Writing children's picture books

I have been asked several times what writing a children's picture book is like. I have #published two children's #books and am still learning as I grow to become a quality author.

Some people think it is easy because it is all pictures and minimal words, but this is far from how it is.

Writing children's picture books can be a wonderful creative endeavour. Here is some information from my experience to help you get started:

You need to choose a theme:?Children's picture books often revolve around a central theme, friendship, adventure, or overcoming fears. Think about the message you want to share with young readers and choose a theme that resonates with them. My first two books don't teach friendship or overcoming fears as such but show characters in a fun light. My next book will have some teachings for my young readers.?

Keep it simple:?Picture books are meant to be read and enjoyed by young children, so keep your language and writing style simple and easy to understand. Use short sentences, vivid descriptions, and repetition to help keep your young readers engaged. Rhyming stories make the story easy to remember and keep it fun for children. However, this is incredibly hard to achieve as to create a rhyme, you may end up going away from the storyline slightly, and it may need to be clarified for the reader. This is something I need help with.

Create relatable characters:?Children are more likely to engage with a story if they can relate to the characters. Create characters that children can identify with, and give them personalities and traits that children will find endearing and relatable. I am writing about Comet the Red Bus and his friendly bus driver Billie. Children often go on a bus for a school adventure or to get to school, so this resonated with some of my readers.

Use illustrations to enhance the story:?Picture books rely heavily on illustrations to help tell the story. While the writing focuses on the writing itself, illustrations play a crucial role in engaging young readers and bringing the story to life. Work with an illustrator or create your own illustrations that enhance and complement the text. Make sure your illustrations are colourful, bold, and eye-catching. Be careful when selecting an illustrator. You either need to pay someone to do the work, and you own the work, or you need to credit the illustrator in your book and then share the profits from your books with them as a contributor towards your book. Thousands of scammers are online, and they are only too happy to take your money and not deliver.

Consider the age range:?Picture books are typically aimed at children between 3 and 8. Consider the age range of your target audience when writing your book. Use age-appropriate language and themes, and make sure your story is engaging and entertaining for young readers.

Read and revise:?Like any writing project, reading and editing your work is essential. Read your story aloud to understand how it flows and where you will likely find improvements you can make. Share your work with others and get feedback, and be willing to revise and make changes as needed.

Edit, edit and edit some more.

Pay a good editor and proofreader. Don't be cheap; use a professional. I reprinted my entire first book as it needed to be edited correctly; I was ripped off by someone who had no idea what they were doing.

Following these tips, you can create a fun and engaging children's picture book that young readers will love. Remember to have fun and let your creative side shine through!