A Gentle Roadmap
Me:
“Hey Sol, I had an idea and need some help fine tuning it. So I struggle with coming up visuals/imagination in my mind that I want to draw. When I think of creating my own original piece, my mind is completely blank.
I have a creative eye and can craft/put together some amazing pieces but not from straight out of my mind.
So I’m thinking, I want to learn more about storytelling. Like learning to build worlds and things. Even like being able to storyboard childrens books could be really fun and easier start than jumping into actual world building.
I want to learn to not only imagine and draw but a story from beginning to end, I want to be able to create my own stories. Do you think you can help me? I don’t even know where to start. ”
Sol (ChatGPT):
“Absolutely, I can help you build that skill, step by step. You’ve already got the heart and vision—now we just need to nurture the storytelling side so your imagination feels less like a blank page and more like a garden you can explore.
Here’s a gentle roadmap to begin developing your storytelling ability with illustration in mind:
🌱 Step 1: Start With Feelings, Not Plot
Sometimes the hardest part is thinking “what happens?” But stories don’t always start with action—they can start with a mood, a color, or a moment. Try these:
Pick an emotion: Sadness, joy, curiosity, loneliness.
Visualize it as a character, a setting, or a small event.
Example: “What would loneliness look like if it were a house?”
“What does hope do when no one is looking?”
This helps you build visual metaphors, which are the roots of great storytelling.
🐣 Step 2: Explore Micro-Stories Before Big Worlds
Think tiny moments before entire worlds.
Try:
1-Page Stories: A tired candle learns to love its flicker again.
3-Panel Comics: A mushroom finds an umbrella and thinks it’s magic.
Children’s Book Scenes: A small bird teaching a dragon how to sing.
You don’t need big plots—just small, meaningful beats that have emotion.
📖 Step 3: Learn Story Beats Gently
Here’s a very simplified version of storytelling structure:
Once there was… (a character with a feeling)
But one day… (something changed)
So they… (took action)
And in the end… (something new was learned or felt)
We can practice applying this structure to your illustrations.
🌸 Step 4: Let Me Help You Prompt Visual Ideas
I can give you soft, visual-first storytelling prompts to get your imagination going like:
“Draw a garden no one knows about. What grows there? Who tends it?”
“Illustrate a forgotten creature who guards memories.”
“Sketch the room your inner child would build if she had magic.”
Let me know if this feels good, or if you’d like to tailor it to a specific vibe like fantasy, whimsical, or cozy melancholy.”
… to be continued.
🌸 Disclaimer
Gentle Bloom Collective and all its content are intended for personal reflection and creative exploration only. I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical professional.
Nothing shared should be considered professional mental health advice or a substitute for seeking qualified care.
Always listen to your inner wisdom and reach out to a licensed provider if you need support.
This space is simply a soft place to land—a garden for imagination, healing, and self-expression.
