What made you want to become a writer? For many of us, the love of words and stories began in childhood. There are certain books that will never quite lose their shine — books that inspire the writer in us even today, simply because they helped us discover the magic of truly good stories.
This is the area in which children’s literature excels: delivering stories that spark readers’ imaginations and become sealed in their memories. So whether you’ve always wanted to publish a children’s book or you’re brand-new to the idea, here are four reasons why all authors should seriously consider writing for younger generations of readers.
Though all forms of creative writing allow authors to imagine new worlds and mind-boggling plots, there’s hardly a better place to go all-out than in children’s fiction. Not only do children have expansive imaginations to match yours as an author, they’re also endlessly curious and somewhat more likely than adults to be on board with your tippity-top, pie-in-the-sky ideas.
That said, children’s books are also usually straightforward when it comes to structure. The timeline is typically linear and POVs are limited (or very clearly marked) for painless reading. Given the relatively uncomplicated setup, you can easily take advantage of classic storytelling structures in your book — leaving you more creative energy to spend on characters and themes!
Indeed, if the idea of writing a 300-page novel sounds intimidating to you, a children’s book could be the key to unlocking your creativity. Despite being on the shorter side, they allow just enough room for your mind to explore (true for everything from innovative mash-up picture books like Dragons Love Tacos to classic chapter books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).
And while shorter doesn’t necessarily mean easier to write, it’s undeniably less intimidating to think about writing a children’s book rather than an adult novel — which may be just the encouragement you need to get started.
In addition to setting your creative spirit free, writing a children’s book also gives you the chance to sharpen your tools as a writer. Though again, it’s less intimidating at a glance, children’s literature requires you to know exactly what you want to communicate so you don’t lose your audience’s fickle attention.
In other words, there’s no genre better at teaching you how to balance imagination with clarity. You’ll have no space to dawdle on epic worldbuilding, because your writing needs to be vivid and gripping right off the bat. Furthermore, you need to calibrate your language to make the story fit your reader, in terms of both semantic and psychological understanding.
Especially as a first-time children’s author, you’ll likely find that getting straight to the point and delivering a clear message will be your biggest challenges. So whether your long-term ambitions lie within children’s literature or not, trying your hand at it is an excellent way for you to improve your linguistic utility and command of your authorial voice.
Though children are pretty accepting as to what can happen in a story, that doesn’t mean they’ll settle for anything — especially if it’s poorly executed. Young readers will be the first to tell you if they’re bored and when a book is lacking momentum (you can even see it in the way they become distracted from the book!).
This means that trying your hand at a children’s book will help you learn what works and what doesn’t when it comes to impressing readers. And if your book manages to dazzle your target audience? They’ll become the most dedicated readers in the world! No one gets immersed and obsessed with a story quite like young readers do — and all those glowing word-of-mouth recommendations will practically sell your book for you.
You may also come to realize that part of your audience is composed of adults who want to make reading a priority — not only for the kids in their lives, but also themselves. Often, these adults (parents, teachers, librarians, researchers, and children’s lit enthusiasts) will read your book for more than just escapism, and they’ll happily engage in discussions and promote your book widely if they like what they read.
The last (and possibly greatest) advantage of writing children’s books is that they can offer a stabler source of income than adult fiction. And though you don’t want to quit your day job the moment your first pitch is accepted, there are a few undeniable reasons to trust in the financial gains of writing for a younger audience.
First and foremost, children tend to read more books than adults in terms of sheer quantity. This is partly because books are often shorter and/or part of a series. But it’s also a question of consumption patterns: as a children’s book author, your main customers will be libraries and schools that tend to buy in bulk. This usually means that you’ll know roughly how many copies you will sell early on — maybe even before your release — and it will usually be quite a few!
In addition, you can supplement your income by participating in speaker’s events. While other authors may speak or teach at universities to minimal audiences, children’s authors are frequently sought out to speak at schools, libraries, and bookshops, which may bring in a pretty penny.
