Children’s Authors On Writing for Children
- “Writing for children is as easy as describing the history of the Byzantium in three words.” Mo Willems
- “Children make better readers than adults. They read as carefully as I write; adults read as a means of getting off to sleep. I get letters saying ‘I have read your book seventeen times.’ If you’re an adult novelist and you get that letter, you should be afraid. You’re being stalked. Kids always read them seventeen times!” Daniel Pinkwater
- “The biggest misconception about writing for children is that it’s somehow different from writing for adults. To me it’s the same; I wrote for the adult poetry and short story market and the process is the same. I picked the best words and put them in the best order. The editorial process is more rigorous [for children’s books].” Linda Sue Park
- “’When are you going to write a book for grown-ups?’ is a common question, as if it’s more important to write for grown-ups. But it seems to me that writing for children is most important.” Patricia Reilly Giff
- “People think all they need is time. It’s not that easy. It’s harder to write something simply. You realize how important each word is.” D. B. Johnson
- “BIC. Butt in chair. That’s how you become a professional writer. It doesn’t have to do with inspiration; and it doesn’t have to do with agitation, it only has to do with perspiration. William Faulkner once said, ‘I write only when I’m inspired. Fortunately I’m inspired at 9:00 every morning.’ BIC.” Jane Yolen