Lesson 1: Getting started
1. Make the time. If you want to write, you will have to make it happen. James Cross Giblin used to tell aspiring writers, “You’ll never find the time to write. You’ll have to make the time, and on a regular basis.” Even if you are busy, you can do it. When my children were young, I went to bed early so I could get up before dawn and write.
2. Make a plan. Decide how many hours you will write each week, schedule the hours on your calendar, and stick to the schedule.
3. Read a lot of books. To learn to write children’s books, you will have to read a lot. Head to your library or bookstore and dig in. You might read widely at first—children's books, poetry, adult books. Once you choose a genre you want to write (picture book biographies, folk tales, middle grade mysteries), read as many books as you can in that genre. These books should mostly be current, not 20 or 50 years old.
4. Critique what you read. Use a notebook or binder and write short reviews of what you read. What is working for you in this book? What could be improved? What would you do differently? You’ll be learning to think critically.
5. Type manuscripts. This tip is for picture book writers. When you find a picture book you love, type it in manuscript form. You will get a feel for language and structure of the book. You will also learn what a picture book looks like in manuscript form and how few words go in most picture books.
6. Write. Write your story. It may not seem to be very good, but don’t give up, because… congratulations! You have just completed an essential step in the process, what Anne Lamott calls “a sh*tty rough draft.”
If you have made it this far, congratulations! Now you are ready to move on to the next lesson: revision.
7. Revise. Here is where the sausage gets made. First, revise for structure and approach. You may have to rewrite your story with different openings, voices, etc. Keep going until you come up with the best form for your story. Don't worry about getting your words perfect yet, because that will only make them harder to cut. Once you have a form you like, then revise for word choice and flow of language.
8. Read it out loud. Most people read with their ears, sounding out the language out in their heads. With that in mind, your words must sound right. Read your story out loud—to a friend, your spouse, your cat, a wall. This will help you hear what parts sound right versus what parts are clunky or stiff or or don’t have the right voice. Revisit those parts and revise them until you are satisfied.
9. Get feedback. Join a critique group (in person or online) to get feedback on your writing. Learn how to give a critique. Learn how to take a critique. Bonus: writing is a solitary activity. It really helps to have a group to support you through your disappointments and cheer on your successes. Do the same for your group members.
Optional: Hire an editor. You can hire a professional editor who works in children’s publishing. Professional editors are best used when your manuscript has already been revised and critiqued and is as good as you can possibly make it.
Go to conferences. Conferences are a great place to meet writers, editors, and agents. You will also get a crash course in how children’s publishing works—industry etiquette, how to query, how to submit.
Join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. This is the single best organization for children’s writers and illustrators. Anyone can join. You don’t have to be published.
Set goals. Set monthly and yearly goals. Laurie Halse Anderson says, “Your goals should be things you can control.” For instance, submitting to your favorite publisher is in your control, but getting an acceptance is not. Don’t set impossible goals. Your goals should fit the circumstances of your life—whether you are holding down a day job, for instance, or caring for young children. You want goals that are motivating, not frustrating.
Stick with it. The successful writers are not necessarily the ones with the most talent. They are the ones who write regularly, strive to learn and grow, and don’t give up.
2. Make a plan. Decide how many hours you will write each week, schedule the hours on your calendar, and stick to the schedule.
3. Read a lot of books. To learn to write children’s books, you will have to read a lot. Head to your library or bookstore and dig in. You might read widely at first—children's books, poetry, adult books. Once you choose a genre you want to write (picture book biographies, folk tales, middle grade mysteries), read as many books as you can in that genre. These books should mostly be current, not 20 or 50 years old.
4. Critique what you read. Use a notebook or binder and write short reviews of what you read. What is working for you in this book? What could be improved? What would you do differently? You’ll be learning to think critically.
5. Type manuscripts. This tip is for picture book writers. When you find a picture book you love, type it in manuscript form. You will get a feel for language and structure of the book. You will also learn what a picture book looks like in manuscript form and how few words go in most picture books.
6. Write. Write your story. It may not seem to be very good, but don’t give up, because… congratulations! You have just completed an essential step in the process, what Anne Lamott calls “a sh*tty rough draft.”
If you have made it this far, congratulations! Now you are ready to move on to the next lesson: revision.
7. Revise. Here is where the sausage gets made. First, revise for structure and approach. You may have to rewrite your story with different openings, voices, etc. Keep going until you come up with the best form for your story. Don't worry about getting your words perfect yet, because that will only make them harder to cut. Once you have a form you like, then revise for word choice and flow of language.
8. Read it out loud. Most people read with their ears, sounding out the language out in their heads. With that in mind, your words must sound right. Read your story out loud—to a friend, your spouse, your cat, a wall. This will help you hear what parts sound right versus what parts are clunky or stiff or or don’t have the right voice. Revisit those parts and revise them until you are satisfied.
9. Get feedback. Join a critique group (in person or online) to get feedback on your writing. Learn how to give a critique. Learn how to take a critique. Bonus: writing is a solitary activity. It really helps to have a group to support you through your disappointments and cheer on your successes. Do the same for your group members.
Optional: Hire an editor. You can hire a professional editor who works in children’s publishing. Professional editors are best used when your manuscript has already been revised and critiqued and is as good as you can possibly make it.
Go to conferences. Conferences are a great place to meet writers, editors, and agents. You will also get a crash course in how children’s publishing works—industry etiquette, how to query, how to submit.
Join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. This is the single best organization for children’s writers and illustrators. Anyone can join. You don’t have to be published.
Set goals. Set monthly and yearly goals. Laurie Halse Anderson says, “Your goals should be things you can control.” For instance, submitting to your favorite publisher is in your control, but getting an acceptance is not. Don’t set impossible goals. Your goals should fit the circumstances of your life—whether you are holding down a day job, for instance, or caring for young children. You want goals that are motivating, not frustrating.
Stick with it. The successful writers are not necessarily the ones with the most talent. They are the ones who write regularly, strive to learn and grow, and don’t give up.