If you dream of writing for kids, you’ve come to the right place!
We are THE experts on writing children’s books. For 25 years, as the publishers of Children’s Book Insider, The Children’s Writing Monthly, we’ve been helping people just like you learn how to create the books kids will love, and in doing so, change the world with their words.
First, if you haven’t already done so, download our free eBook 11 Steps to Writing Your First Children’s Book. It lays out the simple method that has helped countless authors get published — and it’s our gift to you.
Click here to download it now.
Next, we invite you to read our The writeforkids Manifesto — it’s an exciting read that is certain to inspire you to follow your dream.
Now, here’s our hand-picked selection of articles about how to write children’s books. These are perfect places for beginning folks to start. Enjoy!
It’s OK If Your Readers Cry
If you’ve ever feared that your manuscript is too “real” for children, or if you feel the urge to write about a sanitized reality in order to protect…
35 Years a Writer, 35 Lessons Learned
by Jane McBride
(Note: This article is from the new January 2018 edition of Children’s Book Insider, the…
Writing for Children & Teens: Simple Steps to Understand Your Readers
by Jane Choate
In various writers’ groups over the years, I have heard a number of writers who say, usually with a certain degree of…
What’s YOUR Writing Profile? Find Out Now!
No two writers are created alike. Some of us are masters of planning and organization. Others among us live by improvisation and…
A Peek Inside the Workings of an Independent Bookstore
interview by Sharon Blumberg
Nathan Montoya’s route to owning the charming Village Lights Bookstore in Madison, Indiana was anything…
Understanding Children’s Book Categories from Picture Books to YA
by Hilari Bell
“Children’s Books” is a vast market, including everything from books for infants, with cardboard pages designed to be…
Narrative Nonfiction: Making Facts into a Story
by Natasha Wing
When editors say they are looking for narrative nonfiction, what does that mean?
Narrative nonfiction is creative…
Stand Out From the Crowd When You Submit
by Suzanna Henshon, PhD
Many people want to be writers. But few people put the time in to write professional level manuscripts.…
Visiting Book Fairs and Conference Exhibit Halls —Why, Where, and How?
by Lionel Bender
As a regular visitor to many major conference exhibit halls, book fairs, and publisher exhibits over some 28 years, I…
Simple Advice for First-Time Self-Published Authors
by R.F. Kristy
The intelligence and allure of cats has always enchanted me. Writing the Inca Cat Series arose out of the blue. I had never…
Children’s Author Gives Advice in New Edition of Book on Writing
Writing for Children and Young Adults (Self-Counsel Press) is the result of Marion Crook’s experience writing fiction series for both middle grade…
Interview Excerpts: Middle Grade Author Will Taylor
by P.J. McIlvane
(note: these are selected excerpts from a longer interview that appears in the January edition of Children’s Book Insider,…
Create a World with Your Five Senses
by Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D
How do you start a story? Does the vision of a character enter your mind, or do you start with a plot? While…
How to Read (and Think) Like a Kid
by Suzanne Henshon
In his bestselling book, How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Tom Foster writes about how professors read books—and…
Get Started Writing for Kidlit Magazines
What’s old is new again. The saying is never truer than when it comes to writing for children’s magazines. Did you think that magazines for…
My Manuscript is Finished. What Do I Do Now?
Writer’s coach Teresa Funke explains what to do with your completed book manuscript, including both traditional and self-publishing choices and some…
Find Your Writing Passion
Your first step as a writer, before you ever type those first words of your manuscript, is to discover what you love. Only then can you begin…
Trick Yourself into Finding Time to Write
by Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D.
How do you find time to write? Many people struggle through their day-to-day lives, only to discover at…
Ask Writer Alice: Three Top Picture Book Writing Mistakes
Best-selling author Alice Kuipers reveals the three mistakes you should avoid as an aspiring picture book writer. Sign up for Alice’s monthly writing…
One Author/Illustrator’s Route to Self-Publishing
by Stewart Mckenzie
Soccer Sami and the Big Meanie Coach is the story of an enthusiastic little hippo named Sami, who loves to play…
Dealing with (and Learning From) Rejection
by Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D.
