“Who does she think she is?”
“Who is she to write a children’s book?”
These are the types of things I worried people thought of me when I decided I wanted to become a children’s book author.
No one ever said those things, of course. It was my own self-doubt putting those thoughts in my head.
I know you feel it, too. You question if anyone would even read a children’s book that you wrote.
- What if it’s not good enough?
- What if I start the book and don’t finish?
- What if people hate it?
- What if no one reads it?
Let me tell you, friend: It’s all normal. I don’t think there’s a single author – of any genre of book, including children’s books – who hasn’t doubted themselves.
In fact, I was so discouraged after I received my first round of edits on my book I CAN Believe in Myself, that I walked away from my manuscript and told myself I’d made a mistake even trying to write a children’s book.
“Who did I think I was trying to be a children’s author?”
A week later, I picked up my manuscript and looked over the editor’s notes again. I decided I wasn’t going to let my fear of failure, judgement, or rejection stop me from doing something I dreamed of doing.
That decision led to me setting a Guinness World Record™ and empowering 100,000 readers to believe in themselves.
Fear can either hold you back or fuel you to move forward.
If you’re having a tough time overcoming your feelings of self-doubt, I have a few pointers on how you can shift your mindset.
Believe in Your Unique Story
Did you know that J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series of books, was rejected by 12 publishers before she found one that was interested?
Or that Theodor Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) had his first children’s book rejected 27 times before it was finally published?
These are just two examples of authors who believed in their stories enough to keep going, despite repeated rejections. They had a dream to write a children’s book, and were determined to turn it into a reality.
Just like them, only you can tell your unique story. The message you have to share with children is important, and you have what it takes to compile it into a beautiful children’s book. You just need to believe in yourself.
So how can you build your confidence and press on when you’re feeling unsure of your idea – and yourself as an author?
Write every day, even if it’s just a few sentences.
Every word written is progress when you’re doubting yourself. Some days you’ll write more, some days you’ll write less. But stay consistent and do it every day.
Celebrate small victories.
We tend to withhold celebrating ourselves until the job is done, but it’s important to recognize your accomplishments along the way. If you are struggling with a particular part of your book and suddenly have a breakthrough, celebrate it!
Keep a journal of positive feedback.
Even if it has nothing to do with your children’s book (but especially if it does), recalling kind words and compliments will boost your spirit and remind you that you’re capable of wonderful things.
You Don’t Have to Have All The Answers Right Now
The trap people fall into when they want to do something new – like writing a children’s book – is thinking they shouldn’t start until they have all of the steps figured out.
So they don’t start.
The problem, of course, is that if you never start something, you can’t finish it, either. You have to be willing to start somewhere and trust that your book will come together eventually.
As the Chinese proverb says: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Deciding on a step to take – and focusing on only that one step – will lead to the next and then the next.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Remember that what you’re writing doesn’t have to be perfect; there will be plenty of time later to edit what you’ve written. For now, let your story evolve as you write it. Don’t worry about word counts or getting it “right” the first time. Just keep going.
Before you know it, you’ll have drafted your entire children’s book!
The First Step is the Hardest (But the Most Important)
It doesn’t really matter what it is, starting is always the hardest part – and you know why: It’s scary.
You want to start going to the gym, but you don’t know how the equipment works and you’re afraid you’ll look silly.
Or, you want to learn how to cook, but you’re afraid what you make will taste terrible and no one will like it.
Or, you want to write a children’s picture book, but you’re afraid no one will read it and it will have been a waste of time.
What if you choose to believe the best outcome will happen instead?
Wouldn’t it make it easier to walk into the gym, crack open a cookbook, or sit down at your laptop if you told yourself, “This is going to turn out great”?
Taking the first step – even when it feels scary – can lead to incredible personal and professional growth. It doesn’t mean you won’t ever feel discouraged, but you will have at least got the hardest part out of the way.
Motivation comes from action – not the other way around. So commit to taking some kind of action, even if it’s not for long:
Set a writing goal for yourself. It can be 10 minutes or an hour. Just make sure it’s realistic.
Find a supportive community like a writing group or online forum where you can connect with other authors to stay motivated and accountable.
Start with what you have and go forward from there. If all you have right now is the name of a character for your children’s book, start by developing the character.
There will never be the “perfect” moment to start, so just go ahead and start right now.
The journey to becoming a children’s author is different for everyone. The challenges you face on your path may not be the same for someone else.
What is the same for you and me and every other children’s author is that there will always be setbacks, doubts, and fears. It’s part of the process. But you will feel more confident as you move forward, because each step brings you closer to your dream.
You CAN write a children’s book. Commit to doing it, knowing that it’s okay to keep going even when you’re afraid or unsure of what you’re doing. Think of the message your book will deliver or the joy it will bring to a child reading it.
Be scared… and do it anyway.
If you’re afraid to take the first step alone, my free training on how to write a quality children’s picture book can give you the nudge you need. Sign up for it here.
FAQs
Q: Is it too late for me to go after my dream of writing for children?
A: It’s never too late! One of our bestselling authors didn’t write her first children’s book until after she returned to college at age 50 to study Early Childhood Education. Even after writing her first draft, she still waited a number of years to publish it. There is no deadline on your dreams.
Q: How do I know if my story idea is good enough?
A: Every story idea is good. If there’s a message or a lesson to be learned, your idea is great!
Q: Should I tell people about my story, or wait until it’s finished?
A: The earlier you bring people into the journey with you, the more support you have and the more likely they are to buy your book. Tell people you’re writing a children’s book. Talk about how it’s going and what you’ll do next. It will keep you accountable and motivate you to keep going.