Of course, these are only some of the reasons that you should consider writing for children. From picture books for wee readers to exciting adventure stories for teens, children’s literature is truly a wide and exciting field. Not only can it make the world your oyster, but you’ll also get to have fun on the ascent!
Savannah Cordova is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace that connects self-publishing authors with the world’s best editors, designers, and marketers. In her spare time, Savannah enjoys reading contemporary fiction and writing short stories. She hasn’t yet published a children’s book of her own, but she hopes to someday.
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Eevi Jones
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Nov 13, 2017
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I just spent a rainy afternoon reading and re-reading books to a toddler. Some of them were fantastic classics such as Where the Wild Things Are and The Little Engine That Could — delightful tales filled with wonderful imagery and positive messages. And others were spin offs of popular Disney and Pixar movies, lacking originality and creativity.
This got me thinking about writing.
We are what we read. The books we read throughout our childhood are partially responsible for who we are today. Sometimes, we even read them to find out who we are or may become.
Wouldn’t it make sense then to read what we want our children to be? Kindness, patience, empathy — all these moral principles can be instilled and strengthened by reading books emphasizing these very values.
Unlike adult literature, successful children’s books are generally simple works that tell a short story or anecdote in a way that appeals to young minds. So in the spirit of trying new things, here are five reasons why you (yes you) should write your own children’s book.
Unlike adult fiction, children’s fiction is literally boundless. You don’t need a complex plot theory for a children’s book. You can (and some have) literally used a trip to the laundromat or grocery store as the basis for a book. Some of the most beloved children’s books center on simple everyday situations. Children often prefer these types of books to the fantastical, especially when they are still at the age where they are trying to understand the “normal” world.
Drawing inspiration from everyday life creates stories your child can identify with.
It’s a great way to share some of your own history or interests. Telling your little ones about your childhood, for example, is a wonderful way to stimulate their imagination while sharing your memorable moments with them. They will discover a piece of your past, hear stories about how the world used to be, and most importantly, learn more about you.
Sharing your past with your children is one of the most valuable and interesting gifts you can ever bestow upon them.
As you bring your past to paper, it is permanently preserved for not only your children, but your grandchildren, and the children of your grandchildren. What better way to preserve a bit of your own history than to make it into a children’s book?
Sometimes, your children’s interests may be so unique that even after searching high and low for books that would address their interests on a subject, you are unable to find any. So why not make it your personal mission to transfer your kids’ peculiar interests into something tangible and meaningful by authoring a children’s book?
Validating their likes and interests will strengthen their creativity, imagination, and more importantly, their confidence.
And who knows? By writing about your children’s unique interests, you could be helping other families as well. You may think you have the only kid that is obsessed with lawn mowers, garbage trucks, or gemstones. In reality, there might be hundreds, if not thousands of other families out there waiting for the garbage truck to rumble by, or making a special trip down the street to watch the neighbor mow the lawn.
Modern methods of self-publishing have substantially lowered the cost and difficulties associated with writing, illustrating, and publishing your own book. There was a time when you had to either convince a publisher to pick up your work or outlay a significant amount of money in upfront-costs to pay for a few hundred copies, which you then had to sell on you won. Today, you can self-publish in a print on demand fashion for a fraction of that cost. And for extra support, there are numerous coaches and guides that can show you how to write and publish your own children’s books.
Kindness, patience, empathy — all these moral principles can be instilled and strengthened by exposing your children to books emphasizing these very values. Have a kid that loves monster trucks, but has a hard time saying please and thank you? Combine those two, and you’ll have an instant winner within your house.
Children, just like grownups have their preferences, favorites, and likes. So why not tap into them to teach those values we want them to learn and apply in everyday life? Writing your own children’s book will give you this flexibility.
There are many reasons to write your own children’s book, and very few excuses not to. Next time you find yourself thinking “that would make an adorable story for a children’s book,” don’t let it slip to the back of your mind. Instead, grab a pen and make it a reality. The little ones in your life will be forever grateful.
Need more actionable steps to get you started with the writing of your own children’s book? Receive your free and most comprehensive guide on how to write, illustrate, publish, and market your children’s book here.