Dreaming of becoming the next J.K. Rowling or Dr. Seuss? I totally get the appeal. Who wouldn’t want to make a career out of doing something they love – especially if that something involves crafting magical stories for little ones?
But let’s get real: actually making it as a professional children’s book author is no small feat. The odds are stacked against you. The competition is fierce. And you can’t just knock out a manuscript over a weekend, hit “publish”, and expect a bestseller.
However, don’t let the challenges deter you! Contrary to popular belief, there IS a formula to becoming a commercially successful children’s book author. As a professional children’s book printing manufacturer, you can follow my comprehensive guide – step-by-step – and you’ll be well on your way to living your dream of full-time writing for kids.
Master the Art of Writing for Children
Before worrying about publishers and marketing, you need to hone your craft. Learning how to effectively tell stories for a young audience takes practice and guidance from the masters.
Make a point to read AT LEAST 100 picture books across various genres. As you read, study how skilled authors structure plot, develop characters, incorporate humor, build suspense…all while using age-appropriate language.
Take inventory of the techniques and styles you admire so you can apply them to your own writing. For example, Mo Willems relies heavily on humor while Kate DiCamillo leverages emotional depth.
Choose an Age Range
Children’s literature encompasses a wide spectrum spanning from board books (babies) up to young adult (age 12+). While some writers experiment across groups, it’s smart to focus on a specific demographic – especially when getting started.
If you hope to traditionally publish, familiarize yourself with industry standards for word count, complexity, etc.
Enroll in Classes
Look into writing workshops or adult education courses in your area. Local libraries may also offer free seminars.
Not near anything useful? No worries! In the age of the internet, online classes make instruction accessible to anyone.
Sites like Gotham Writers and Institute of Children’s Literature offer a mix of self-paced tutorials and interactive webinars covering everything from crafting lovable characters to navigating the publication process.
Set Yourself Up for Success
Bang out an amazing manuscript and the rest is easy, right?
Ha. Ha. Ha.
Let’s chat logistics.
Build a Portfolio
Agents and acquisition editors want to see what you’re made of before signing you on. So you’ll need to showcase previously published work.
Start submitting short stories, articles, and poems to literary journals and magazines. Winning writing contests also helps you stand out from the slush pile.
No official publishing credits yet? No prob! Self-publish 1-2 children’s books on Amazon to demonstrate your chops while making a little cash on the side.
Establish an Online Presence
These days, publishers expect authors to help market their own books via social media and blogging.
So set up accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. and start connecting with your people – fellow aspiring children’s authors, voracious young readers, teachers, librarians, book reviewers, literary agents…you get the idea.
Share your publishing journey, crowd source feedback on works-in-progress, link to helpful #writingtips: the goal here is to organically foster community while subtly selling yourself as a children’s book thought leader.
Submit Your Work the Right Way
You wrote an incredible manuscript. You’re plugged into online communities. Maybe you even scored a publishing credit or two.
Time to get this puppy out there!
Snag a Literary Agent
In the traditional publishing world, editors very rarely accept unsolicited (un-agented) projects. So securing representation is key if you want to land a book deal with one of the “Big 5” houses.
Thoroughly research agents actively seeking children’s authors in your genre. Send out query letters explaining why you’re The Next Big Thing along with sample chapters. Hopefully an agent bites – signing you on as a client so they can start submitting to acquisition editors on your behalf.
Self-Publish like a Boss
What if going the traditional route just isn’t in the cards? Self-publishing is better than ever in 2024!
Done right, you maintain full creative license while keeping maximal royalties. Win-win.
Of course, you’ll need to front production costs for editing, custom cover design, illustrations (if applicable), etc. Don’t cut corners here. Poor quality will sink you!
Once your book meets standards, get it up on all major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books. Woo book bloggers to review your title. Pitch guest articles tying back to your book. Run Goodreads giveaways.
In other words: shamelessly promote until kids, parents, and teachers alike regard you as the hottest new voice in children’s fiction!
So there you have it: the exact steps to become a legit paid children’s author within the next year. What are you waiting for? Start cracking open those kids books and get to writing!
Over to you – what aspect of the process are you most excited or nervous about? Let me know in the comments!