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How to Craft Children's Story Books

Many people read a simple picture book and think, "I could do that". But where does one begin? Crafting children's books is fun, rewarding and challenging. You will need not only imagination and a great idea, but also a knowledge of the industry. With a little brainstorming and some research, any determined writer can create a book for kids.

Instructions

    • 1
      The library is your best resource when beginning to write for kids.

      Choose your audience. What age group do you wish to write for? Begin your research at a local library or bookstore to see what types of books are successful and popular for children of those ages. Take notes on trends and anything that seems interesting.

    • 2
      Writing well requires regular practice.

      Practice writing by keeping a daily journal or doing writing exercises. Begin making rough lists of any ideas that come to mind.

    • 3

      Choose an idea and begin to outline it. Make sure you have developed characters and a planned beginning, middle, and end.

    • 4

      Write a complete draft. Don't worry about format or pictures, simply get your story on paper.

    • 5
      Test out your work on the appropriate young audience.

      Ask for help. Have honest friends edit and critique your work. If you have young family members or friends with small children, read the story out loud to them and see how it is received. Make any necessary changes to improve your story.

    • 6

      Find a publisher. Use your previous research to learn which publishers tend to prefer which types of childrens books. When you've found some that fit your story, check their websites to find their writer's guidelines. If you can't find them easily, you can send a request for them.

    • 7
      Drop your finished product in the mail and hope for the best.

      Follow the guidelines very carefully and submit a carefully edited manuscript.

    • 8

      Wait for a reply. Writing childrens books is a competitive field, so don't be discouraged if you don't hear anything right away. Instead, keep practicing and honing your writing talent, and start again.

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