Writing a children's book sounds simple—338 words was enough for Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, after all. But nobody tells you that those 338 words were probably edited down from 800 or maybe more.
After watching talented authors make the same expensive mistakes, I've learned that success in picture book publishing isn't just about having a great idea (though that is important). It’s about learning the unique craft of writing (and editing) for children—and knowing when to get professional help.
Whether you're writing your first picture book or your fifth, I hope these insights will save you time, money, and frustration.
#1 Picture Book Word Count: Less Is More (But Start with More)
Picture books max out at around 800 words. Some are longer, but many best-selling picture books come in around 500 words. I know that some sources say 1,000 words is okay, and I think it can be okay IF the story moves forward well enough. But it probably doesn't.
In picture books, every single word needs to earn its place on the page. That's a completely different mindset than writing for adults, where we have the luxury of meandering, building atmosphere with description, or taking our time with character development. In a picture book, you're working with roughly 32 pages (the industry standard), and many of those pages will have minimal or no text at all.
Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are is a masterpiece with some of my favorite illustrations of all time. But what an emotional journey! Where the Wild Things Are has impact with minimum word count.
But it's actually good to have too much copy at first.
Think of your first draft as a movie script rather than a final picture book manuscript. Include stage directions. Describe the setting. Explain what characters are wearing, what they're feeling, and what's happening in the background. Write it all out, even the parts you know won't make it into the final version.
Let this fuller version become your "vision document." It helps your editor understand the tone you're going for, so they can offer guidance on illustrations. I worked with one author who'd done up her book in Canva. The images looked like serial killer clip-art, but it gave me guidance on her vision.
Maybe you described the grandmother's kitchen with flowered wallpaper and a cat sleeping on the windowsill, but your illustrator has an even better idea that captures the same cozy feeling. But they couldn't have made that creative choice without understanding your vision.
#2 Let Illustrations Carry the Visual Load
You see, we adults want to fill our books, articles, and blogs with as much text-based detail as possible—words. We learn how to "show vs. tell" in our writing.
But that doesn't work for picture books. Children haven't learned how to visualize the "red-headed lion" or "bald cat." That's what picture books help teach them. So, illustrations do the heavy lifting in scene setup, character looks and expressions, and some of the action.
This may be the hardest concept for new children's book authors to really "get," especially if they come from other writing backgrounds. Your finished copy shouldn't describe what your main character looks like, or that it's a sunny day, or the kitchen looks like a flour bomb went off. That's what the illustrations are for.
What you DO need to focus on is the emotional arc, the dialogue, the key actions that move the plot forward, and the rhythm of the language. Your text and illustrations should work as partners, each doing what they do best. The text carries the narrative voice, the emotional beats, and the forward momentum. The illustrations provide the visual context, the humor, the additional storytelling layers that kids will discover on the tenth or twentieth read-through.
Think of it like a dance: your words and the pictures should complement each other, not step on each other's toes. If your text says "Sophie walked into her messy bedroom and sat on her unmade bed," you're doing the illustrator's job for them. Instead, try something like "Sophie flopped onto her bed with a sigh." The illustration shows the mess; your text captures the emotion and action.
A picture really is worth a thousand words—so let it do that work while your text does something illustrations can't: convey internal thoughts, create rhythm and musicality, and drive the narrative forward.
#3 Technical Craft Matters: POV, Tense, and Voice
Most of my (and by extension, my kids') favorite picture books were written in third person, with dialogue in first person. That doesn't mean yours has to be—that's just the way our favorites worked. Whichever POV or tense you choose, keep it consistent. It's jarring for it to switch suddenly mid-thought.
Along with it just being good storytelling, young children are still learning how language works. They're developing their sense of narrative structure, cause and effect, and temporal relationships. When you suddenly shift from past tense to present tense, or from third person to first person without a clear reason (like dialogue), you're not just breaking a writing rule—you're potentially confusing your young audience.
Present tense can create wonderful immediacy: "Maya climbs the tallest tree in the yard. She reaches for the lowest branch." It puts the reader right there in the action.
Past tense offers a more classic storytelling feel: "Once upon a time, there lived a dragon who was afraid of heights." Both work beautifully, but pick one and stick with it.
Point of view is equally crucial. First person can be wonderfully intimate and help children identify with the protagonist: "I didn't want to go to my new school. My stomach felt like it was full of butterflies—the nervous kind, not the pretty kind."
Third person can give you more flexibility with multiple characters and can feel more like a traditional tale: "Oliver the Owl had a secret. He couldn't hoot like the other owls."
Also, pay attention to your verb choices and sentence structure. Picture books need active, vivid language. Passive voice rarely works. "The cookie was eaten by Mouse" sounds boring when compared to "Mouse gobbled the cookie in two quick bites." See how the second version gives us action, personality, and even illustration potential?
These technical elements aren't just writing rules—they're about respecting your young readers' developmental stage and giving them a story they can follow and enjoy.
#4 Read Your Manuscript Aloud (Again and Again)
This might be the most important tip I can give you, and it's one that too many authors skip: read your picture book manuscript out loud. Then read it again. And again. Set it down for a few days. Then, read it to your partner, your dog, your reflection in the mirror. Read it until you've memorized it.
