There are many women who are famous for their writing abilities. They include Agatha Christie and Elena Ferrante, and scores of top mommy bloggers. If you plan on designing your first children’s book this can be a challenging task. With the right help and advice, however, you can create a masterpiece that both kids and parents will love.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most important things moms should keep in mind when designing their first children’s book.
Professional Help Is Available
If you’re not feeling confident about designing your own book, there’s no shame in seeking professional help. First of all, check out the many blogs, specialist websites and Youtube tutorials on the subject. Many of these are produced by experts who are happy to provide the resources for free.
There are also plenty of paid professionals out there who specialize in these things. Don’t be afraid to ask around for recommendations or to look for people online. The internet can help you find children’s book designers, book editors, cover designers, book marketers and even ghostwriters. You can hire freelancers from around the world, viewing their photos, experience, genres and the services they provide.
Understand Your Target Audience
Your target audience can be defined as the specific group of people you want to buy, read and enjoy your book. It’s important to design the book around them because you want them to connect with the story and characters.
If you’re not sure who your target audience is, think about what age group the book is suitable for, and what interests them. For example, if your book is for kids ages 0-12, you’ll want to make sure it’s colorful and engaging with simple words and concepts.
Decide Whether To Self Publish Or Use A Publisher
You have several self-publishing options and Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a popular choice. You can reach a large number of potential readers and the process is relatively simple and straightforward. It’s also free to publish your books or eBooks on Amazon KDP. On the downside, you’ll need to do your own marketing and promotion. It can also be difficult to stand out from the millions of other books on Amazon.
If you’re willing to invest more time and money, you can go the traditional route and submit your manuscript to a publisher. They’ll provide editing, cover design, marketing, and other important services. However, it can be difficult to get a publisher interested in your book. Whether you choose this route or self-publish your work, it depends on your personal needs and preferences.
Create A Quality Manuscript
A manuscript is simply the text of your book, and it’s important to produce one of the highest quality. If you’re not self-publishing it’s what you’ll be sending to publishing companies. If your manuscript is full of errors, it will likely be rejected. Here are some tips for getting the best possible results:
- Read books on writing and learn from the experts
- Proofread your work
- Hire a professional editor
- Join a writers group and get feedback from others
- Use grammar and spelling checker tools
- Use an online thesaurus and dictionary
- Use a plagiarism tool to doublecheck your work is unique
Understand The Importance Of Formatting
Formatting is how your book will be laid out on the page. It includes things like margins, chapter headings, and font type and size. Formatting is important because it makes your book easy to read and visually appealing. You can do it yourself using a word processing program like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Alternatively, you you can hire a professional formatter to do it.
If you decide to format the book yourself, here are some tips:
- Use a common and easily readable font like Times New Roman or Arial.
- Make sure your chapter headings are clear and easy to find.
- Start each chapter on a new page.
- Set the margins to at least one inch all around.
- Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.25 inches.
Produce A Quality Book Cover
The cover is the first thing potential readers will see when they come across your book. It needs to be eye-catching and reflective of the content within the pages. Firstly, you could hire a professional graphic designer to create one for you. This option will give you the most control over what your cover looks like, but it’ll also be the most expensive. You may also wish to check out sites like fiverr.com that offer the services of freelancers at comparatively low prices.
Another option is to use an online book cover maker like Canva or Adobe Spark. These platforms allow you to create your own cover using templates and tools that are easy to use, even if you don’t have any prior design experience. The downside of this option is that you could end up with a cover that looks more amateurish than one designed by a professional.
Incorporate Quality Illustrations
When you’re creating a children’s book, the illustrations are just as important as the text. The right pictures will help bring the story to life and make it more enjoyable for kids to read. If you decide to hire an illustrator, make sure to find someone who specializes in children’s books. They’ll be able to create unique and engaging illustrations that fit well with your story.
You can also look for stock photos that can be used for your book. Just make sure that you have the rights to use them before including them. Finally, you could create your own illustrations. If you have a creative flair, this can be a great option. You can use traditional mediums such as paints or pencils, or even create digital illustrations.
Once you’ve considered all these things, you’ll need to decide whether to produce a paperback, hardback or eBook (or all three). By putting these tips into practice you’ll be a mom who’s produced a quality book that children will love. Not only could you delight your audience, but you may also establish yourself as an enduring kids book writer.