This is the second part in my series “Writing Children’s Books 101“ where I’m simplifying the process of getting a book published to answer the questions of many people who have asked me how they can publish the picture book they’ve always wanted to write.
This post is answering the question “How do I get started actually writing the book in my head?” Here’s my step-by-step advice:
- Read a TON of MODERN children’s books! This may seem like a no brainer, but if you want to write kids books, you need to read kids books. I read manuscripts from people all the time and it’s clear that they are thinking of their favorite books from their childhood, but the fact is that children’s books have changed. I love Blueberries For Sal, but it just wouldn’t get published today if it wasn’t already a nostalgic favorite. It’s way too long and wordy for today’s market. Here’s my advice: go read a hundred traditionally published children’s books released in the last 5 years. Read them silently, out loud, and to children. What do you like? What do you not like? What do you notice about pacing, themes, word count, and language. This will do more for your writing than an expensive online course.
- Write the book: Take a go at it. It’s hard to know if an idea works until you try it. I sometimes try an idea once, set it aside, and try the same idea again in a different style, from a different perspective, or with a different starting point.
- Read more books: Now that you can see some things that aren’t working. Find “master studies” of books that work that are in the same genre or style or topic. What works? How are they dealing with conflict? What do you love about the language they use?
- Find people to critique your work: Others will notice things that aren’t working that you blew past. I always start with my family, and then move to my writer friends, and a critique group of experienced authors who are great at trouble shooting. You can find your own critique partners by joining your local chapter of SCBWI (The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) for $80/year, or in free writing groups like kidlit411 Manuscript Swap. You don’t have to make all the changes they recommend, but at least consider each and make the changes that work for your story. Do fix any spelling or grammatical errors.
- “Wordsmith” your manuscript: Picture books look easy because they’re short, but in reality it takes months of fine tuning to make 300 words do all the work needed. The tweaking of words and phrases makes all the difference. This is what we call “craft” and it’s where learning about literary elements and devices come in. Josh Funk has some great craft lessons. Can something be more concise? Could it mean more if you use a different word? Do you really need to have so much going on? Read the text out loud to feel it’s flow. Use age-appropriate words and descriptions. After making changes, take it back to your critique partners to help you push it further.
- Consider the book format. A standard picture book is 32 or 40 pages, and that’s including title pages, and book info. Think about your book in picture book layouts (Tara Lazar has a great post on this) and see if your manuscript works as a book. Is it too long or too short? Think about how breaking the text in different places could add anticipation or give closure. Not all picture book writers do this, but I like to make myself a storyboard or little book “dummy” so that I can see how much text I want on each page.
Picture Book Checklist:
Wordcount: Fiction picture books MUST be under 800 words, but under 500 is best. Nonfiction can go a little longer, but use word thrift so it’s not longer than it needs to be. It’s a sad reality, but you are competing with TicTok attention spans.
Age appropriate: Does your topic interest children? Does it talk down to them? Does it feel like an adult lecturing? Kids today don’t need one more adult telling them what to do, and they don’t care for books on adult topics.
Originality: Is your book unique? I have people all the time tell me about this cool idea they have, and I can name two books that did the same thing because I READ BOOKS in the category. If there are other books on the subject, how does yours stand out? If there aren’t any, really consider if that’s because your idea is super unique, or if it’s because it won’t resonate with kids and therefore no books like yours are getting published.
No AI: Speaking of originality, did you use AI to write your book? Sorry, that’s not going to work. Publishers will not accept works that have been written with AI. In addition to quality issues, there are legal questions that they don’t want to touch with a ten-foot pole. Works generated by AI cannot be copyrighted, and even if you did have AI write it and then you made “significant changes,” there are issues with AI sourcing other author’s works without permission. Just don’t go there. If you want to be an author, put in the time and work to do your own writing.
Leave room for the illustrator: Did you describe the clothes your character is wearing, forgetting that we’ll see them when the illustrator is done? Long descriptions are common in novels, but in a picture book the illustrator will handle that. Only describe the setting if it matters. Don’t give specifics that aren’t important. If you need to leave a note about something that is important in the illustrations that isn’t obvious from the text, leave a simple art note:
“I’m fine, lets go home.”
(Illustration: Teddy says he is fine but his face and body language show he is still angry).
Helpful Tips:
Morals: It’s fine to have a moral or a message in your book, but you really shouldn’t have to state it, and make sure it doesn’t come across “teachy”. A message should be part of the natural flow of the story. Publishers don’t like stories that are too didactic because kids don’t like feeling lectured. And while you’re at it, make sure the kids in your story have agency and are making choices, and the problems aren’t being fixed by adults.
Rhyming: Rhyming is not a substitute for a good story, and it will not carry a subpar one. Rhyming books work when done well–Bear Snores On is one of my all time favorite picture books, and it works because the rhymes are clever, the words are fun to say (not just the rhyming ones), the singsong rhythm is bouncy and fun, and the story has twists and unexpected moments. The rhyme and rhythm are masterful AND there is a lot more going on in that story than rhyming couplets. If you have to make your sentences weird, or use a word no one really says to make a rhyme work… it’s not working. Because there are so many people who submit stories where the rhyme is not done well, many agents and publishers can have a gut dislike of rhyming stories. If you really believe in your heart that your story needs to rhyme, you will need to put in the extra time and work to make sure it is masterfully done.
Next up, Part 3–Submitting and Children’s Book.
Writing Children’s Books 101:
Writing Children’s Books 101: Introduction to the series, and writing for children.
Routes to Getting Published: Part 1–Traditional vs. self-publishing. Do you need an agent? What about an illustrator? Making the right choices for your goals and your book.
Writing a Book for Children: Part 2–YOU ARE HERE How to go about actually writing the book, revising it, and getting it polished.
Submitting a Children’s Book: Part 3–Making sure your manuscript is ready. Set up your document. Polish your story. Write query letters. Track your queries.
Kimberly Horch 