Writing Children's Books, One Step at a Time

Reading a book to a child is a truly rewarding aspect of being a parent or grandparent. Even the fussiest child can settle in to absorb a good book. If writing has always been one of your goals, you can take online courses to make children's book writing easy and fun.
You may already have an idea. Creativity is the first step for any writer, but taking your manuscript from idea to publishing typically requires some practical skills.

The Road to Children's Book Writing

Why learn at home to write children's books? Because, in the publishing world, you generally need more than inspiration. Even the largest publishing houses only print around 70 children's and young adult books per year, sifting through thousands of worthy manuscripts. Publishers like Alfred A. Knopf and Crown Books for Young Readers no longer accept independent manuscripts--which means your work must impress the right agent before it can even be considered by a publisher.
This sounds daunting, but novice writers should take heart. Children's book editor Erin Clarke advises: "My best advice is to write what you're passionate about and then (and only then), if you're serious about getting it published, spend the time researching to find the appropriate house for the manuscript."

Taking a Children's Book Writing Course

Online courses in children's book writing can provide the knowledge you need to approach the publishing world with a polished manuscript. If you've never pursued online study, short courses in children's book writing are a fun way to start. More importantly, avoiding basic mistakes may get your manuscript out of the editor's slush pile.
Source:
Erin Clarke interview with Robin Friedman

Amelia Gray is a teacher and freelance writer in San Marcos, TX. Amelia earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Arizona State University.