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How to Write a Children's Book

B.A. Burgess

Have you always wanted to write a children's book? Do you have a great children's book idea, but can't seem to get it out of your brain and onto the page? Do you want to write a children's book, but the right idea just hasn't found you yet?

You are in the right place, my friend.

Read more

Have you always wanted to write a children's book? Do you have a great children's book idea, but can't seem to get it out of your brain and onto the page? Do you want to write a children's book, but the right idea just hasn't found you yet?

You are in the right place, my friend.

Warm up your writing muscles, people. The time has come. I'm making a writing course.I've been teaching yoga for years. The time has come to move on to other exciting teaching adventures. Let's write some children's books together, shall we?In this course, I will show you exactly how I identify story idea versus concepts and map out a story. I will also show you how I outline, draft and ultimately finish a children's picture book.

This course will only cover the writing

The other facets of writing a children's picture book such as illustrating it yourself or finding an illustrator, formatting, and publishing will be covered in future course.None of that stuff is important if you don't have a story. So, let's get through the most important part first.If you're ready to start, join the class now.

What are you waiting for?.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction
Introduction & Meet The Instructor
Day One - Brainstorming
Day One - Brainstorming Screen Share
Read more
Day Two - Mining
Day Two - Mining Screen Share
Day Two - Mining Part Two
Day Two - Mining Part Two Screen Share
Day Two - Mining Part Three
Day Two - Mining Part Three Screen Share
Day Three - Summarizing
Day Three - Summarizing Screen Share
Day Three - Summarizing Part Two
Day Three - Summarizing Part Two Screen Share
Day Three - Summarizing Part Three
Day Three - Summarizing Part Three Screen Share
Day Four - Mapping
Day Four - Mapping Screen Share One
Day Four - Mapping Screen Share Two
Day Five - Drafting
Day Five - Drafting Screen Share
Day Five - Drafting Part Two
Day Five - Drafting Part Two Screen Sharing
Day Five - Drafting Part Three
Day Five - Drafting Part Three Screen Share Note
Day Five - Drafting Part Three Screen Share
Day Six - Resting
Day Seven - Finalizing
Day Seven - Finalizing Screen Share
Day Seven - Finalizing Part Two
Day Seven - Finalizing Part Two Screen Share
Day Seven - Finalizing Part Three
Parting Notes

I hope you've enjoyed this course!  If you would like to connect with other writers who have taken this course, please apply to join the private Facebook Group!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/howtowriteachildrensbook/.

This group is full of writers just like you who have taken the How to Write a Children's Book course.

Use this group to Share your work, Encourage each other, and Network with other authors.

A rising tide lifts all boats, so we keep it uplifting and positive.

See you in there!

