10 Lessons I’ve Learned About How to Write a Children’s Book (Part 2)
By: Kimberly Welsh
In the first post of this two-part series, I shared five lessons I’ve learned about writing a children’s book. Now, I’m back with five more lessons from my publishing journey. Read Part 1 here.
Lesson 6: Remember That Simple Is Not the Same as Easy
Children's books often use fewer words than those written for adults, but that does not make them easier to write. In some ways, fewer words make the words you do use more important.
Every sentence has to earn its place. There is less room for explanation, backstory, or unnecessary description. The writer must create character, movement, emotion, and meaning in very little space.
What This Looked Like for Me
I have spent a lot of time over the past few months workshopping the wording in my own stories. My goal has been to make the writing clear, intentional, and engaging. It takes a lot more time to do this than you might think!
Lesson 7: Know When You Are Too Close to the Work
There comes a point when you may no longer be able to see your own manuscript clearly.
You know what you mean to say, and you know what the illustrations will eventually show. With all that information in your mind, it can be hard to recognize what is missing from the page.
What This Looked Like for Me
I reached a point where I felt confident in my manuscripts and deeply connected to the series I had created. Yet I still asked for outside feedback. I knew I needed an experienced, objective perspective. I wanted someone who could step back and view the series as a whole.
I wanted feedback not only on individual sentences, but also on pacing, consistency, structure, and whether the books were accomplishing the goals I had set for them.
Lesson 8: Learn from People Who Know the Industry
There is an enormous amount of advice online about writing and publishing children's books. Some of it is helpful. Some of it is promissory. Some of it is simply wrong. It is important to consider where the advice is coming from.
Established editors, agents, experienced authors, illustrators, and professional publishing organizations can help clarify the expectations and realities of the industry. Organizations such as The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and platforms such as Reedsy offer valuable educational resources that are well worth exploring, especially for those at the beginning of the process. Many of those resources are available at no cost.
What This Looked Like for Me
You do not need to follow every piece of advice you hear, but you should learn enough to make informed decisions. For me, that meant understanding:
The age group I am writing for
The typical picture-book structure
How text and illustration work together
The role of an editor
The difference between traditional and independent publishing
The professional services I needed
The more I learned, the more I realized that writing the manuscript was only one part of creating the book.
Lesson 9: Accept That There Is No Single Formula
A humorous picture book may rely on fast pacing and a strong punchline. A bedtime story may be slower and more lyrical. A concept book may use repetition. A quiet observational story may depend more on mood and illustration.
While you should understand the conventions of writing a children’s book, you should also understand the specific kind of children’s book you are trying to create.
What This Looked Like for Me
For me, that meant keeping Charlie's stories gentle and observant. I did not want to force conflict, dialogue, or an overt lesson into a series meant to feel calm and curious. I took time to understand the basic form so I could then work on the challenge of making the story my own.
Lesson 10: Give Yourself Time
Writing a children’s book takes time.
You begin with an idea, but you do not stop there. You identify the heart of the story. You learn about your audience. You read widely. You leave room for the illustrations. You read the manuscript aloud. You revise more deeply than you expected. You seek knowledgeable feedback and remain open to learning.
Most importantly, you treat children's writing with the seriousness it deserves.
What This Looked Like for Me
My own story began many years before I was ready to shape it into what it is becoming now. The time between the first idea and the current manuscript was part of the process.
Writing for children is not about making a story simpler. It is about taking the time to make every story the best version of itself.
I’m so excited to share my first book with the world soon.
