How to Write Children's Books
Writing children's books is a rewarding endeavor that requires a unique skill set
When writing for children, remember to stay focused on speaking to children on their level in order to create engaging stories
that resonate with your young audiences.
Some Key Elements of Writing Book for Children
Speak to children on their level. Use language and themes that are appropriate for your target age group.
Create compelling characters. Develop characters that children can identify with and who are, or will become, memorable.
Craft a captivating plot. Build a story with some form of conflict. Conflict refers to a disagreement or clash between
opposing ideas, interests, or forces. It can occur at various levels, from within an individual to between groups or
nations, and encompasses a wide range of situations, including arguments or disputes. Be sure to show some degree of change
and resolution that keeps young readers engaged.
Make sure to write realistic dialogue. Your dialogue has to sounds authentic and moves the story forward.
Utilize active language that keeps the story moving with engaging language. Engaging language is clear, meaningful, and actionable.
It invite participation and connection with your audience. It is also relevant, open, useful, and inclusive. This makes the message
relatable and understandable. Effective language is also familiar, concrete, concise, precise, and constructive. It moves beyond
the simple transfer of information to being able to inspire action and build relationships.
When writing a picture book, think in terms of how your story can be visually represented by illustrations. Character design and
illustration layout are key.
At the start of the writing process
Brainstorm ideas which cause you to think about what you love and what you are interested in. Then decide on the type of characters
you want to bring to life in your story.
Decide on a format for your story. Consider the age group you are writing for then pick the appropriate format such as a picture book,
chapter book, or young adult novel.
Outline your story and develop a rough outline to map the flow of your narrative. Your outline should include a beginning, a middle,
and the end.
Write your first draft using freestyle. Focus on getting your ideas down without aiming for perfection. You can, and should, edit
later to refine your story.
Rework your story, revise and edit while paying attention to word count and clarity. Get feedback from others, especially those in
your target demographic. Be open to constructive criticism. Constructive criticism is feedback that is specific, actionable, and
focused on improvement. It is not about simply pointing out flaws. Constructive criticism provides clear, practical suggestions on
how to make positive changes and is delivered in a positive and supportive manner.
Here are three ways to Publish Your Children Book: Self-publishing; Traditional publishing; and Hybrid publishing
With Self-publishing, you retain control over the creative and business decisions but are responsible for the entire process. This
include editing, design, formatting, and marketing.
Traditional publishing is where you submit your manuscript to publishers. They have agents who handle the publishing process, if
they accept your work. This typically takes longer than self-publishing. You will need to research publishers that accept unsolicited
submissions or find a literary agent.
Hybrid publishing combines the elements of both self-publishing and traditional publishing.
Resources
Books on writing children's books can provide valuable learning opportunities and networking connections.
There are many books and resources available as well as Children's book writing workshops and conferences.
