How To Write A Children’s Book That Get’s Published

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We’re coming up on our one year anniversary of having our book, Crop Duster Pete, being published. There are so many things I never knew about publishing a children’s book. Let me tell ya, the experience has been fantastic and so much fun.

Now that I’ve learned some of the ins and outs, I really think more people should write and publish their stories, especially if they have a story to tell. Through my small experience of helping get this book published, I want to share everything you would want to know about publishing a children’s book to encourage you to do the same!

Before You Begin:

Let me preface by stating I did not write Crop Duster Pete. This project was 100% Peter’s idea and definitely a passion for him. Way back before it was ever written, he told me “someday I’m going to write a children’s book”. Ok, babe. Sure. Hasn’t been the first time I’ve eaten my words, and probably won’t be the last. I digress. Anyways…

This is not about the writing process or how to write a Children’s book, because honestly, I didn’t do that. However, I was/am very much involved in the publishing process and have helped him with those steps. This post is a reflection of that, and what you can expect throughout the whole development.

Also, this doesn’t just have to be for Children’s books. A lot of what I’ve learned through the publishing process can be applied to any sort of book, not just a children’s book.

Tips for Publishing a Children’s Book

Have a Purpose

Quite possibly the most crucial step you can take when writing your story is to have a purpose. There’s two parts to this. You want to have a main message that your readers can relate to and a why.

For instance, with Crop Duster Pete, early on, Peter decided to nail down what exactly the purpose was. This way, when people (aka businesses and whoever else you’re promoting it to) ask, you can rattle off “the purpose of my book is to inspire children to pursue careers in agriculture and/or aviation; I wanted to take my child with me in the airplane to let them see what it is that i do every day.”

Obviously, this is going to be different for everyone. But have a main message that your readers can relate to.

Constantly Think About the Reader

If you can grasp early on that it is never about you, you’ll be set! The reader is the one buying the book (or in this case, the parent of the reader). So have a target audience, and do your absolute best to appeal to them. Do this with your fonts, illustrations, cover page, and throughout the story line.

But then, keep going. Even when you’re writing the “about the author” section, tie it into the reader. Seek to engage the reader, inspire them, and leave them wanting more.

Have a Partner

My name is nowhere on Crop Duster Pete (I’m acknowledged as “his wife” on the very last page). However, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t play a big part in how CDP came to be, or that I don’t still play a very crucial role in the book.

I’m not saying this, bitterly. In fact, I’m proud of how much I have been able to help the hubster accomplish this goal. Every author needs someone to bounce ideas off of, dream, brainstorm, and offer advice. Sure, you’ll have editors and publishers that can work with you (they become more involved in the process the larger your book is), but having someone close to home makes a difference.

Also, this partner doesn’t have to be your spouse. Use a trusted mentor, family member or close friend. The important thing is to get someone who can give you honest feedback and helpful suggestions.

Are You the Helper?

If you find yourself in the position of “helper” rather than “author”, here’s a tip for you: realize it isn’t your book. Even if “it would sound better if you __”, it doesn’t mean that their way of wording it is wrong. Recognize that at the end of the day, they don’t have to take your advice no matter how solid it sounds.

Use a Publishing Company, Especially If It’s Your First Rodeo

Because I’ve only been through the book writing process once, I don’t have a lot of suggestions to say for someone who may already have a few published stories under their belt. I can only share my experience. With great confidence, I would tell anyone, “Go the publishing company route.”

There are so many things that a publishing company can offer you that you would otherwise have to figure out on your own. I didn’t have the first clue on how to get our book sold on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart online.

Many small business bookstores refuse to carry your book in their stores without a publisher behind you. We didn’t have any illustration connections either. So, having illustrators on hand with them was a big deal for us.

If You Can’t Get Accepted:

I understand if a publisher won’t accept your book. I think we would have pursued the self-publishing option if our book hadn’t been accepted with Christian Faith Publishing. But, I also think we would have sent our book for review at a few different places before we settled on that option from the get-go.

And while I’m at it, I will give a large shoutout to Christian Faith Publishing. They have been fantastic to deal with. All their staff is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and they make the entire process flow with ease. If you haven’t submitted your manuscript, certainly check them out.

Don’t Submit Your Manuscript Immediately, But Don’t Wait For Forever Either

In our story, we sat on the manuscript of that book for almost two years before we finally sent it to a publisher. I don’t recommend this. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with waiting; it’s just that you’re probably waiting because you’re letting the fear of rejection dictate your actions.

In Our Situation

If you’re the “helper” to the “author”, here’s another tip for you. If you’ve read your “partner’s” completed manuscript, chances are, you probably think it’s perfect. In our situation, Peter held onto it and kept it for quite awhile. I kept wondering if he had deleted it or not, so one afternoon about 1 1/2 years later, I brought it up casually.

No, he hadn’t deleted it yet. I asked him what he was planning on doing with it, and he responded with, “Well, I should probably find someone to see if they’ll publish it, but I haven’t really gotten around to doing that”. That was all that I needed.

Remember Who the Author Is, Though

About a week later, I connected with a recruiter. We exchanged numbers and set up a time, and then I went back to Peter. “Hey, I found someone who’s interested in your book. I figured you could talk to her and see what she says. In the worst case, she can say no and we’ll get an answer”.

Sometimes we need that friend that believes in us more than we believe in ourselves. It’s important to note that had he said “no, I don’t want to do that”, I would have been willing to contact her and cancel the call. It is, after all, his book. Have an attitude of “nudging” someone in the right direction. But, do this without trying to take over for the situation is crucial.

This Gets You To The Publication Process

For us, the rest of our story about CDP is history. Well, not quite. There’s still so much to cover on what the publishing process looks like. Be on the lookout for part two, where we dive in on everything you want to know about publishing a children’s book. Specifically, I write about the mistakes we made, and the good decisions as well!

Leave a comment below if you feel like I left anything out! I would love to add it to the next post.