You have decided to write your first children’s book. This is a very exciting time in your life! Writing for children can be a wonderful experience, especially if it is a true passion. To see smiles and laughter come from a child after reading or hearing something you wrote is a very rewarding! Writing can also be a very complex task. There are many steps in the process of writing a book. Before you put pen to paper there are a few things you must do.

You must get your mind right. Before you begin writing for children you must think like a child. Think of how wonderful a child’s mind works. Children believe in fantasy and magic. Children have make-believe friends and talk to their stuffed animals and baby dolls. Children find joy in throwing rocks, splashing in puddles, jumping to grab a branch and so many other things that adults have simply lost the ability to find pleasure in. Poots, peepee, boogers and snot jokes may offend an adult, but not a child. In order to entertain a child you must think like a child.

You already know your audience is children, but which children? Has your mind taken you back to being a toddler, a teenager or somewhere in the middle? Do you want to write the next great teen romance novel or teach little toddlers their abc’s? Do you want to teach 6 year olds how to play soccer or do you want to invite children to learn about the magnificent world of music?

Once you discover your exact audience you need to decide what style of book to write. If you are writing for babies and toddlers a few examples would be picture books, pop-up books, board books and touch and feel books. Teens and pre-teens would probably prefer chapter books. A decision must be made whether to write fiction or non –fiction. Do you want to write about different characters or a series book with a returning character?

In order to do the pre-mentioned tasks you will have to do a lot of researching. Go to the local library and spend a day reading different types of children’s books. Read books for babies, teens and every age group in between. Take notice of the style of book that attracts your attention. Pay attention to what books the children are reading at the libraries. Some libraries have weekly children’s readings that you can attend. Pay close attention to the stories being read and the expressions on the children’s faces.

Mind-set, audience, style, and research are just a few of the steps in the process of writing a children’s book. For now, focus on these tasks and worry about editing, illustrating, promoting and publishing at a later date. As with anything new this will take patience and practice. Stay positive and don’t forget to have fun. Always remember, this is your passion and our passions bring us joy! If you get frustrated or blocked, relax take a break and try to remember why you are doing this, you love children.