How to Build Your Own Story World

Learn how to spark your imagination and create exciting characters and adventures for your own original stories. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Meet your main character. Think of someone who is going to be the star of your story. Ask yourself: What is their name? What is one thing they are really good at, and one thing they find tricky? Draw a picture of them to help your imagination see them clearly.
2. Pick a setting. Decide where your character lives. Is it a bustling city, a forest made of candy, or a space station floating near Mars? Describe the place using your five senses: what does it smell like, look like, and sound like?
3. Create a challenge. Every good story needs a problem for the hero to solve. Maybe they lost their lucky toy, or maybe they need to find a secret map. Write down what your character wants to achieve and what is standing in their way.
4. Write the adventure. Start writing your story! Don't worry about spelling or making it perfect. Just focus on what happens next. If you get stuck, ask a grown-up to give you a 'what if' question, like 'What if it suddenly started raining popcorn?'