What I Wish I Knew Before Writing a Children's Book | Tips From a Bestselling Picture Book Author

Summary

In this video, Vicki Weber shares valuable insights from her journey to becoming a children's book author. She reveals the importance of self-belief, the realities of the publishing industry, and the critical role of marketing before the book's release. Vicki emphasizes the need for persistence, realistic expectations, and the power of building good habits. She also warns against publishing scams and stresses that becoming an author is more achievable than many realize. Her advice aims to inspire others to pursue their dreams and navigate the ups and downs of the industry with confidence.

Takeaways

• 😀 It's possible to become a children's book author—it's not a pipe dream, but it does require hard work and learning.
• 😀 Don't hesitate—take the leap and start working towards your goal as a children's book author.
• 😀 Beware of scams in the publishing industry—traditional publishers will not ask you for money to publish your book.
• 😀 If you're self-publishing, remember that you are the publisher, and you’ll need to focus on printers and distributors.
• 😀 Marketing is crucial and needs to start before the book is even published—don’t wait until after it's out to promote it.
• 😀 People can't buy your book if they don't know it exists, so having a clear marketing strategy is essential.
• 😀 The importance of marketing is often underestimated—having a solid plan from the start can help ensure your book's success.
• 😀 Children's books can be financially successful and fulfilling if treated like a business with the right strategies.
• 😀 Believing in yourself and your ideas is key to success—don't let self-doubt hold you back from pursuing your dreams.
• 😀 Small steps and realistic expectations are essential—building habits and learning over time will lead to success in the long run.

Q & A

What is the number one thing Vicki Weber wishes she knew before becoming a children's book author?

Vicki wishes she had known that becoming a children's book author is a realistic goal and far more achievable than it initially seemed. She advises not to hesitate and to take action, as it is a possibility, though it requires work and learning.

What is the biggest challenge Vicki faced when starting her author journey?

The biggest challenge Vicki faced was her own lack of self-confidence and fear of failure. She often fluctuated between feeling confident and experiencing panic about the success of her ideas.

Why does Vicki refer to becoming a children's book author as similar to any other industry?

Vicki compares becoming a children's book author to entering any other industry because it requires gaining the necessary skills. You don't need prior experience, but you need to invest time and effort in learning.

What key advice does Vicki give to avoid scams in the publishing industry?

Vicki advises to be cautious of publishers who ask for money. Real traditional publishers do not charge authors; they pay the author. For self-publishing, the author becomes the publisher, and thus, should look for printers and distributors, not 'self-publishers'.

What mistake did Vicki make when marketing her first books?

Vicki initially thought that once a book was published, the marketing would take care of itself. She didn't realize the importance of marketing before the book's release, which led to her first three books being unsuccessful.

What did Vicki learn about marketing that changed the success of her later books?

Vicki learned that marketing needs to begin long before the book is published. Building hype and awareness ahead of the release is essential, just like how movies and Netflix series promote their content in advance.

What is Vicki’s perspective on the potential for success as a children's book author?

Vicki believes that it is absolutely possible to achieve success as a children's book author. She wishes she had realized earlier that her writing could not only make a difference but also significantly impact her life and her family's life.

How does Vicki suggest authors treat their writing and publishing process?

Vicki suggests that authors treat their writing and publishing efforts like a business. She emphasizes the importance of having a clear strategy for marketing and the need to generate a return on investment to continue creating more books.

What advice does Vicki give to those who are just starting their author journey?

Vicki advises new authors to set realistic expectations and create sustainable habits. She encourages starting small by writing daily, even if only for 5-10 minutes, and taking gradual steps to improve both writing and industry knowledge.

What does Vicki say about the pace of learning in the author journey?

Vicki acknowledges that learning to be a successful author takes time. She stresses that new authors should not expect immediate results and should be patient with themselves, understanding that skill development is a long-term process.