Great tips for creative moms who want to try their luck in writing books for children.
Photo by Suad Kamardeen on Unsplash
If you’re a mom with creative aspirations, writing children’s books may be the perfect way to put your skills to use. But it can also be a daunting task. How do you come up with ideas that are both original and engaging for kids? And once you have an idea, how do you go about turning it into a finished product?. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Start by brainstorming ideas
If you’re a mom looking to try your luck at writing children’s books, the best way to start is by brainstorming ideas. Come up with a premise or story idea that you feel excited about and can see yourself developing into a full-length book. It’s also helpful to have an idea of the age group you’d like to write for, whether it be toddlers, grade school kids, or preteens. Once you have your idea in place, start doing some research on what publishers are looking for. Get a sense of the trends in children’s books and what kinds of stories are popular right now. You don’t want to submit a manuscript that’s already been done to death.
There are plenty of resources out there to help moms aspiring to write children’s books get started. Check out writing workshops and online courses specifically for children’s book authors, or find a writing group that can offer feedback and support.
Come up with a catchy title
A good title is a key to getting your book noticed, and it can also help to sell books. When it comes to writing children’s books, there are a few things you should consider when titling your work.
Make it memorable
The title of your book needs to be something that will stick in people’s minds. It should be catchy and interesting enough to make potential readers want to learn more about it.
Make it fun
A children’s book should be fun, and the title should reflect that. It should make readers feel excited about reading the book and discovering what happens inside.
Make it appropriate
Your title should also be appropriate for the age group you are targeting. You don’t want to choose a title that is too juvenile or too sophisticated for the audience you are trying to reach. Not all children’s books are meant for very young readers. In fact, many books aimed at younger children are quite simple, and may not be suitable for older kids. So take the time to plot out your story and make sure it’s appropriate for the age group you’re targeting.
Consider the length
In general, titles for children’s books should be kept short and sweet. You don’t want to overload potential readers with too much information in the title. A good rule of thumb is to keep it under twelve words.
Be creative
When it comes to titles for children’s books, there is no limit to your creativity. You can be as imaginative and playful as you want. Just make sure that the title is something that will intrigue readers and make them want to find out more about your book.
Get professionals to edit your book
It is very important to get professionals to edit your book before you publish it. This is especially important if you are writing a children’s book, as they are often filled with colorful language and made-up words. It is helpful to engage short story editing services to make sure your book is polished and ready for publication. They can also help you make sure the story is well-paced and engaging. Don’t forget, you want these children to be excited about reading your book and not frustrated by poor grammar and spelling mistakes.
Create believable characters
So you want to write a children’s book? It can be a lot of fun, but it’s also important to make your characters believable. Kids will quickly lose interest if your characters seem fake or one-dimensional. Here are some tips for creating believable kids in your stories:
Make them unique
Don’t just make your characters carbon copies of real kids. Give them their own quirks and personality traits. Maybe one is shy, while another is always making jokes. This will make your story more interesting for readers.
Let them be themselves
Your characters should never act in a way that doesn’t feel natural for them. If they’re forced to do things that don’t feel right, it will show in your writing.
Age them realistically
Kids grow and change at different rates, so it’s important to age your characters realistically. A four-year-old won’t act the same as a six-year-old, and a ten-year-old won’t act the same as a twelve-year-old. Even shy kids can be brave when they need to be. Let your characters fight for what they believe in, even if it means standing up to a bully or taking on a difficult task.
Give them realistic problems
Kids face plenty of real-world problems, so it makes sense to include them in your stories. Problems like being picked on at school, struggling with math homework, or wanting a puppy but being told no can all make great story material.
Let them be funny
Kids are often funnier than adults, so don’t be afraid to let your characters crack a few jokes. Just make sure they’re appropriate for the age group you’re targeting.
Get feedback
Ask them what they think of the story and whether they enjoyed it. This will help you gauge how good your work is and whether there are any areas that need improvement. Also, get feedback on the characters, the plot, and the setting. This will help you make the necessary changes to make your story better. It’s also important to find out what your readers think about the age group for which you wrote the story. If they feel that the story is more suited for a younger age group, you may need to make some changes.
A good way to get feedback is to join a writing group or online forum where you can share your work with other writers and receive feedback. You can also post your work on social media websites like Facebook and Twitter. Whatever you do, make sure you take the time to listen to what your readers have to say and use their feedback to improve your work.
Be prepared to market your book
Even the best books sometimes go unnoticed if there’s no one to promote them. So start building a platform for yourself well before you even start writing your book. This includes setting up a website, creating social media profiles, and building connections with other writers and publishing professionals. One of the best ways to market a children’s book is by targeting parents. As the gatekeepers for their children’s reading material, parents are more likely to buy a book if they know and trust the author. So start building relationships with bloggers, podcasters, and other parents who might be interested in your work. Get involved in the online parenting community and start promoting your work before it’s even published.
With these tips in mind, you’re ready to start writing your very own children’s book. So get creative and have fun with it.