Eevi Jones
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4 min read
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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.
There’s one burning question when you start the journey toward indie-publishing children’s books: will it be profitable?
It depends.
Yes. I am earning a six-figure income with my children’s publishing program and after eight years, I have published 60+ books. It’s my career and passion.
No. If you only want to publish one book, um, it’s hard, if not impossible to be profitable.
Some people approach this question casually, coming to the genre of children’s books thinking it’s easy because, after all, it’s only for kids. Oh, you won’t be profitable.
A one-off book is incredibly hard to pull off because there are so many ways it can go wrong: poorly written story, poor illustrations, poor layout and design, poor launch strategy, poor understanding of your audience of teachers, parents, and kids. Did you notice the repetition of the word, “poor”? It is used deliberately to emphasize that children’s books aren’t going to earn a profit unless it’s approached respectfully and with great thought and effort.
Let’s go through some elements of a successful children’s picture book to see what’s needed.
WRITING. Children’s picture books are usually 32-pages and can be written for ages 0-12. It’s important to know the target age range so the writing will be appropriate. One important consideration is word count.
Preschool, ages 0-5. Word count is zero to 500 words, and shorter is better.
K-2nd, ages 5-8. Word count is zero to 600 words, and shorter is better.
3rd - 5th, ages 7-12. Word count is zero to 1000 words, and shorter is better.
In those few words you must tell a compelling story with a beginning, middle, and end which introduces a larger-than-life character. Seldom will a beloved pet—no matter how wonderful they are/were—become a good picture book character.
The story must read aloud easily. One mistake is to think that a children’s book must be poetry, because seldom does the poetry work. If you don’t know what “an iambic pentameter line” means, you shouldn’t be writing poetry. Instead, the story must contain language appropriate to the story that is easy or even fun for adults to read and reread. Learn more about writing a children’s picture book here.
ART. Children’s picture books are illustrated, which means there’s an image or piece of art on every page. If you aren’t an artist, don’t even attempt it! Don’t ask your neighbor or your niece or any family member to attempt it, because they aren’t professional artists either. Don’t shortcut this and grab art from an online market such as Fiverr.com, because the art is mediocre, at best.
The bane of self-published children’s books—and this directly affects profitability—is mediocre digital art.
If you attempt publishing a children’s books, you need an appreciation for great art and the ability to recognize art that tells a story well. While digital art is often cheaper to acquire, in the hands of a mediocre artist, it has a distinctive look that cheapens a children’s book. Look for great art, whether it’s digital or not. Be prepared to pay a reasonable fee (there’s a balance between paying too little and too much!) for art, and you’ll increase your chances of profitability. Read this for more on contacting an illustrator.
There are clear paths to profitability for children’s books, and the Indie Kids Books blog is devoted to discussing options for becoming profitable with children’s books.
Here’s some posts to get you started. For each, there’s a short synopsis and a link to Read More.
Questions or Comments? Glad to discuss!