Top 10 Mistakes Children's Book Authors Make

Top 10 Mistakes Children's Book Authors Make

In this video, Keith Wheeler discusses the top 10 mistakes that children's book authors make. He provides insights on how to avoid these mistakes and create a successful children's book.

Writing for Themselves

• Many authors write for themselves instead of their audience.

• To make money, authors need to ensure there is a need for their type of book in the marketplace.

• Conduct keyword research on Amazon and other platforms to see if there is a need for your type of book.

Not Knowing Their Target Audience

• Authors must know their target audience, including age range and gender.

• Create a book that speaks to that particular reader or child depending on the age group.

Main Character Isn't Relatable

• The main character should be relatable to the target audience.

• Most children relate more to a main character that is the same gender as them and around the same age range.

Trying to Rewrite Familiar Books

• Don't try to compete with big names like Dr. Seuss by rewriting familiar books.

• Create something unique that fits you as an author.

Not Creating Enough Buzz About Their Book

• Start promoting your book as soon as you start writing it.

• Share it with everyone you can through social media or word of mouth.

Poor Editing and Proofreading

• Poor editing and proofreading can ruin a good story.

• Hire an editor or proofreader if necessary.

Focusing Too Much on Illustrations

• While illustrations are important, they should not be the focus of the story.

• The story should stand alone without illustrations.

Not Understanding the Publishing Process

• Authors should understand the publishing process before submitting their work.

• Research different publishing options and choose the one that best fits your needs.

Rushing to Publish

• Don't rush to publish your book without proper editing, proofreading, and promotion.

• Take the time to ensure your book is of high quality and has a strong marketing plan.

Giving Up Too Soon

• Many authors give up too soon when they don't see immediate success.

• Keep writing and promoting your work, and success will come with persistence.

Common Mistakes in Writing Children's Picture Books

In this video, the speaker discusses common mistakes that authors make when writing children's picture books. The speaker provides tips on how to avoid these mistakes and improve the chances of success for your book.

Being Too Lenient or Too Strict with Illustrations

• Authors should give illustrators some wiggle room to show their creativity.

• Provide illustrators with examples of what you're looking for in terms of style and color scheme.

• Be clear about what illustrations you want and communicate this to your illustrator.

Not Getting Your Book Edited

• Use a children's book editor to ensure that the words used are impactful and convey the right mood.

• Avoid being too wordy or too simplistic for the age group.

Not Getting Beta Readers

• Beta readers can help find editing issues and provide early book reviews.

• Early book reviews are especially important in such a competitive niche as children's picture books.

Publishing Without Marketing

• It is no longer enough to publish a book and hope for sales without marketing it.

• Early marketing and promotion is paramount to get your book seen above the noise of other children's picture books.

Conclusion

Writing a successful children's picture book requires more than just passion. By avoiding these common mistakes, authors can improve their chances of success. Remember to be clear about what you want from your illustrator, use an editor, get beta readers, and market your book early on.

Importance of Having a Backlog of Books

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a backlog of books as an author to ensure repeat customers.

Benefits of Having a Backlog

• Having more books for readers to read increases the chances of repeat customers.

• If an author only has one book and doesn't write anymore, readers may not be interested in reading their work again.

• The best way to get repeat customers is to have more books for them to read.

Additional Resources for Authors

In this section, the speaker provides additional resources for authors who are interested in learning more about writing and publishing.

Getting an Illustrator on Fiverr

• The speaker previously made a video about how to get an illustrator on Fiverr for children's picture books.

• If viewers are not interested in that topic or already have illustrations, they can check out another recommended video.

Remember to write right!