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Write a Children's Book with these activities:
Review 'Bird by Bird' by Anne Lamott
Cultivate a positive and sustainable writing practice by learning from Anne Lamott's insightful advice on overcoming writer's block and embracing the writing process.
View Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read 'Bird by Bird', focusing on chapters about drafting and overcoming writer's block.
  • Identify three key pieces of advice from the book that resonate with you.
  • Reflect on how you can apply these insights to your children's book writing process.
Review 'Writing Picture Books' by Ann Whitford Paul
Gain a deeper understanding of the picture book format and writing process by studying Ann Whitford Paul's comprehensive guide.
View Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read 'Writing Picture Books', focusing on chapters about plot, character, and pacing.
  • Take notes on key concepts and techniques discussed in the book.
  • Apply these insights to your own children's book writing project.
Summarize Existing Children's Books
Sharpen your summarization skills by practicing summarizing existing children's books, which will help you identify key plot points and narrative structures.
Show steps
  • Choose five popular children's books from different genres.
  • Read each book carefully, paying attention to the plot, characters, and themes.
  • Write a one-paragraph summary of each book, focusing on the main events and message.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Storyboard for Your Book
Visualize the narrative structure of your children's book by creating a storyboard, which will help you refine the pacing and visual elements of your story.
Show steps
  • Divide your story into key scenes or moments.
  • Sketch out a visual representation of each scene, focusing on key actions and characters.
  • Write a brief caption for each scene, summarizing the action and dialogue.
  • Arrange the scenes in chronological order to create a visual narrative flow.
Develop Character Profiles
Deepen your understanding of your characters by creating detailed character profiles, which will help you write more authentic and engaging stories.
Show steps
  • Brainstorm key characteristics of your main character, including their physical appearance, personality traits, and motivations.
  • Write a short biography of your character, detailing their background and experiences.
  • Consider your character's strengths, weaknesses, and relationships with other characters.
Participate in a Critique Group
Improve your writing by receiving feedback from other writers in a critique group, which will help you identify areas for improvement and refine your story.
Show steps
  • Find a local or online critique group for children's book writers.
  • Share your work with the group and provide constructive feedback on others' work.
  • Listen carefully to the feedback you receive and consider how you can apply it to your writing.
Create a Book Dummy
Solidify your understanding of the picture book format by creating a book dummy, which will help you visualize the layout and flow of your story.
Show steps
  • Fold and staple blank sheets of paper to create a mock-up of your book.
  • Sketch out the layout of each page, including text and illustrations.
  • Write or type the text for each page and paste it into the dummy.
  • Review the dummy to ensure that the story flows smoothly and the layout is visually appealing.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Write a Children's Book will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Children's Book Author
A career as a Children's Book Author involves creating engaging stories specifically for young audiences. Authors develop original ideas, write compelling narratives, and craft memorable characters that resonate with children. This course helps those wanting to become a Children's Book Author by providing a structured approach to brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and finalizing their stories. The course's focus on identifying story ideas, mapping out narratives, and efficiently drafting manuscripts directly addresses the core skills of crafting a children's book. By taking this course, aspiring authors can learn how to transform their initial concepts into fully realized picture books.
See salaries and explore the career path for Children's Book Author
Ghostwriter
Ghostwriters write books, articles, or other content that is credited to someone else. They must be able to adapt their writing style to match the voice and tone of the person they are writing for. This course helps those wanting to be a Ghostwriter, as they can apply the writing elements of this course to serve their clients. The course's emphasis on the author's methods to brainstorm, summarize, and map stories may further aid a Ghostwriter in accurately reflecting the client's voice. This can lead to a greater output, and improved client satisfaction.
See salaries and explore the career path for Ghostwriter
Creative Writing Teacher
Creative Writing Teachers instruct students on the art of writing, covering various genres and techniques. They provide feedback on student work and foster a supportive learning environment. This course helps those wanting to be a Creative Writing Teacher, as it provides a structured approach to brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and finalizing their stories. The course's focus on identifying story ideas, mapping out narratives, and efficiently drafting manuscripts directly addresses the core skills of crafting a children's book.
See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Writing Teacher
Story Editor
The Story Editor plays a pivotal role in refining narratives for film, television, and literature, ensuring the plot, characters, and themes resonate with the intended audience. Those wanting to be a Story Editor may find that this course can help them understand the author's intentions. By understanding how successful children's books are written, a Story Editor gains the ability to help improve a story and make the story more viable. As the author writes, the Story Editor gives advice; this course helps a Story Editor do so.
See salaries and explore the career path for Story Editor
Developmental Editor
Developmental Editors work with authors to shape and refine their manuscripts. They focus on the overall structure, plot, and character development of a book before it goes into the later stages of editing. This course helps those wanting to be a Developmental Editor by providing insight into the initial stages of writing a children's book. The course's emphasis on brainstorming, mining, summarizing, and mapping a story may offer techniques and knowledge that would aid a Developmental Editor in understanding the author's process and how they can give useful feedback. This is one of the best courses for a Developmental Editor.
See salaries and explore the career path for Developmental Editor
Literary Agent
Literary Agents represent authors and sell their work to publishers. They negotiate contracts, manage royalties, and provide career guidance to their clients. This course may be useful for Literary Agents, especially those who specialize in children's literature. The course's comprehensive approach to writing a children's book can help the literary agent identify promising stories and help them in understanding the author's process. The focus on mapping out a story may help the agent improve their assessment of a manuscript's potential.
