How to Write and Publish a Children’s Book

Thinking about writing a children’s book? Here’s what you need to know…

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Writing and publishing a children’s book is a rewarding endeavor that allows you to share stories, morals, and adventures with young readers.

While the process can be complex, breaking it down into manageable steps can help you navigate it successfully.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you write and publish a children’s book.

1. Understand Your Audience

Before you start writing, it’s essential to know who you’re writing for.

Children’s books are categorized by age groups, each with distinct characteristics:

• Board Books (0–3 years): Simple text, bright illustrations, and sturdy pages.
• Picture Books (3–7 years): Short stories with illustrations on every page, typically 500–1,000 words.
• Early Readers (5–7 years): Simple vocabulary and short chapters, around 1,000–2,500 words.
• Chapter Books (6–9 years): More complex stories and characters, 5,000–10,000 words.
• Middle Grade (8–12 years): Longer narratives with deeper themes, 20,000–50,000 words.

Figure out which age you’d like to target before you come up with an idea for your story.

2. Develop Your Story Idea

Come up with a unique and engaging concept that resonates with children.

Here’s what you should do before you begin writing:

• Identify a Theme or Message: What lesson or moral do you want to convey?
• Create Relatable Characters: Develop characters that children can identify with or look up to.
• Craft a Compelling Plot: Ensure your story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Include a conflict and resolution.

Here are some ideas for children’s book themes:

• Courage and Bravery: Tales of characters showing bravery in the face of fear, encouraging children to be courageous in their own lives.
• Social Skills and Manners: Teaching important social skills, manners, and etiquette in a relatable and entertaining manner.
• Family and Relationships: Exploring different family dynamics and relationships, emphasizing love, understanding, and support.
• Adventure and Exploration: Exciting stories that take children on journeys, whether real or imaginary, sparking a sense of adventure and curiosity.
• STEM Exploration: Encouraging curiosity and interest in science, technology, engineering, and math through fun and engaging stories.
• Technology and Balance: Exploring the positive and negative impacts of technology, promoting a healthy balance between screen time and real-world activities.

Use this as inspiration or take one of these ideas and run with it. It’s up to you!

3. Write the Manuscript

Now comes the first hard part — writing the actual book.

Start writing your story, keeping these points in mind:

• Simple Language: Use age-appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures.
• Show, Don’t Tell: Use vivid descriptions and actions to convey emotions and events in the story.
• Rhythm and Rhyme: If you’re writing for younger children, consider incorporating rhymes or repetitive phrases to make the story more engaging.

Make sure that whatever type of children’s book you write that’s it’s age-appropriate — otherwise, you may not see the success you’re looking for.

4. Illustrate Your Book

Illustrations play a crucial role in children’s books, especially for younger readers.

If you’re not an artist, hire a professional illustrator or get really good with Canva.

For a successful collaboration, here are some tips:

• Communicate Your Vision. Share detailed descriptions and references for your characters and scenes.
• Provide Feedback. Offer constructive feedback to ensure the illustrations align with your story.

You could also show the illustrator samples of other books that you think you’d like your cover to resemble (but obviously not too closely).

5. Edit and Revise

Editing is a critical step in the writing process. Consider these strategies:

• Self-Editing. Review your manuscript for clarity, coherence, and consistency.
• Peer Feedback. Share your story with friends, family, or writing groups for constructive criticism.
• Professional Editing. Hire a professional editor with experience in children’s literature.

Never publish a book without going through this process. There are way too many self-published books riddled with errors. You don’t wanna add to the chaos, do you?

6. Choose a Publishing Route

There are two main paths to publishing your children’s book: traditional publishing and self-publishing.

Traditional Publishing

• Submit to Agents. Research literary agents who specialize in children’s books. Submit a query letter, synopsis, and sample chapters.
• Submit to Publishers. Some publishers accept unsolicited submissions. Follow their specific submission guidelines.
• Contract Negotiation. If accepted, negotiate the terms of your contract, including royalties and rights.

Self-Publishing

• Choose a Platform. Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Draft 2 Digital, IngramSpark, and BookBaby offer self-publishing services.
• Format Your Book. Make sure your book meets the formatting requirements of your chosen platform.
• Cover Design. Create or hire a designer for a professional, eye-catching cover.
• Upload and Publish. Follow the platform’s steps to upload and publish your book.

Amazon KDP can be particularly stubborn, so having some patience during the publishing process is important. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to submit certain books before they were finally published. But ultimately, they got published.

7. Promote Your Book

Marketing is essential to reach your audience. This is where the real work begins.

People aren’t going to just flock to Amazon (or wherever you choose to publish) to buy your book with little to no marketing (unless, of course, you used amazing keywords and found the magic sweet spot like I did with one of my books).

Consider using the following marketing strategies.

• Social Media. Use platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to promote your book.
• Author Website. Create a website to showcase your work, share updates, and connect with readers.
• Book Launch. Organize a book launch event, either in-person or online, to celebrate and promote your book.
• Book Readings and Signings. Arrange readings at local schools, libraries, and bookstores.

8. Connect with Your Audience

Engage with your readers through school visits, library events, and online interactions.

Building a community around your book can lead to word-of-mouth promotion and loyal readers.

Try to do one thing to promote your book and connect with your audience every day (or more if you have the time and energy).

That means making sure you know where your audience is “hanging out” online (i.e., which platforms — Facebook? TikTok? YouTube?).

Once you know, make an effort to hop on every day and engage with your audience in non-spammy ways. Don’t just say, “Hey, buy my book!” every day.

Join conversations related to your story. Attend events geared toward kids (or host them). Do whatever you can to become part of your audience’s community.

Taking the Leap

Writing and publishing a children’s book is a journey that requires creativity, persistence, and a deep understanding of your audience.

By following these steps, you can bring your story to life and share it with young readers around the world.

Whether you choose traditional publishing or self-publishing, the key is to stay passionate and dedicated to your craft. And have fun!

Happy writing!

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