A Quick Look at How To Write Children's Books
Good and Bad Reasons to Try Writing for Children
Oct 21, 2009
There are many reasons to start writing a children's book. Some of them are excellent reasons; others are not so good. For example, one very misguided reason to start writing for kids is "because kids' books are easy to write". A good children's book is every bit as challenging as a full-length novel for adults – indeed, some authors would never attempt a book for children because they find it far too hard.
Depending on the intended readership, a book for kids can involve far more rewriting than any book for adults. Sometimes this is because the reading level is initially pitched too high. Sometimes it's because the writer can't write naturally in a way that appeals to children. In the case of a picture book, half the story may need to be carried by the illustrations, and the author has to fine-tune the narrative to allow this to happen.
Good Reasons to Write Children's Books
Any number of popular children's authors started to write because they were unimpressed by the quality of the books they could find for their own kids: ("Surely I can write something better than this!") Quite often, they're right... but sometimes, people who think that writing is easy are in for a rude shock once they try it. While writing – any kind of writing – can be fun, it can also be a lot of hard work. Writers who are unwilling put in the necessary time and effort are likely to fail. 'I can do better' is a good reason to write for children if the writer is ready to work at producing high-quality prose.
Other good reasons to write for children include:
- A love of writing for its own sake, plus an understanding of how children think and act.
- An enjoyment of making up bedtime stories for children and an urge to put them in writing.
- A perceived gap in the market (nonfiction books; books on a certain topic or theme).
Not-So-Good Reasons for Writing a Children's Book
- "Kids' books are short; I can knock one over in a weekend." (Yes, many of them are short, but that doesn't mean that anyone can write one. Short books often require a lot of fine-tuning.)
- "While I'm spending time at home with a baby I might as well dash off a bunch of picture books." (Picture books can take months to write. Some published books have taken years. Even picture books of less than 100 words can involve an enormous amount of rewriting. Writing a picture book is a bit like writing a poem – it's hard work to get the words just right.)
- "Johnny says the funniest things: I'm dying to put them in a kids' book." (Unfortunately, this often comes into the category of "You had to be there..." - what sounds funny to family may be a big yawn to others. Editors get lots of manuscripts based on funny family sayings. Most don't rate a second glance.)
- "I've seen a ton of those ABC books or 1-10 counting books... I'll just do some on a different theme." (Editors are inundated with these. Usually the ones that sell are created by a top children's illustrator who is already well-known.)
How to Write a Children's Book That Editors Will Want to See
Editors of children's books get a lot of very average material submitted – largely because of the reasons outlined above: people think that writing for children is easy. Editors like nothing better than to see a story that is original and well-written. While it's true that most subjects have already been covered, there's always room for more good writers. So what will improve a writer's chances of getting a children's book published?
- Read widely in the target age group: borrow books from the library; consult teachers, booksellers and children's librarians to find out what kids are currently reading.
- Become conversant with the way kids talk now, and find out what their interests are at different ages and stages (it's best to steer away from current slang, because it will date - but get a feel for the rhythms of contemporary speech).
- Spend some time (and if necessary, some money) in doing a children's writing course or buying how-to books on writing for children. This can shorten the learning curve considerably.
- Visit websites with advice on how to write children's books – such as the advice on writing a picture book by successful author Mem Fox.
Writers who are prepared to: (a) find out what children like, (b) discover what editors want, then (c) invest time and effort in polishing their writing skills, will find that writing for children is a most rewarding field.
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