As a mother, I sometimes daydream of becoming a children’s book writer, especially for my kids. Writing and getting a children’s book published is one of the most enriching experiences anyone can imagine. Stories are tools that can help in developing your child. It can even support the bond between parent and child. If you have the same dream as I do, then I am sure you want to learn how to write a children’s book step by step. I am no master, but I have studied some guidelines that will surely help you have a book published. Curious? Well, read on.
The Right Mindset
Before you can start learning how to write a children’s book step by step, you need to put yourself in the right mindset meaning, you need to ask yourself this question, “Why do I want to write a children’s book?” Like Ursula K. LeGuin, most children’s writers, Neil Gaiman, J.K. Rowling, have a passion for connecting with young readers and sharing ideas. They write for love and not for fame or money. If you have this same passion, then it will be easy for you to answer that question. Always go inward and you do not have to rush it. You can always take your time putting yourself in that right disposition.
Writing A Children’s Book
Once you are ready and have the right mindset, then it is time that you learn how to write a children’s book step by step! This guide will briefly tackle the many steps you have to take in writing that amazing story for young, curious minds. Let us take it slowly and surely.
Step 1—The Best Idea
Before you write a book, the story always springs from one great idea. However, most stories that children want to listen to are already out there. What you can do then is take that idea and put in a twist that makes it different from the other stories that children have been reading or listening to. That is how you end up with the best idea!
Step 2—Bringing Your Main Character to Life
The next step is to create your main character! Avoid writing a character that represents almost every baby. That will be boring. What you need to remember always is to bring to life a character that is real. You have to give that character their goal, their traits, their secrets, and flaws. You do not have to put that all in your story, but knowing these things about your character will make it easy for you to write what the character will do in certain situations.
Step 3—Write by Age and by Length
This step is also important. You must check and know who you are writing for! Here is a brief guide on book lengths per age group:
- Age 0-3: Average 0 to 200 words
- Age 2-5: Average 200 to 500 words
- Age 6-10: Average 600 to 10,000 words
- Age 11-12: Average 10,000 to 30,000 words
These word count ranges can apply to either a board book, a picture book, or a short novel.
Step 4—The First Draft
Once you have done the first three steps, you are ready to write your story! Just a writing tip: Start the story immediately. If your story is about a child who discovers a magical world, immediately grab your reader’s attention by writing that event in the first or second page. There is no need to write the backstory of the main character, as mentioned in Step 2. But what is also important is to immediately write the main problem that you want your main character to solve by the end of the story.
Step 5—Revising your Story
This part is a very important step if you learn how to write a children’s book step by step. This step is what some writers also overlook. You need to check for grammar corrections—in tenses and vocabulary used.
Step 6—Find an Editor
Even though you are confident in your writing skills, you still need to find the perfect editor to improve your story without any bias.
Step 7—Revise, Revise, Revise
Revise according to what your editor has positively suggested. Revising is one of the many best ways to improve and develop your story to make it more engaging to the proper market.
Step 8—Find a Publisher
Soon after your editor gives you the final verdict that it is already an amazing and complete children’s story, it is time to find yourself a publisher! You will submit your final manuscript and wait for that acceptance letter. There may be obstacles along the way—rejections and all that, but that is okay. As they say, “Rome was not built in a day.” But in the end, one publishing company will find your story beautiful and get it published!
Wrap up
Now you know how to write a children’s book step by step. The one thing left for you to do is apply this guideline to write that amazing story and publish it. Remember the important question you need to ask yourself before writing: “Why do I want to write a children’s book?” Once you answer that, then you are good to go. Just make sure that you familiarize and master the necessary steps to achieve your dream as a children’s book writer. Hopefully, this article will help you realize that dream soon. Get more tips on children’s book.