Most writers spend countless hours on their novels, only to be turned down by publishers. It’s a common occurrence in the world of children’s books, unfortunately.

If you really want to become a bestselling children’s book author, however, there are things you can do to increase your chances of success. And if you follow these steps carefully, you may just have your first published book in no time!

Step 1: Know the market.

The most important step for an aspiring children’s book author is knowing what kinds of stories are popular with today’s youth. Just because you have a great story idea doesn’t mean it will sell; you need to research what kinds of stories are being published now and which ones are selling best. If your story idea fits into this realm and fills a niche that hasn’t been filled before, then you’re more likely to sell your book.

The first step to becoming a bestselling children’s book author is to write a children’s book.

The second step is to get that manuscript in the hands of an agent who can represent you to publishing houses.

The third step is to get a contract with a publishing house.

Step One: Write Your Children’s Book

Over the years I’ve been asked many questions by aspiring children’s book authors. Many of those questions have been asked countless times over the years. Here is a list of questions with my answers to those questions that I get most often.

How do I get my story published?

What do I do if the publisher doesn’t pay me?

What do I do if the editor changes my story?

What do I do if there are things in my story that people might consider inappropriate for a children’s book?

What if I don’t have a good ending?

What if I am having trouble writing my book?

How much money can an author expect to make from their book sales?

How can I know what to charge for my services as an illustrator or author?

There are three steps in writing a bestselling children’s book:

1. Writing a simple, properly formatted query letter to literary agents or publishers.

2. Finding literary agents or publishers who are interested in your book and willing to represent you.

3. Working with a literary agent or publisher to sell your book to a major publisher, like Random House or Penguin Books.

My name is Gail. I am an author and a children’s book illustrator. I have been writing since I was 10 years old, and illustrating children’s books since I was 23. I am now 60, and have written and/or illustrated over 100 children’s books in my time.

I started this blog to help other people get started writing and illustrating their own books, as well as give advice on how to get published. Here you will find articles with tips, ideas and information on the publishing industry.*

Start by finding a unique story to tell, one that will resonate with children. The story should have a clear message that readers can learn from. The storyline should be interesting and entertaining, without being too complicated for young readers.

Next, create the illustrations for your book. You need to decide what style of graphics you will use for your children’s book. Will you illustrate with pictures of real people? Or will you draw cartoon characters? Will your characters be realistic looking or more whimsical?

Finally, publish and sell your book!