Part 2 of the Blue Crab Books New Author Series – practical guidance to help you turn your idea into a published book.
Many new writers start with a great idea — but struggle to turn that idea into a story that actually works on the page.
In this post, we’ll look at three foundations that hold your story together:
- believable main characters
- a setting that supports your story instead of distracting from it
- a clear theme or message that gives your book meaning
When these three elements work together, your story becomes easier to write — and far more powerful to read.
1. Creating believable main characters
Your main character does not need to be perfect, extraordinary, or wildly original.
But they need to feel real.
A believable character usually has:
- a clear personality
- strengths and weaknesses
- fears and hopes
- something they deeply care about
For new authors, one of the most common mistakes is creating a character who is defined only by what happens to them — instead of what they want.
A simple question to ask is:
What does my character want more than anything else in this story?
In children’s and young adult books especially, readers connect most strongly to characters who are:
- trying to belong
- trying to be understood
- trying to fix something that feels unfair
- trying to prove something to themselves
If your reader can recognize those emotions, your character already feels believable.
2. Defining goals, conflict and motivation
Once you know what your character wants, you can shape your story around three essential elements.
The Goal
This is what your character is actively trying to achieve.
It should be:
- specific
- meaningful to the character
- visible to the reader
For example:
- make a new friend
- save a home or community
- solve a mystery
- overcome a fear
A clear goal gives your story direction.
The Conflict
Conflict is whatever stands in the way of that goal.
This can be:
- another character
- a rule or system
- the environment
- or the character’s own fears and doubts
For younger readers, conflict does not need to be violent or extreme. Emotional and social conflict is often far more powerful.
The Motivation
Motivation explains why the goal matters.
Ask yourself:
What will happen emotionally if my character fails?
When you understand that answer, your story immediately becomes stronger.
Readers don’t follow goals.
They follow feelings.
3. Building a world or setting that supports your story
Your setting is not just a backdrop.
It should actively support your story and your characters.
A helpful way to think about setting is to ask:
How does this place make my character’s life harder, easier, or more meaningful?
For example:
- A small town might increase feelings of belonging — or isolation.
- A changing environment might reflect uncertainty or loss.
- A school, island, forest, or city can shape what is possible for your character.
In children’s and adventure stories especially, the setting often becomes part of the challenge.
When you design your world, focus on:
- what rules exist in this place
- what dangers or limits exist
- what makes this place special to the character
You don’t need pages of description.
You need just enough detail for the reader to understand how the world affects the story.
4. Identifying your theme and message
Theme is what your story is really about underneath the plot.
It is not the lesson you announce at the end.
It is the idea your story quietly explores.
Examples of common themes in children’s and YA books include:
- belonging and identity
- kindness and empathy
- courage and self-belief
- protecting the world around us
- accepting differences
A simple way to uncover your theme is to complete this sentence:
This story shows that…
For example:
- This story shows that being different can be a strength.
- This story shows that small actions can make a big difference.
- This story shows that you don’t have to change who you are to belong.
Your theme should be woven through your character’s journey and the choices they make — not explained directly to the reader.
Bringing it all together
Strong stories grow from alignment.
Your character’s goal, the conflict they face, the world they live in, and the theme you want to explore should all support each other.
When you find yourself stuck while writing, return to these three questions:
- What does my character want?
- What is stopping them?
- What is this story really trying to say?
Those answers will guide almost every storytelling decision you make.
Free download – Building Your Story Workbook
To help you develop your characters, setting and theme, and understand how your story connects to illustration, cover design and professional formatting
Support
If you’d like professional support with editing, illustrations, book cover design or book formatting, Blue Crab Books offers tailored production services for new authors.
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