.
Start With the Lesson You Want To Teach
What lesson are you hoping to teach to your readers? Start with that core message and then begin dreaming ideas around that. Do you want to empower children to believe in themselves? If so, start with a character who doesn’t believe in him/herself. Then, put them in a situation that forces them to develop that belief.
Let’s try an exercise together.
Let’s say you want to write a book about learning to embrace your individuality. You have the core message, but you aren’t sure where you want the story to progress from there. To outline a strong idea for your story, open a fresh document and follow these guiding questions to start:
Lesson: Self-love.
Who is your main character? A young girl.
Is your character a human? An animal? An inanimate object? She is an animal.
Which animal? She is a chameleon.
Where do chameleons normally live? In tropical rainforests and deserts.
What challenges will she face due to her differences? She can’t control her colors. They change unpredictably based on her emotions, making her stand out when she wants to blend in.
How will she come to embrace her uniqueness? She will learn that her ever-changing colors bring joy and wonder to those around her.
Now, this doesn't have to be the end of the exercise! As you answer these questions, more questions may come to mind. How do the other chameleons react to her differences? What moment helps her realize that standing out can be powerful?
The more questions you ask, the more your story will start to take shape. Stay curious about your characters and their challenges, and just see what fresh ideas form!
Reflect on Your Own Childhood
What message or story did you need to hear as a child? What were your biggest fears, challenges, or dreams? Today’s children aren’t all that different than you were when you were a child. They’re still scared of the dark, anxious about tests, and learning how to be a good friend. The lessons that made an impact on you are still the ones they need today. Sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones that are from your personal experience—because you’ve lived it.
Resist the Urge To Edit Too Soon
There is a time and place for editing—but it’s not when you are in the idea stage. It will only slow you down and hinder your creativity if you try to edit before your idea is ever fleshed out. Imagine trying to develop your characters and what their journey is, but you’re hung up on the flow and structure of your story (spoiler: that is a one-way ticket to frustration). In these early stages, give yourself permission to just let ideas flow without thinking of the technicalities. There will be plenty of time for editing, but right now just focus on getting the story out of your head and onto the page.
What if I Have Too Many Ideas?
Believe it or not, this is a good “problem” to have. There’s no such thing as too many ideas—that’s the beauty of being creative. The challenge comes with trying to nail down which one you want to pursue.
It can be really easy to second guess which idea is the one. I suggest starting with two or three ideas that really excite you. Run them by another author or ask your audience—there’s nothing like the refreshing honesty of a child!
Then, spend some time outlining the story (hint: we have a Free Blueprint that can help!) and see if it has potential. Remember, you can always pivot later if you need to. Take the first step—pick one idea—and go for it! It’s all a part of the creative process.
Coming up with fresh ideas may feel like a roadblock at first, but these four tips can help get the creative juices flowing again. Remember, no one has your experience or your voice. Trust that your ideas are worth pursuing and that there is a reader out there waiting for your children’s book.
Let’s take your fresh idea and write it—together.
In my Writer’s Craft Workshop, you will:
✔️Narrow down your ideas and put them on paper.
✔️Discover the structure for putting a story together.
✔️Write your first draft in less than 90 minutes!
This is YOUR time to write—reserve your spot today!