Writing your first children’s book—and even your hundredth one—can be daunting. Where do you start? How do you know if your idea is worth sharing? And who do you want to share it with? Writing a book may be an individual endeavor, but the good news is that you don’t have to go at it alone! Every single published children’s author has been exactly where you are now, and they’ve all made it to the other side with wisdom and advice to spare and share. Here are nine tips from real Blue Balloon authors who were recently in your shoes (and two more from some of our editors who walked alongside them).
Jennifer Muse, author of What the Hey Hey: “Write from the heart. Tell the story that means something to you—something that carries emotion, purpose, and pride. When it’s authentic, it shines through.”
Timothy Ryan, author of June Bug’s Outdoor Adventures: “Just write or record your thoughts. Do not worry about perfection in the writing process just yet. Create an outline of how you think you want your story to follow, then write it. You will be able to refine, reword, and rewrite your story later. Plus, there are many people who will help you along the way. You can make your dream of becoming an author come true! Also, ask questions. I had a lot of questions for Lauren and Kayleigh as I started my journey, not just about the writing process but about publishing too. Ask your questions!”
Brittany Kelly, author of Freckles: “Just take the leap! Have faith in your abilities and seize every opportunity that comes your way. If you have an idea that you believe in, it’s valid, and you can write and share it. The key is to put in the effort to turn it into the book or written work you envision. You can make it happen!”
Ashley L. Matias, author of The Ride Along Series: My Hometown: “Even the most ordinary things can make extraordinary books!”
Theodore A. Adams III, author of The Man Who Owned a Plane: “Start with characters who feel real to you—give them authentic emotions, genuine struggles, and relatable motivations. When you truly understand your characters’ hearts, their actions will drive your story naturally. Focus on creating characters who breathe, who have flaws and hopes, and readers will follow you anywhere if you first make them care about the people taking the journey.”
Kathy Akopov Guillory, author of The Adventures of Belle Bear: “Write like you’re talking to one person you love. Not an audience, not a market, just one real human. And remember that done is better than perfect. You can edit a messy page; you can’t edit a blank one.”
Kayleigh Rucinski, director of production at Blue Balloon Books: “My advice would be to stay open-minded on edits and suggestions. It can sometimes be difficult to communicate the ideas and vision you have in your head, but we are here to help that vision come to life! Sometimes, that does come with unexpected ideas and changes, but being open-minded could lead to something even better than you imagined!”
Lauren Vilbert, author of Little Lost Horse on the Currituck Banks: “Spend time writing each day. I always keep a small journal with me so I can record any ideas that come to mind. Once I have an idea, I sketch an outline for how I want the story to play out, and then, each day, I set aside time to write. Sometimes I write for three hours, and sometimes I only write for ten minutes, but I make sure that I commit to working on the story for at least part of the day so the idea remains fresh in my head. There is always time to edit, so I try to focus solely on the big picture first. Then, once I have the big picture, I go back and fine-tune the story.”
Grace McCaffrey, author of Knox & the Magic Raindrops: “Take a class! I started writing Knox & the Magic Raindrops shortly after I took a month-long virtual poetry class with the Writer’s Workshop at Authors Publish. Having the confidence to write comes from practice, and it is nicely complemented by encouragement from an engaged, warm community.”
Jamie Scheumann, author of Dear Girl, Be Free: “Be relentless. I once had a college professor tell me my writing was ‘too flowery.’ Maybe it was too flowery by his standards, but with the help of everyone at Blue Balloon Books, I just published a book filled with nothing but flowery words, and I couldn’t be more proud of it! Not everyone will connect with your work, but eventually, you will find your people—your team!”
Journey Mathewson, senior production editor at Blue Balloon Books: “Lean into what feels right! Sometimes the design phase can feel intimidating if you aren’t familiar with the process, but that’s what our quality control team is here for. We want to help produce the most appealing book. Whether it’s the cover or the interior, we understand that every detail should reflect your book’s vision!”
We bet you’re feeling a fresh wave of inspiration, so what are you waiting for? Grab a pen and start jotting down ideas for your authorial debut! Once you’ve got a draft you’re proud of, Blue Balloon Books is here to help you turn it into a published book. Soon, you’ll be the one giving new authors advice!