Becoming A Children’s Book Author
So you have a great idea for a children’s book (Aha!) and now you have no idea what to do with it. Well, I’ve been there.
Is it hard to become a published author / illustrator? Yes.
Is it hard to become a successful published author / illustrator? Yes.
Is the market hard to break into? Yes.
Every blog on the internet about becoming an author will tell you these things. When I (Danielle Hitchen) had the idea for First Bible Basics, I had no name recognition, no platform (I’d never even been on Instagram), no formal training as a writer, and no connections to the publishing world. I tell you all this to say, these are not insurmountable obstacles to being published. But I also have to say, it takes A LOT of hard work, time, and investment in your project to make it successful. And at the end of the day, I can only attribute my relative success to God - He opened the right doors and led me to the right people, and for that, I will be forever grateful.
In the meantime, if you’d like to pursue publishing, you should ask yourself a few questions…
Has something like this already been published?
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To help you answer this question, you must consider what makes your idea stand out from already published books. Then, ask yourself the following question: Is my idea unique enough to stand on its own in a saturated market?
I THINK SO…
Keep scrolling to learn more about traditional and self-publishing options.
I DON’T KNOW…
Pitch the idea to a bunch of people and see what they say.
NO…
It’s probably not worthwhile to pursue publishing. Sorry, friend.
Do I want to self-publish or traditionally publish?
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There are several advantages and disadvantages to either publishing option; however, it is important to understand the major difference between the two. The rest of this page will focus on self-publishing; however, you can click “Learn More” if you are interested in learning morning about the traditional publishing process!
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Do you need an illustrator?
An illustrator is key to a successful children’s book: thy bring the text to life and their artwork helps readers engaged. If you are self-publishing and need to find your own illustrator or learn more about how to think through the logistics (contract, communication, fees, etc.) of working with an illustrator, click through!
Are you Kickstarter funding your project?
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The BabyBeliever series began as a Kickstarter campaign, and I have since run another campaign to release our first title in Spanish. I want your Kickstarter campaign to be successful too.
Click to learn more about what it takes to successfully run a Kickstarter campaign:
Do you need more information on book production?
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One of the biggest hurdles of self-publishing is actually getting your book printed, shipped, and in your hands! (This is especially true if you’re hoping to create a board book). Click through to learn more about the production process.
No more questions?
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If you’ve scrolled this far without clicking through my other links (and if you’ve scrolled this far and HAVE clicked through all the other links), I am not sure there is much else I can help you with! However, I have a few more things to share with you.