Have you ever received a rejection letter? At some point, every writer has her work rejected. Madeleine…
Why Teachers Make Great Children’s Book Writers
by Laura Backes
You’re a teacher. You spend your day around kids, reading to them, teaching them how to write, helping them find books…
Know Your Genre Before You Write
If you’re new to writing, sorting out all the different fiction genres, and figuring out where your writing fits, can be a…
The Author and the Future of Children’s Books
by Suzanna E. Henshon
Over the past ten years, the business of publishing children’s books has changed. Large chain bookstores are…
Which Age Group Should I Write For?
Best-selling author Alice Kuipers is back to answer another Ask Writer Alice question: “Which age group should I write for?”
Be sure to…
We Need More Diverse Books!
by Tracy Bryan
I am a relatively new children’s author, but from where I stand, (way down here looking up) there seems to have been a…
Find Your Voice by Copying
by Suzanna E. Henshon
Have you ever wished you wrote someone else’s book, particularly if it is a classic or a…
10 Rules for Writing for Children
by Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D.
So, you dream of writing for children. But are you willing to invest the time and effort? Many people…
Ask Writer Alice: Writing Dialogue for Children and Teens
In this quick video tutorial, bestselling author Alice Kuipers give her best tips on writing realistic dialogue in books for children and…
Want to Write Children’s Books But Not Sure How to Start?
by Jane Choate
What is the first step in learning to write children’s books?
The first and, I believe, most…
Ask Writer Alice: Making Your Story Original
Author Alice Kuipers is back, and this time she addresses the question, “How do I make my story original for my readers?”
Do…
I Was a Serendipitous Children’s Writer
by Noelle Sterne
I was as surprised as anyone at how I came to write and publish a children’s book. It all began . . .…
How to Write Plays Children Will Love
by Christina Hamlett
If you want to pen plays that young actors will love, there are two rules you can’t afford to ignore:…
How to Write Compelling Dialogue
Struggling with writing believable dialogue in your fiction? In this video, writing coach Teresa gives her best tips for creating conversations…
How to Write a Children’s Book with More Depth
by Russell Hoy
Whether you’re an expert author or a kids book dummy, if you’ve ever tried to write a children’s book, you know how…
7 Things Editors at Children’s Book Publishers Wish Writers Knew
I have tremendous respect for editors at children’s book publishers. It’s a grueling job to wade through a pile of manuscripts looking for that…
The Successful Children’s Writer: Many Eggs, Many Baskets
We’ve been working with children’s writers for 25 years, and we’ve discovered that what separates successful authors from also-rans isn’t…
The Three Commandments of Writing a Picture Book
Many beginners believe writing picture books are a breeze, but it requires a lot of skill to pack a story into a few words. If writing a picture book…
Five Reasons Fiction Writers Should Write Nonfiction
by Pat Miller
If you think true books for children are boring, then it’s been too long since you’ve read one. Lyrical writing,…
Standard Word Counts, Page Lengths and Formats for Self-Published Books, eBooks, Apps
by Laura Backes, Publisher, Children’s Book Insider
Here are the standard word counts, page lengths and formats in the…
Start Here: Writing for Children, Step One
by Laura Backes, Publisher, Children’s Book Insider
If you’re reading this article, you probably want to try your hand at…
The Amazing Rosie in “What Makes a Children’s Book Great”!
Join the Amazing Rosie and Rocky the Wonder Dog on an adventure to writing a terrific children’s…
How to Create Your Own Children’s Writing Niche — With One Simple Technique
I was watching my new favorite comedy show — Kroll Show — last night and had a revelation about the creative process.
This episode…
Write Stories for Kids That Teach… Not Preach
Here at WriteForKids, we’re committed to helping you impact the lives of children around the world with your work. What’s the best way to write…
Understanding Children’s Book Genres
by Laura Backes, Publisher, Children’s Book Insider
Published children’s books fall into distinct categories, each with its own format…
A Simple Trick That Can Have You Writing Like a Legend!
by Natasha Wing, Children’s Book Insider Expert Guide
We all have one of those manuscripts. You work on it and work on it. In fact you…
The Difference Between Middle Grade & Young Adult
by Laura Backes, Publisher, Children’s Book Insider
The author of the true, classic middle grade novel does not worry about vocabulary…
How to Write a Powerful Ending
The first few lines of any story are the most important — and often most difficult — words you’ll write. The next most challenging piece…
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