By BookBaby author Scott McCormick

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Many authors consider trying their hand at Writing children’s books — especially authors who are parents reading children’s books for the first time since they were kids. That’s how I got started writing children’s books. I remember reading a picture book to my son and thinking, “Oh, come now. I can do better than this.”

I discovered that it’s a lot harder than it looks, but I didn’t give up, and a few years later, I had a publishing deal with Penguin Random House. (I even used BookBaby to help me on my journey.) If I can do it, you can too.

The power of storytelling

Young children all have hopes and dreams as well as struggles and fears. Great storytelling, with its identifiable characters and powerful metaphors, offers children a way to understand the world and what’s going on in their lives.

Storytelling also fosters imagination and creativity in children, teaches them important life lessons, helps enhance their language skills, aids in their emotional and cognitive development, and builds cultural awareness. You can study the common themes in children’s literature to start brainstorming ideas for your main character, setting, internal and external conflict, and more.

And then, of course, some kids’ books are just flat-out funny. There’s nothing quite like sharing a laugh over a hilarious book to build a bond between children and the parents, teachers, and caregivers who are reading to them.

Kickstarting your writing journey

Before you can start writing your story, you need inspiration. Inspiration can come from unconventional sources, everyday encounters, or your own personal experiences. Here’s how to tap into your creative wellspring.

• Childhood memories. Think about your own childhood and the experiences that shaped you. What were your fears, dreams, and adventures as a child? Use these memories as a springboard for your story.
• Everyday encounters. Children’s books often draw inspiration from the world around us. Observe the people, animals, and nature that surround you. Sometimes, the ordinary can be the most extraordinary source of ideas.
• Unusual sources. I love to take inspiration from sources that are clearly not intended for children. I often see something and think, “What about this, but for kids?” For example, my book Mr. Pants: Trick or Feet, which is intended for kids aged 5-9, was largely inspired by the R-rated horror classic Dawn of the Dead.
• Keep an inspirational journal. Carry a notebook with you to jot down any spark of inspiration. Whether it’s a catchy phrase, a vivid image, or an overheard conversation, your journal can be a treasure trove of ideas.

The most important thing is to keep your audience in mind. Try to see the world through your young readers’ eyes.

Choose what kind of children’s book you’re writing

There are several elements that go into creating a good children’s book. They come in all different shapes, sizes, lengths, subject matter, and reading levels. Before writing your story, you need to know what kind of book you want to write as there is a big difference between picture books, early readers, chapter books, and middle-grade novels. The kind of book you want to write will impact the kind of story you can tell.

• Picture books. These are aimed at younger children (up to age 5) and often rely heavily on illustrations to convey the story. The text is concise and poetic, with a strong emphasis on the visual elements. Picture books are usually well under 1,000 words, and sometimes they have no words at all. Goodnight Moon and Green Eggs and Ham are classic picture books.
• Early readers. These books are aimed at children between the ages of 4-6. Although they have more words than picture books, they are still quite short, usually under 2,000 words. Early readers are, as the name implies, meant for children who are starting to read on their own, so the vocabulary has to be pretty basic. Nate the Great and Clementine are great early readers.
• Graphic novels. This category is relatively new, and the target reader is typically a child between the ages of 6-8. Because of the comic-style format, these books are great for reluctant readers, and they also appeal to kids who want their parents to read to them but also want more complex stories than are found in early readers. Graphic novels are primarily visual, so their word count is low, in the 2,000-4,000 range. Babymouse: Queen of the World and The Bad Guys are fantastic graphic novels. (I would also direct you to my own Mr. Pants series.)
• Chapter books. Targeted at independent readers (ages 6-10), chapter books have more text, though pictures often play a part. Their narrative structure is still pretty simplistic. They provide a bridge between picture books and middle-grade novels. Chapter books are typically between 4,000 and 12,000 words. The Magic Treehouse and Diary of a Wimpy Kid are classic chapter books.
• Middle-grade novels. These are longer and more complex, suitable for children aged 8-12. Middle-grade novels delve into deeper themes and character development, but they still maintain a strong emphasis on storytelling. These books are typically between 25,000 and 65,000 words. Matilda and Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief are classic middle-grade books.

