Where do I find ideas for writing children’s books? I did just a quick search on the Internet and found multiple websites with writing prompts for children’s books. However, this is not how I get ideas for my children’s books!
Find Great Ideas for Writing from the Children and Animals in Your Life
“Where do I find my ideas for children’s books?” you may ask. I do not know if I am a typical children’s author or not, but coming up with ideas for books has never been difficult for me. I will give you a few examples. The first book I ever wrote (however, not the first published), was written about one of my sons when he was a toddler. A Day In the Life (first titled Micah’s Day) just rolled off my tongue (or my fingers) so easily! Check out this link to see the book description. https://www.dianeorrauthor.com/books.
My first published book is called My Name is Mocha (see that book’s description here: https://www.dianeorrauthor.com/books. Both of these, as well as most of my books are about someone or something I love! Obviously, I am not trying to compare my love for my son to my love for my cow, but hopefully you see the commonality.
Write About What Fills You with Emotion
I find great ideas for my books in the things and people for which I feel a lot of emotion! I absolutely love being a mom and a nana. Therefore, writing about my children and grandchildren is an extension of that love.
As for Mocha, I fell in love with her when she was a 2 week old heifer. I grew to love her with each passing week. Finally, I was able to bring her here to the farm when she was 15 months old and pregnant with her own calf.
However, I must admit that I have no shortage of ideas, at least not yet! It’s Cold Outside! Where is Your Jacket? was inspired by my granddaughter asking where the jackets were on the cows in the pasture. She was fussed about having to wear a jacket and didn’t understand why the animals didn’t have to wear jackets. Check out my previous post here: https://dianeorrauthor.com/2024/04/17/children-and-grandchildren/
I wrote My Pretty Goldfish about my first son’s goldfish (named “Chalkfish” and “Chalkfish 2”). I have written three books featuring Odin, our Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dog (pictured above). His intelligence and knowledge of his job is just amazing to me and inspires such love and respect!
Great Ideas Can Be Found from Your Experiences
I find great ideas for writing my books from my farm! (check out some of my farm life blog posts for some stories that haven’t yet made it into books: https://livingdegoodlife.com/category/farm-life/). A runaway prized fair steer sought comfort and companionship on our farm with our cattle when he had been on the lam for two weeks which inspired The Mysterious Midnight Visitor at de Good Life Farm. Watching my granddaughter grapple with the disappointment that her new baby sibling was a brother and not a sister inspired The Best Noisy Gift. You get the idea! Currently, I have ideas for a children’s book written in the Notes section of my phone just waiting to be put on the computer! I also have multiple books started on my computer!
I also find great ideas for writing my books in everyday things that make me smile and the experiences that I have enjoyed. Spending time with my grandchildren and seeing the things they enjoy bring ideas to my mind! My world is full of ideas if I just look for them! Train yourself to look for ideas!
Writing Prompts Can Provide Great Writing Ideas
So, if your life doesn’t shower you with ideas, where can you find ideas? As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I did a quick search on the Internet and found multiple hits that offer 50 up to 300 ideas for writing children’s books. Here is one example: https://www.everywritersresource.com/300-childrens-book-ideas/ but, choose carefully. The best books are those in which you have an emotional investment!
Great Ideas…Now What?
Sometimes, a great idea won’t produce a great book. However, it doesn’t stop me from putting it on paper. That is sometimes the only way I can determine if it will flow from an idea into a book! If I don’t like how it flows, sometimes I can “tweak” it and make it work. Sometimes I just cannot make it work and I have to lay it aside.
Summary
I suggest if you want to write a children’s book, look at what inspires you. Find great ideas for writing children’s books from many sources. Look at the children and animals in your life. Observe the people that you love. Remember experiences that you have had. Check out writing prompts.
One final tip: When you have a great idea…write it down! Don’t expect that you will remember it. I have lost many of my ideas because I thought I would remember. Therefore, write down your ideas!
Good luck! Let me know if this post has helped you, and watch for my next post! Until then, keep writing!