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How to Write a Children’s Book: Get Started With These 5 Steps

Step #1: Find out HOW to get started
We have several workshops aimed especially at giving you an overview of the children’s book industry:

• Everything You Need To Know About Children’s Book Publishing: A Crash Course: this online workshop is designed to give you a comprehensive look at how the children’s book publishing industry works, including writing, revising, submitting, publishing, and marketing a book for children, teens, or young adults.
• The Ins and Outs of a Picture Book and Its Many Forms: find out what it takes to become a successful picture book author.
• Summer Camp In Writing Fiction for Children & Teens: offers someone to guide you through the long process of publication and a place to work one-to-one on fine-tuning your words and mastering your pitches.

Step #2: Explore the world of children's books
The kidlit community is large, warm and welcoming. If you're going to write for children, you should get involved:

• Join the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
• Befriend a children's librarian, or haunt a children's bookstore, and read, read, read. Find the books that you love, the stories that call to you.
• Attend an SCBWI conference.
• Follow your favorite authors, illustrators and publishers on social media. Follow us, too! @HighlightsFound on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Step #3: Work on the CRAFT of writing for children

• Sign up for one of our signature workshops: Summer Camp In Writing Fiction for Children & Teens, Summer Camp In Writing Nonfiction for Children & Teens and Summer Camp Intensive in Illustration. You’ll find keynotes, breakout sessions, camaraderie and a creative mentor to provide one-on-one support.
• Read some of the wonderful books about writing for children. There's a great list here.
• Join a critique group.
• Learn how to revise! We offer several revision workshops each year.
• Bring your manuscript to one of our workshops and get a hands-on session with one of our mentors. We offer workshops for all levels on many subjects.

Step #4: Study the BUSINESS of getting published

• Follow some kidlit editors and agents on social media, to understand what they are looking for.
• Learn how to write an impressive query letter.
• Find out what the best submission practices are.
• Study the publishers who publish books for children.

Step #5: Send your stories out into the world

• Don't send your work to a publisher before it's ready–but don't wait forever, either.
• Brace yourself for rejection–but keep writing, revising and submitting.
• Don't forget to stay inspired and to keep the faith.

Ready? Go back to Step #1: Find out how to get started!

Posted on: December 12, 2018

Tags: compilation, getting started