How to write children's books - I had an epiphany

Did you ever wonder whether the author learnt how to write children’s books, or did it just come naturally?

Think about your favorite childhood story.

Mine is Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. Love it. I you haven’t read it and go get it – adults can enjoy it too. If your children don’t have a copy, shame on you! Click the image below and get to Amazon now, pick them up a copy they deserve this story. If you and your children do love it, then we are in great company.

I had somewhat of an epiphany last night. I have always wanted to learn how to write children’s books.

H2B and I got to talking about what it is that we really want to do for work.

I have always had fanciful ideas about working in many different ‘glamorous’ jobs, some might have been passable for glamorous, others not so much. I’ll do a post on that soon “The many jobs of Mrs Stepford”, it’ll be a corker.

Right now I am working as Marketing & Office Manager for a small company specializing in the Events Industry.

Do I enjoy it?
Yes, it’s ok.

Do I LOVE it?
Nope, certainly not.

Do I want to do it forever?
Hell no!!

What is it that I really, really want to do?………

About three years ago I started to learn how write children’s books, I started to write one and I relished doing it, but life got in the way. I had to find myself another job and things just got busy. I’d been out of work for a few months living as a lady of leisure and the writing of, and learning how to write children’s books passed the time. It still isn’t quite finished, but it’s calling me, waiting to be completed.

H2B reminded me of my little ‘book’ that was still tucked away on the hard drive at home and told me to start it again.

I sat thinking about it, we spoke about it, asked each other what is the worst that could happen.

I imagined myself at our local Guardian Literary Festival reading aloud my published books to children.

I also imagined myself owning my own independent book store solely for children, just like Meg Ryan’s character in You’ve Got Mail

And I cried. In public. Uncontrollable tears, tears of relief, tears of nervous excitement, tears because of the unknown, fear of what could be in both good and bad scenarios. I don’t know why, perhaps I just ‘knew’ that this really was my last shot.

Is this what I was supposed to do all along rather than bounce from one job to the other searching for something that would stick?

This might actually prove my Mother right. The day I was born she said she looked at me and saw that one day I would one day be a writer.

What is it that YOU really want to do? I want to learn how to write children’s books.

Now it’s time to make it happen, and I think I may need to invest in a bit of guidance to help me along the journey.

So now, I am off again to learn how to write children’s books, and then get published. Wish me luck!