Planning a Children's Book
There is an art to creating a good children’s book. The first thing is to Google your idea and see if it already exists. It’s important to have a story that hasn’t already been published. Don’t get caught up with the main title of the book. Wait until the end to do that step because something exciting may come up. Once you know the plot of the book it’s time for character development. Characters should stand out with a quirky sense of humor, look strange, talk differently, or have an unusual habit.
Planning a Children's Book
There is an art to creating a good children’s book. The first thing is to Google your idea and see if it already exists. It’s important to have a story that hasn’t already been published. Don’t get caught up with the main title of the book. Wait until the end to do that step because something exciting may come up. Once you know the plot of the book its time for character development. Characters should stand out with a quirky sense of humor, look strange, talk different or have an unusual habit.
Finding an Age Group
The next step is to figure out who your audience is. Proper age range will tell you how long the word count needs to be per page. The most common age is 3–7 which is about 750 words. Strong stories are straight to the point and use a hook to grab the audience’s attention. It’s good to start the plot/conflict early. Readers should know where the story is going by the fourth page.
Finding an Age Group
The next step is to figure out who your audience is. Proper age range will tell you how long the word count needs to be per page. The most common age is 3–7 which is about 750 words. Strong stories are straight to the point and use a hook to grab the audience’s attention. It’s good to start the plot/conflict early. Readers should know where the story is going by the fourth page.
Build A Problem
The purpose of the book should be built around a problem the main character has to solve. This could be a confidence crisis, another person or a mystery of some kind. This achievement shouldn’t come at ease and the character will need to work for it. Otherwise the story could be confusing for a young reader to understand.
Build A Problem
The purpose of the book should be built around a problem the main character has to solve. This could be a confidence crisis, another person or a mystery of some kind. This achievement shouldn’t come at ease and the character will need to work for it. Otherwise the story could be confusing for a young reader to understand.
Use Repetition
Using Repetition in words/ phrases or elements in the story is a great way for parents and children to remember the book. Rhyming words is a starting point but the book should be set up for illustrators. Repeating elements in the scene can be visually stimulating. When it comes to imagery be creative. Publishers are always on the lookout for something “new.” If the scene is in a “school” think of a hut on the back of a dinosaur instead. Once the main problem has been solved the next step is to end the story quickly. Referencing something from the first five pages is a great way to do this.
Use Repetition
Using Repetition in words/ phrases or elements in the story is a great way for parents and children to remember the book. Rhyming words is a starting point but the book should be set up for illustrators. Repeating elements in the scene can be visually stimulating. When it comes to imagery be creative. Publishers are always on the lookout for something “new.” If the scene is in a “school” think of a hut on the back of a dinosaur instead. Once the main problem has been solved the next step is to end the story quickly. Referencing something from the first five pages is a great way to do this.
