The 6 Stages of Becoming a Children's Book Author: A Journey Unveiled
“Each micro-decision leads to a big one, and before you know it, you’d have progressed to the next stage. Just keep going with the eye on the prize.”
What's wonderful about dreaming of something and achieving it is that, when you look back, the process becomes crystal clear. But when you are in the process, it seems like an overwhelming mess. When I started writing my manuscript, I did not know what the next steps would be. However, when I closed my eyes, I saw my name on a picture book that I held in my hand. The desire to make that a reality kept me going. From the dreamy inception to the sleepless nights of marketing, let's explore the six stages that define the path to success in the world of children's book writing.
1: Conception - The Dreamy Stage
Every author begins with a dream, a flicker of imagination that sparks the desire to create a captivating children's book. This stage is filled with excitement and wonder as ideas take shape, characters come to life, and storylines unravel in the author's mind. Whether it's on your computer, in your journal, or on your tablet, you find yourself writing and rewriting your story.
Tip: Create a Google Drive folder with your stories written out in separate Google Docs that you can go back and edit when needed. This will also help you keep track of all the stories you have cooking in your head and later prioritize which one you want to turn into a book first.
2: RESEARCH - The CURIOUS Stage
If you're anything like me, you find yourself obsessively researching everything. But then, there is a lot to explore and discover. The first place I looked was my kids' bookshelf. I studied these picture books cover to cover, examining the writing style, illustrations, and even fonts. I would visit my local library every weekend and make extensive notes. Then, at night after my daughter went to bed, I would look up the authors and their online presence. This stage laid the foundation for a solid understanding of the target audience and helped me shape the direction of my story.
Tip: Maintain an ideas journal, whether physical or digital. You may think you are researching the Editing phase, and then you get hit with a brilliant illustration idea. It keeps coming to you in a chaotic way, so organize yourself to separate the diamonds from the rocks.
3: EDITING - The LEARNING Stage
Editing is an essential part of the writing process and a crucial stage for growth. I debated whether I should get a professional editor since I was self-publishing, and I thank God every day that I did! I had no idea that editing was not just adding commas and periods where needed. "Developmental Editing" with a professional editor not only helped with grammar but also polished my manuscript while honing my storytelling skills. It adds to the cost, but it is totally worth it. Imagine going through the entire process of publishing and then putting your target audience off with errors or a storyline that simply doesn't land.
Tip: Gather a bunch of authors, friends, or family who know the turf and are willing to be beta readers for you. Join Author groups on Facebook. It really helps to get a different perspective and prevents you from making mistakes due to the bias you have toward your own creation.
4: Illustration - The stressful Stage
The joy that you have experienced while looking at the graphics in a children’s picture book has a lot of sweat, blood, and sometimes even tears involved. The visual appeal is paramount in children's books and that is the single most important aspect that can make your book a success or a failure. It is also the biggest expense associated with your self-published book so choosing wisely is important. The biggest challenge for me was to find an illustrator that could understand my vision, translate it into illustrations, do it in a timely fashion, and do it in my budget. It’s like getting the Illustration stars to align perfectly in your favor. Brace yourself, this stage requires patience, communication, and the ability to trust the illustrator's vision while being completely thorough with articulating your own.
Tip: There is a lot to unpack here so I’ll be doing another article on this stage. However, lookout for red flags and trust your instincts. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
5: PUblishing - The nervous Stage
The journey to publication can be nerve-wracking yet exhilarating. There are a lot of decisions to be made with the big release. Despite all my research, I looked into the Amazon vs. Ingram Sparks question again and decided to do both. You will find different schools of thought and people who choose one or the other for very solid reasons. Do what feels best for you based on the genre, target audience, budget, and distribution requirements you have.
Tip: Try to be more decisive on the platform you will be publishing with earlier in the game, along with the book size and format, to avoid any surprises with the illustrations. Do a test run by uploading the manuscript in different formats like softcover, ebook, etc., along with the book cover on the platform of choice and preview it before hitting the Publish button.
6: MARKETING - The SLEEPLESS Stage
Even though Marketing shows up as the last stage in my list just for the sake of logical flow, it is something that starts at the beginning of your project, grows exponentially as you get closer to publishing, and explodes post-publishing. It continues forever, even in the form of word of mouth. The usual marketing efforts involve building an author platform, engaging with readers, and establishing a presence on social media platforms. Book signings, school visits, and online campaigns all become part of the author's relentless pursuit to ensure their book reaches its intended audience.
Tip: Start talking about your book even before you get on any social media platforms. Create a website to launch around the same time as your book, if not before. Bring your own character to your social media accounts and do not be disheartened with less engagement at the beginning. Test and experiment with the content; you will find your own unique style. Just keep at it!
Conclusion: Becoming a children's book author is a journey that encompasses creativity, resilience, and determination. Each of these 6 stages brings valuable lessons and unforgettable experiences. If you know your “why” and you keep chugging away, one task after another, you will look back and see how far you have come. Remember to feel the joy in this journey and not treat it like a chore.
