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.