Kids Can Write Books!

Do you dream of writing a book some day?

Or are you already started on your book?

And are people telling you that it’s nice that you write stories, but only grown-ups can be published book authors, so “just wait till you’re older.”

That’s frustrating to hear, that you can’t do something you want to do now.

It’s also not true.

You CAN be a published child author.

Would you like to meet some kid authors who are publishing books right now?

Emma Sumner

This is Emma Sumner.

Emma Sumner wanted to help her friend who has autism when she had the idea to write a book for kids. She was 8 years old and a grade 3 student. She and her family live in California.

Emma loves the Rainbow Magic books by Daisy Meadows, the Magic Tree House series and The Never Girls Collection by Disney, so she decided she’d write a magical fairy-tale fantasy, like the stories she loves to read.

“They were examples to me and helped me create a new story,” she says.

Her chapter book for kids ages 5 to 8 is called The Fairies of Waterfall Island: The Search for the Missing Crystal. It’s about four fairies and two kids who solve the mystery of why the magic is disappearing from the fairy kingdom.

It took her a year to write her book. Here’s what she learned about writing books and being a published child author.

“Don’t let your fear stop you from doing anything. You have to at least try and keep trying and it will happen, even though you might fail at first,” she told a Sacramento Bee reporter.

Writing a book is a big project, she says, but it’s also exciting. “If you don’t try anything new and just stick with one thing, there’s no point in doing anything!”

She says she “loves to read. I love animals, I love to do new things. And I can be very fearful, but I try to conquer my fears and just do it!”

Emma Sumner is currently at work on her second book. It’s about another adventure in the fairy kingdom.

Jake Marcionette, Age 12

This is Jake. Photo credit: AEFPR.

Jake Marcionette was a 12-year-old Florida boy whose family had just moved to Maryland.

In his family, the kids spend every morning during summer vacation writing. At first, he says, it was hard, but then he began enjoying writing and decided to write a funny book about things that happen at school.

“I knew I wanted to write books for kids, about a kid, and from my experiences being a kid…So I wrote my first book about a kid named Jake who has to adapt to a new school, which I did.

“I wrote it all down by hand and put it in a binder. I shared it with friends to get feedback and printed out a list of agents. I had no idea what I was doing.”

Then he called up literary agents to see if anyone was interested in taking his book to a traditional book publisher. One agent was, and soon Jake Marcionette had signed a contract with Penguin to publish his first book.

Now child author Jake is a teen author at 15 years old and in grade 10. He is the author of three books in the Just Jake series. The second book, Just Jake: Dog Eat Dog is about pets at school.

Jake is not just a kid author but also a popular speaker at schools, where he tells kids that you need to find what you love and do that. He tells them about writing books and says it’s hard work, but worth it!

“I love speaking to kids. I think a lot of young people are scared to write a book because they think they can’t do it, but let’s face it – It’s either “no” or your dreams come true,” he told a Huffington Post.com reporter.

“You have to be fearless and be passionate and take all the chances you have and do it with an open mind. Set a goal and it doesn’t have to be a huge goal!

“My goal was to get published, which is a pretty huge goal. If you are passionate about something, you can make money and make a career at it. Everything starts somewhere.”

Anya Lee Willabus, Age 8

Anya Lee was 8 years old when her chapter book, The Day Mohan Found His Confidence, was published. She and her family live in Brooklyn, New York.

This is Anya.

Her book is the story of a boy who has problems at home and at school. He learns that he can be happy and have a good life with the help of his family and friends.

In her second book, A Bully’s Disguise, Mohan must solve a bullying problem in grade 4.

“I enjoy writing ‘realist fiction’ books since it gives the readers an opportunity to dive into something different,” Anya told a reporter. “It is my hope that publishers read my work and appreciate the uniqueness of what I offer.”

Would YOU Like to Be Like Emma, Jake and Anya?

Here are some of the exciting things that have happened for Emma, Jake and Anya since they wrote their first books and became published child authors:

Their books are in their school libraries. Kids at their schools can check out their books and read them!
They’ve been interviewed on TV and radio shows.
They’ve won writing awards.
Stories about them have been in newspapers and online magazines.
They are invited to visit schools and speak to other kids about writing and following your dreams.
Readers of their books write to them to tell them how much they enjoy their books. They inspire kids to write books and have big dreams!
They earn money when readers buy their books.
They can use their money and fame to help charities and causes that matter to them. For example, Emma Sumner gives part of the money she earns as an child author to charities such as Autism Speaks.

What would it be like if some of these things happened in your life? Would it make you feel proud of yourself and what you’d accomplished?

Here are some things you can learn from these child authors’ stories

Wondering what to write about? Write the book you’d love to read! Think about your favourite books to get good ideas.
Think about the story you want to tell before you start writing. Think about the people in your story and who they are, what happens in your story and why.
Write down what your book is about and how the story ends. Plan what happens in your story. Some people write their book without having a plan first, but that’s usually a harder way to do it.
Don’t quit! Sometimes writing is hard. Keep going and finish your book. It’s the only way you’ll ever become a published author.

Here Are Books To Help You On Your Journey To Becoming A Published Child Author

Click on the cover to find more about each book: