Children's Books Writing Ideas

Publishers of children's books are always on the look out for new and unique topics. The editors get too many "ho hum" books with the same old and stale ideas coming across their desk. If you want to be published, you need to come up with one of these "wow" subjects. This is especially true with the amount of competition for each book submitted.

Instructions

1

Remember what it is to be a child. If you cannot think like a child, how will you know what book is best for young readers? When you next spend time with a three or four year old, for example, get down on the ground at his or her level. See how this child sees the world. Experience what he experiences. Find out what makes him happy or angry. What do those cookies in the oven smell like? What does that big tub of water look like? What about the feeling of the clothes from the drier? Take a notebook with you and jot down any ideas that come to you during this time.

2

Listen to children talking to one another. By the time they are four years old, they will have some interesting conversations. What is their perception of the world from their vantage point? What questions do they have? What scares them? What gives them pleasure? Watch kids in different environments: in the playground, at school, in the yard playing with worms, at home helping daddy in the garage or in the kitchen.

3

Sit down and watch Saturday cartoons, play video games, go the library and watch which books children pull from the shelf. When you see what interests children most, you can look for offshoots of ideas. Maybe there are too many books about scary dogs, but what about scary cats or even parrots? What about mom going to work and having a stay at home dad?

4

Think about your own childhood. In some cases, children are the same today as they have been for generations. Do you remember your first day of school? What was it like to follow in the footsteps of your older brother or sister? Do you remember that Thanksgiving when everyone fell asleep after dinner until the dog started whining for his food? Also think about the days you shared with your own children. What made them special? What unique things happened while they were growing up?

5

Go into a book store or a library where there are many children's books, games and toys, and let your mind run free for a good 15 minutes or more. Write down anything that comes to mind. Do not think, but just free associate. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you see that silly looking frog? What about that globe? Look at the robot walking down the aisle or the stacks and stacks of board games. What would it be like eating that whole 12-inch lollipop? Let the colors, sounds, shapes and designs bombard you.