The Power of “What If?”
At the heart of nearly every picture book lives a question.
Not a moral.
Not a lesson.
It’s… what if?
Why “What If?” Works
“What if?” invites possibility.
It opens the door without deciding what’s on the other side.
Examples:
- What if a child glowed?
- What if the moon lost its way?
- What if kindness caused chaos before it healed anything?
These questions don’t explain… They intrigue.
Turning Curiosity into Story
Once you have your “what if,” follow it forward:
- What would that change?
- Who would struggle?
- What would be misunderstood?
Consequences lead to story.
When “What If?” Isn’t Enough
If a story stalls, it’s often because the question stops too soon.
Instead of:
What if this happened?
Ask:
What if this happened—and it changed everything?
That’s where plot begins.