In addition to choosing the right format, it’s essential to consider your writing voice and tone. A whimsical and playful tone may be appropriate for a picture book, while a middle-grade novel might require a more serious and reflective voice.

Before writing your book, be sure to read as many examples as you can so you can get a feel for what’s selling. Goodreads is a good source for finding recent popular titles.

Create memorable characters

The heart of any children’s story lies in its characters. Memorable and endearing characters make a lasting impression on young readers. Here are some things to consider when developing characters that children will fall in love with.

• Character traits. Develop distinct and relatable character traits. Think of the chaotic Cat in the Hat or gloomy Eeyore. Consider what makes your characters unique and how they may evolve throughout the story.
• Motivations. Explore the motivations of your characters. What drives them to embark on their adventures? These motivations should be universal, relatable, and age appropriate.
• Character arcs. Just like in real life, characters in children’s books should experience growth and change. Allow your characters to learn and evolve as they navigate the challenges they encounter. This helps kids see how they too can overcome challenges.

Take inspiration from beloved children’s book characters, or better yet, real people in your own life. The Mr. Pants books were inspired by watching my children interact with each other, and the characters in my audiobook Mutually Assured Detention were inspired by real-life middle-school kids.

The writing process

Now that you know what your book is about, what kind of book it is, and who your characters are, it’s time to start writing.

There are two approaches to writing: plotting and pantsing. Many writers feel more comfortable outlining their story first (plotting), while some prefer to wing it and just start writing (pantsing). I like to do a mix of both.

Of course, if you are writing a picture book, an outline is probably not needed. The thing to keep in mind with picture books is that the pictures and the words have to work together. You don’t want to spell out everything that’s going to be in the picture, and vice versa: the picture shouldn’t merely reflect the words.

Beta readers and editing

Once you’ve completed your first draft, my advice is to set it aside for a month before you take a stab at the second draft. Putting it away for a month allows you to come back to it with a fresh perspective. (In the meantime, you can start working on your next book.)

Beta readers

Once you’ve gotten the manuscript to where you like it, it’s a good idea to give it to beta readers to get their feedback. These can be friends and family, though it can be hard to get honest feedback from them as they may not want to hurt your feelings. My suggestion is to either join a writer’s group or to hire beta readers online through sites like Fiverr.

Editing

Editing is a crucial step in the writing process, and if you think you can simply run it through Grammarly and be done, you’re mistaken. Apps like Grammarly are useful, but in the end, you need to hire a professional to catch all the things Grammarly will miss.

Adding visual appeal

One of the unique features of children’s books is how much they rely on visuals to tell the story. This is obviously true with picture books and early readers, but chapter books and even middle-grade novels will rely on pictures to enhance the story. (With middle-grade books, the illustrations are often small drawings at the start of each chapter.)

If you are an author and not an illustrator and you are looking for a traditional publishing deal, you do not need to hire an illustrator. Publishers have their own illustrators who they prefer to work with. The last thing you want to do is hire an illustrator and have the publisher pass on your book because they didn’t like the drawings.

If you are looking to self-publish your children’s book, then yes, you will want to hire a children’s book illustrator or graphic designer.

Cover design

Of course, every book needs a cover. If you are hiring an illustrator, you can negotiate cover design with them. If, however, you are writing a book that relies on photos or perhaps a middle-grade book that has no illustrations, then you will need to hire a professional designer for your book cover.

I hope this provided guidance and inspires to start writing your children’s book. For all the challenges, it’s fun to tap into your inner child and create something early readers can relate to.

Related Posts
What Makes a Good Children’s Book: 6 Characteristics
How to Create a Children’s Picture Book
Picture Books Can Be More Than Meet the Eye
How to Pants a Novel
How to Find an Illustrator for a Children’s Book

This BookBaby blog article How to Start a Children’s Book appeared first on and was stolen from BookBaby Blog .