Top 5 Challenges of Becoming a Children’s Book Author 

Being a children's book author can be a very fulfilling passion. Through your stories, you bring smiles to children's faces while also teaching them valuable life lessons.

While it can be a rewarding job, there are many challenges involved in becoming a children’s book author.

When you first consider this path, it may appear as simple as putting together a few simple words and some pretty illustrations on a blank canvas, but writing a children's book is difficult, and that is only a part of the struggle. Getting published and marketing are entirely different nightmares. 

Let’s take a look at some of the challenges children’s book authors go through to become published authors.

1. Getting ideas for your books

One of the biggest challenges I have seen authors in this niche face is getting ideas that are unique enough to stand out from the crowd.

The truth is, there are already several children’s books on the market, most with very similar ideas and no way of standing out. 

When your ideas are not unique enough, parents are hesitant to buy your books for their children, which is why you must always come up with ideas that are both interesting for the children who will be reading and lovable for the parents who will be buying the books. 

Although it can be difficult for some authors to come up with new ideas, ideas are all around us.

Create ideas from what's happening around you and add a different perspective or twist to it while ensuring that it is engaging for the readers and appropriate for the parents.

2. Creating memorable characters

When it comes to children's books, the best stories feature an unforgettable character with a remarkable arc.

These characters aren’t perfect, but they learn skills and strengths as well as lessons that help them achieve their goals. 

When your characters aren’t memorable enough, they fail to engage your young audience and you will lose readers.

However, creating memorable characters consistently isn’t always easy to do and that is why we sometimes see authors pause their work for months or years just to work on their characters.

3. Not having enough time

A lot of aspiring authors usually use this as an excuse not to write. We keep telling ourselves there isn’t enough time to balance a 9-5 career, our personal or social life, and writing a book. 

The truth is that we have come to believe that is true and we can change this narrative if we so desire as authors.  

If you truly want to do something, you will make time for it, regardless of how hectic your life is right now.

When starting this journey, you must be willing to make some little sacrifices, like waking up early to write before work and coming home right from work to write some more. Create the time you need to write!

4. Publishing

There are two ways you can publish your book, the traditional way or self-publishing.

Going with the traditional route means you will most likely face a couple of challenges and rejections before getting a publisher, which is absolutely okay. Many published authors faced rejection several times before getting published.

A major advantage of using a publisher and why some people still use it even if it takes away some of their privileges is that it is less stressful, less expensive, and almost risk-free. 

On the other hand, self-publishing can be pretty daunting and a lot more expensive but it is also more rewarding in terms of maintaining all your privileges and money.

If you have the financial means, you can quickly self-publish, but if you don't, you should look for a traditional publisher.

5. Marketing

Marketing is like one of those chores that everyone hates doing but has to be done. Without properly marketing your books, you won’t reach your target audience with your story or make sales.

So as daunting as it can be to market your book, it still has to be done.

One of the current marketing trends that most authors, including children’s book authors, are using to sell their books is podcast guesting.

Podcast guesting is one of the ways you can make an appearance on multiple platforms to talk about your book and effectively reach more of your target audience (parents). 

Final thoughts

As fulfilling as writing children's books for publication may be, there are many obstacles one must overcome to achieve this fulfilment, starting with overcoming their fears and carving out time to write, all the way to finally publishing their book and being able to market it successfully.  

Although some of these obstacles or challenges may be more difficult to overcome than you would expect, your little baby—your book—lies behind these challenges, and it is worth the fight.

If you are looking to add to your audience or get the word out about your children’s book, my podcast, Reading With Rella, is a great place to start.

With the majority of my active listeners being parents, you get a platform to talk about your amazing book and market it to your actual target audience. 

Kindly Get in touch with me today!