Getting Clear on Your "Why"

Before you ever start writing your children’s book (or at least before you jump into the tedious process of editing, contracting an illustrator, publishing, etc.), you’ll need to determine your “why".

Now, you may be thinking, “I’ve heard this before.” Maybe it was in reference to business goals, personal transformations, or philanthropic pursuits. Writing and publishing your children’s book can be any or all of these things, and getting clear on why this is important to you and what you hope to achieve in this endeavor is a critical first step to success. 

Of course, there are the many personal reasons for wanting to write and self-publish a children's book, including: 

• The fulfillment of completing a long-standing goal or project. 
• The satisfaction of seeing your name on the cover of a beautiful, professionally-finished book.
• The financial benefit and sense of accomplishment that can come with being a bestselling author.

These are all common and perfectly acceptable reasons to want to write a children’s book. You can feel free to politely disagree with anyone who suggests these goals are anything less than noble.

However, to really make an impact, have a chance at hitting bestseller status, and ultimately creating a profitable product that consistently brings you income, your reasons need to go deeper than just personal fulfillment. 

For starters, you'll want to really think about your reader/end-user (children) and your buyer (typically parents, grandparents, educators, and other friends and family of your readers).

Here are some questions to consider when working on your “Why”: 

• What experience do I want children to have when reading this story?
• What message is important for them to take away from this book?
• Why is that message important to me, in particular?
• Is there something I feel strongly about that is missing or limited in the children's books that are currently available to my target/ideal reader?

A good way to think about this is, “If I knew there was no chance of making any money on this project, what would my ultimate goal be?”  If you can’t think of one, it may be time to go back to the drawing board or reconsider if this is the right endeavor for you at this time. 

These were the primary reasons I wrote my first book, Buckaroo Beau Lives on a Ranch : 

• I wanted to create something for and inspired by my son, then six months old. 
• I wanted to highlight the traditions and work ethic of many people in my family and circle of friends who live the ranching and rodeo lifestyle every day. 
• I wanted to create a fun, easy-to-read story that taught children important values like responsibility and caring for animals from a very young age. 
• I wanted to create something that was very authentic to parents and grandparents in this community, so they might have an easier time passing core values down to their children, grandchildren, and so on. 

In addition to establishing your personal "why" and what you would like your readers to gain from reading your books, it's also good to start with a short list of goals you would like to achieve in self-publishing your first picture book or children's chapter book.

Goals tend to be more tangible or concrete in nature, and often include some measurable element. For example:

• I would like to sell at least 100 copies of my first children’s book within 90 days of launching.
• I would like to get my book into 10 or more retail stores in the first year.
• I would like to get a minimum of 30 reviews on Amazon in my first 30 days of being published.
• I would like to use this book as a tool to earn more speaking opportunities at schools, camps, events, etc.

Why is it important to establish your "why" and outline your goals before writing and/or moving forward with the rest of the publishing process?

• Creates a clear focal point to center your project and subject matter around.
• Keeps you motivated during the times you will inevitably feel frustrated or have struggles in the process of writing and self-publishing.
• Helps you keep your reader and buyer top of mind, which ultimately leads to better reception, quality feedback, and higher sales.
• Ensures you finish with a product you are proud to share and promote.

With this in mind, take some time and think through 3-5 reasons you feel inspired to write your children's book (or series of books). Then add at least three goals or outcomes you'd like to achieve with this book.

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