Why? Because picture books are meant to be read aloud, often multiple times in one sitting (ask any exhausted parent who's read Where the Wild Things Are seventeen times before bed). The rhythm and flow matter enormously. Words that look fine on the screen can feel clunky when spoken.
Listen for these issues when reading aloud:
Tongue twisters and awkward phrasing: "She saw six small sailboats" might look fine written, but try saying it quickly three times. If you stumble over your own words, so will the parents reading to their kids.
Rhythm breaks: Picture books often have a natural rhythm, even when they don't rhyme. When that rhythm suddenly breaks, it's like hitting a speed bump. Your ear will catch these disruptions even when your eye misses them.
Pacing problems: Does the story drag in the middle? Does the climax feel rushed? Reading aloud helps you feel the energy of your story. You'll notice where kids might lose interest or where you need to slow down for emotional impact.
Breath control: Can you read a sentence in one breath, or are you gasping halfway through? Parents and teachers reading aloud need natural places to breathe. Run-on sentences are exhausting to read.
Repetition: Sometimes repetition is intentional and delightful (think of the refrain in Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?). But sometimes you've accidentally used the same word three times in two sentences, and reading aloud makes it glaringly obvious.
The sound of your words: Are you using harsh, choppy words where you want a gentle feel? Are you using too many multi-syllable words in a row? The actual sounds of your language matter in read-aloud books.
Here's a pro tip: record yourself reading your manuscript, then listen back. You'll hear things you missed while reading. Better yet, have someone else read it to you. When they stumble, make note—that's probably a spot that needs revision.
#5 Hire a Professional Editor Before Commissioning Illustrations
I know you're trying to save money and these services add up—illustration, book design, and editing are costly services. But in the long run, having the right people with the right expertise look at your manuscript will save time and money. It'll also give you a better chance at YOUR book becoming a bestseller ... or at least paying its bills.
If you jump into illustration and book design before having your picture book edited thoroughly by someone skilled in the market, your illustrator is probably going to charge you more—and they should. Because those images will, by necessity, change, making the illustrator double up on their work. It sets everyone back, delays publishing, and takes money out of your pocket.
That's not to say a professionally edited book won't change at all. It just won't change much, and most of those changes will happen before the illustrator ever gets their hands on it.
Let me break down what a good children's book editor actually does, because it's way more than catching typos:
A professional editor who specializes in children's literature understands the market. They know what's selling, what's overdone, and what publishers are looking for. They can tell you if your concept has been done to death (another book about a picky eater?) or if it has potential but needs a fresh angle.
They'll look at your pacing and page turns. Yes, page turns. In picture books, the page turn is a crucial dramatic device—think of it as a mini-cliffhanger. A good editor knows how to structure your story so that each page turn propels the reader forward, building anticipation. They'll make sure your climax hits at the right moment (usually around page 28-30 in a 32-page book).
They'll also catch issues you'd never notice: accidental rhymes that break your non-rhyming text's flow, words that are too advanced (or too simple) for your target age group, plot holes that seem obvious once they're pointed out, and themes that might inadvertently offend or exclude.
And here's the money-saving math: Let's say an editor costs $300-500, and an illustrator charges $2,000-5,000 for a full picture book. If you have to go back and revise text after illustrations are complete, your illustrator might need to redo 5-10 illustrations at $200-400 each. That's an extra $1,000-4,000. Plus the time delay—months added to your publication timeline. Plus the frustration and strained working relationships.
Meanwhile, that editor can help you nail down your manuscript in a few weeks, before a single illustration is commissioned. Your illustrator gets a polished manuscript that’s ready for illustrations. The whole process runs smoothly. Everyone's happy. And your book is better.
Trust me, I've seen both scenarios play out. The authors who invest in professional editing early are the ones who end up with books they're proud of—and books that actually sell. The ones who skip this step to save money usually end up spending more in the long run, both financially and emotionally.
Spend the money to have it edited properly and you will not regret it.
Your picture book is your baby. Treat it like one. Give it the professional care it deserves.
Ready to Take Your Children's Book to the Next Level?
Have questions about the children's book process or need guidance on your manuscript? Drop a comment below or reach out—I'd love to help you bring your story to life. Most of my children's book work is illustration, but I'm happy to take a look and recommend a good editor.
And when it’s ready for art? Get in touch and we’ll talk illustrations.
Resources to Help You Along Your Picture Book Journey
Not ready to hire help? I get it. I've found a couple of resources that can help you learn more about the process, what it takes, and how to be successful ... or simply know when you're out of your depth and need fresh eyes.
- Picture Book Perfection: How to Successfully Write a Children's Book that Sells to Publishers (And Readers)
- How To Self-Publish A Children's Book: Everything You Need To Know To Write, Illustrate, Publish, And Market Your Paperback And Ebook
--Note: The links are Amazon affiliate links that pay me a little when you purchase using them. It doesn't cost anything extra and every single bit of affiliate income I get is currently going to pay for my buddy Fiona's ACL rehab.
We can't afford surgery right now so we're working with an integrative rehab vet to get her leg as stable as possible. But let's be real, who has a spare $3,000-$5,000 sitting around for surgery? Hopefully we'll be able to raise/save enough up to get her a new knee in the next few months.
