Writing a children's book: tips from authors

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

Writing a book can often be a lonely experience but there is plenty of support out there to spur you on. Joining a writer's group is often a good place to start.

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is a great place to gain help and advice. There is an annual membership fee and if you join you'll be able to access a variety of writing courses and other resources to help you to hone your craft.

Crucially, being a member of SCBWI will give you the opportunity to join e-critique groups where you can connect with writers in your local area for valuable constructive criticism of your work.

Candy Gourlay on the benefits of joining the SCBWI

About Candy Gourlay

Candy Gourlay grew up in the Philippines wondering why there were no Filipinos in the books she loved. Now an author in London, she writes books with Filipino characters. Her first novel Tall Story won the Crystal Kite Award for Europe and was shortlisted for the Waterstones, Branford Boase and Blue Peter children's book prizes. Her novel Bone Talk was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Costa Book Awards in 2019. Her picture book Is It a Mermaid?, illustrated by Francesca Chessa, was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Her book, with illustrator Tom Knight, is a comics biography about Ferdinand Magellan, who is credited with “discovering” the Philippines.

Black Writers' Guild

You can also read here about the Black Writers' Guild (BWG), which represents the rights of Black writers in the UK. You might want to consider joining them too. Membership is currently free.

Still not sure how to start?

Writing is writing! Regardless of the type of book you intend to write the videos, below, from experienced children's authors and editors, will give you a general idea of what to consider at each stage of the writing process, from initial ideas (concept) to pitching manuscripts to agents or publishers.

You can download additional information from our Writers' Resources section and check out this blog by Natascha Biebow at Blue Elephant Storyshaping, on the craft of writing picture books.

We'd also highly recommend you buy/borrow a copy of Writing Picture Books by Anne Whitford. For more guidance on writing picture books for young children, check out our courses and workshops.

Step 1: Concept

'You want to write a book for younger readers? But what do you actually write about? And how do you write about a subject that isn't already displayed across bookshop tables?'

Patrice Lawrence is an award-winning writer for children, teenagers, and adults. Her books include Orangeboy (shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book Award and winner of the Bookseller YA Prize and Waterstones Prize for Older Children's Fiction), Indigo Donut (winner of Bristol's Crimefest YA Prize), Rose, Interrupted and Eight Pieces of Silva (Winner of Woman & Home Best Teen Drama). She is a 2021 Costa Book Awards judge.

Step 2: Research

'Read. Read the sorts of books you want to write. Don't just read good books, read bad children's books as well. Read for enjoyment and then read with your analytical head on.'

Catherine Johnson has written over 20 books for young readers including Race to the Frozen North, The Curious Tale of the Lady Caraboo and the award-winning titles Freedom and Sawbones. She has also written for film, TV and video games, and is currently working on an adaptation of Miranda Kaufman's book The Black Tudors for Silverprint Pictures. She is a fellow of The Royal Society of Literature.

Step 3: Planning

'This is something I like to do after I have discovered a lot about the story myself. It's for me more about shaping than it is about inspiring and creating. I like that to be kind of mysterious.'

SF Said is a British Muslim children's author. His family is originally from the Middle East, but he has lived in London since he was two. His first book, Varjak Paw, won the Nestlé Smarties Prize for Children's Literature. The sequel, The Outlaw Varjak Paw, won the BBC Blue Peter Book of the Year Award. His third book, Phoenix, was chosen to represent the UK on the IBBY International Honour List and shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Award.

Step 4: Your first draft

'Sometimes for a first draft, it's really is just a case of get the words down, because once you've got them down — that whole "dirty draft" idea — once those words are down, then you can go back and edit them and rewrite them and refine them.'

Em Norry's first book Son of the Circus, was published by Scholastic in September 2019. Her other works include Amber Undercover, a fun contemporary spy adventure for 10+; stories in anthologies Happy Here (Knights Of) and The Place for Me: Stories from the Windrush (Scholastic) and a biography of Lionel Messi (Scholastic).

Step 5: Editing

'The number of times you need to edit a manuscript will vary from author to author and book to book. Pay attention to your instincts. Generally, you know if you've slightly fudged this chapter or haven't quite nailed this particular character.'

Ben Horslen is Fiction Publisher at Puffin, Penguin Random House Children's.

Step 6: Your manuscript

'Reward yourself, whatever rewarding yourself means to you, make sure you do it and celebrate, never ever feel guilty about feeling proud of yourself. Celebrate the little things. That is the biggest gift you can give yourself as a writer.'

Rashmi Sirdeshpande is a children’s author of fiction picture books and illustrated non-fiction. In 2017, she was selected as one of 11 writers on the Penguin Random House WriteNow mentoring programme for underrepresented voices. Her works include Never Teach a Stegosaurus To Do Sums, illustrated by Diane Ewen, and How To Change The World, illustrated by Annabel Tempest.

Step 7: Proofreading and formatting

'It’s important to make a good impression from the moment an agent/editor first looks at your manuscript; presenting it well shows you’ve made an effort.'

Wendy Shakespeare is a former Senior Editorial Manager at Puffin, Penguin Random House Children's. She is enjoying work as a freelance editor.

Step 8: Pitching your work

'Have a really good idea about what your log line is, and by log line I mean your pithy pitch in a sentence or two sentences. Some people call it your elevator pitch.'

Jasmine Richards has worked as a publisher and storyliner for over 15 years with roles at Penguin, Working Partners and Oxford University Press. She has published over a dozen books for children and teenagers including her novel Keeper of Myths. Jasmine is the founder of Storymix, a children’s fiction studio that creates inclusive stories.

Next steps: Breaking into the industry

'Be consistent… write every day if you can. It doesn't matter what you're writing, just write something, even if it's a diary.'

Kereen Getten's debut novel, When Life Gives You Mangoes, was voted Best of the Best 2020 by the Black Caucus American Library Association, won Best Middle-Grade Fiction by the Rebel Women Lit Caribean Readers' Awards, and was featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Time Out, and O, The Oprah Magazine.

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