See salaries and explore the career path for Literary Agent
Children's Media Reviewer
Children's Media Reviewers evaluate books, movies, and television shows for children, providing insights and recommendations to parents and educators. Reviewers need to understand what narrative qualities make a story appropriate, and engaging, for a young audience. This course helps those wanting to be a Children's Media Reviewer, as it helps them know how to create a successful children's book. The course's attention to detail may aid one in this role in assessing an author's method and the quality of the work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Children's Media Reviewer
Freelance Writer
Freelance Writers create written content for a variety of clients, including websites, magazines, and businesses. They often work independently, managing their own time and projects. This course may be useful for aspiring Freelance Writers who wish to specialize in children's literature or expand their portfolio to include it. The course's emphasis on brainstorming, mining ideas, and drafting can provide Freelance Writers with the tools to efficiently develop high quality content for younger audiences. In particular, the techniques taught in the course for identifying strong concepts can be very useful for any freelancer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Writer
Editorial Assistant
An Editorial Assistant provides support to editors and publishing houses. Their tasks include reading manuscripts, proofreading, and administrative duties. This course may be useful for an Editorial Assistant, especially those interested in children's literature. The course's structure, which covers brainstorming to the final draft, may help Editorial Assistants better understand the author's writing process. The detailed approach to idea generation in the course may help an Editorial Assistant in evaluating submitted manuscripts.
See salaries and explore the career path for Editorial Assistant
Content Creator
Content Creators produce engaging material for online platforms, such as blogs, websites, and social media. They develop, write, and edit content to attract and engage an audience. This course may be useful for Content Creators, especially those interested in creating content for children or families. The course's focus on brainstorming and outlining stories can help Content Creators develop engaging narratives for younger audiences. The emphasis on identifying story ideas may help Content Creators produce unique media.
See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator
Copywriter
Copywriters write persuasive and engaging content for advertising and marketing purposes. They work across various media, including print, digital, and social media. This course may be useful for Copywriters looking to expand their skills into creating content for children's products or services. While primarily focused on storytelling, the course's modules on brainstorming and drafting can improve a Copywriter's ability to generate creative ideas quickly. The techniques for identifying strong concepts also may help refine marketing messages for younger audiences.
See salaries and explore the career path for Copywriter
Curriculum Developer
Curriculum Developers design educational materials and programs for schools and other learning institutions. They create lesson plans, activities, and assessments that align with learning objectives. This course may be useful for a Curriculum Developer who creates early childhood education programs. The course's detailed exploration of story structure and narrative development can help a Curriculum Developer create engaging lessons that use storytelling as a teaching tool. The techniques for identifying story concepts may help a Curriculum Developer develop memorable and effective content.
See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Developer
Education Consultant
Education Consultants work with schools and educational organizations to improve teaching methods, curriculum, and overall educational outcomes. This course may be useful for an Education Consultant, as understanding the creative process behind children's literature can inform pedagogical approaches. The techniques shared in the course for brainstorming and developing narratives may help the Education Consultant to develop strategies for teaching children. This is also a useful course for an Education Consultant wanting to understand the creation of educational materials.
See salaries and explore the career path for Education Consultant
Librarian
Librarians manage library resources, assist patrons in finding information, and develop programs to promote literacy and learning. This course may be useful for Librarians, especially those working in children's sections of libraries. While this course concerns writing a book, the course may help the Librarian appreciate the work that authors contribute to children's literature. The skills taught may also improve a Librarian's ability to evaluate children's books.
See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian
Illustrator
Illustrators create visual images for books, magazines, websites, and other media. They work closely with authors and designers to bring stories and ideas to life. While this course does not cover illustrating, understanding the writing process can improve cooperation and communication with the author. An Illustrator will want to know how the author arrived at the story and what their aspirations are. By taking this course, an Illustrator may also improve their understanding of children's books.
See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How to Write a Children's Book.
Cover image
Bird by Bird
Save
Anne Lamott's 'Bird by Bird' highly recommended book on the craft of writing. It offers practical advice and encouragement for overcoming writer's block and developing a sustainable writing practice. is particularly helpful for beginners as it breaks down the writing process into manageable steps and emphasizes the importance of self-compassion. It is valuable as additional reading to help students develop a healthy and productive writing mindset.
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Paperback
$$
Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith
Paperback
$
Imperfect Birds: A Novel
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition
Save
Ann Whitford Paul's 'Writing Picture Books' comprehensive guide to crafting successful picture books. It covers various aspects of the writing process, from generating ideas to revising and submitting your manuscript. is particularly useful for understanding the specific requirements and conventions of the picture book format. It is valuable as a reference tool throughout the course and beyond.
Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition
Paperback
Check
Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition
Kindle Edition
Check

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Effort
2.5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
B.A. Burgess
Language
English
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