Reflecting on My Journey: Insights on Children's Writing Books & Publishing

Discovering the Spark in writing children's books

My writing journey began in my teenage years as a way to express myself and communicate my emotions I often kept hidden. I poured my thoughts into poetry, stories, and diary entries filled with my dreams and desires. However, when I went off to college to major in communications, writing took a back seat. Life moved quickly - I started a career, met my husband, and built a life in the suburbs with three children, a variety of pets, and countless responsibilities. For nearly forty years, writing remained on the sidelines.

Despite this, I was always an avid reader. Whether I was changing diapers, attending soccer games, or celebrating proms and weddings, there was never a time when I didn't have a book by my side.

I made it a priority to instill a love of reading in my children. Storytime was a nightly ritual, and as they grew old enough to read on their own, we began reading together. Books like Harry Potter, The Magic School Bus, Pendragon, Goosebumps, and Junie B Jones quickly became family favorites. Those moments spent sharing stories with my children were some of the most cherished memories of my life.

Years later, in 2022, while walking my two dogs, I found myself reflecting on those memories when an idea struck me: I should write a children's book. My son and daughter-in-law were expecting their first child - my first grandchild - and I wanted to create something special for them.

And so, my writing journey began anew.

Publishing and beyond

Let's Go Tilly! Let's Go Molly! was published December of 2023 for my granddaughter, Tyler. Little did I know the incredible journey that lay ahead.

Throughout 2024, I was busy with author visits and promoting my book, but soon, new ideas began flooding my mind. I dove into researching how to write children books and quickly discovered that it is one of the most challenging career paths I've ever tackled. There is no clear direction - no boss, no schedule, no clocking in from 9 to 5 and be free for the night. Writing consumes you. From the minute you get up to the time you lay your head on the pillow - and even in your dreams - it's always there.

Beyond the time commitment, I learned that writing children's books, and any other genre for that matter, requires a specific approach. I began to take courses, reading books on writing, and dedicating my time to improving my craft. Experimenting with different styles and voices became crucial in helping me find my unique writing identity.

But the growth doesn't stop there. I had to work on clarity, pacing, and character development. Revising drafts countless times - only to delete the entire manuscripts and start over - taught me patience, and lots of it. This interactive process showed me the importance of refining ideas to communicate more effectively.

The path has not been without significant obstacles, the biggest being self-doubt. I often found myself asking, "Is my writing good enough?" Even after completing a final draft, the process of submitting, querying, and finding an agent is grueling. Rejections can number in the hundreds for some writers. Today, a manuscript needs to be perfect - not just one manuscript, but multiple. I learned this the hard way. On top of that, you need to thoroughly research each agent's manuscript list to ensure your work aligns with their interests. The process is daunting. overwhelming, and at times, defeating.

But writing is in my blood. I keep moving forward, taking each rejection as a learning experience. I revise, critique in multiple groups, and revise again.

There are so many stories running through my mind, and not enough hours in a day to write them all. I can only hope that my current submission-ready manuscript will capture the heart of an agent the way it has captured mine.

If you are on your own writing path, remember that every step matters. Keep writing, learning, and sharing your voice. Your story is worth telling. I'd love to hear yours.

Barb xo