The Gentle Pen - Kid's books - how hard can it be?

Blog Title: The Joy Behind the Pages: Why Writing Children’s Books Is Worth Every Ounce of Effort

By Liv McLean

Writing children’s books may seem like a breezy affair to those on the outside—after all, how hard can it be to write a few rhyming lines and add some cute pictures? But let me take you behind the scenes, where the real work lives. Because crafting a children’s book that makes a child laugh, think, or feel seen takes not just imagination, but dedication, patience, and a wonderful team of creative minds working together.

From the very first spark of an idea, the process begins—and it’s anything but simple. The initial draft gets written (often in bursts between laundry, family visits, and Nana duties). Then the real work begins: editing. And re-editing.

But I don’t do this alone. I’m lucky to work with editors, and computer specialists who bring a sharp eye, a gentle heart, and an uncanny ability to spot what’s not working. They’ll say things like, “This joke could land better,” or “Netti’s reaction feels a bit rushed,” or “Do you really need a duck in this one?” They push me to dig deeper, to make every word count, and to shape the story until it shines.

Then come the illustrations. Oh, the magic of bringing characters to life through images! But even that’s a journey. I am an artist - and in my new series about the Farm ......I am designing and illustrating each and every page to bring children to the rural communities to learn, laugh and enjoy. So much involved in this process.....there are layout decisions, consistency checks and countless hours spent reviewing artwork drafts. Each image must be resized just right to fit the publishing format. The spacing, resolution, and bleed lines all have to be exact. If a character’s head is too close to the trim line? Back to the design desk it goes.

Every file must be converted, compressed, and named just so. Covers are formatted differently for print versus eBook. Metadata needs entering. ISBNs need assigning. Sometimes I can't even begin to express my gratitude for all those who labour so diligently on their computers - showing so much care and conscientiousness - to bring a book project together!

And all this? It’s being done by a grandmother with grandkids climbing into her lap, a teacup gone cold on the desk, and laundry quietly mocking her from the hallway. The amount of imagination it takes to write Netti Spaghetti and Noni Macaroni after a full day of real-life chaos… let’s just say I’ve earned every one of my laugh lines.

But here’s the thing—I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Because when I watch a child burst into giggles over a noodle-brained adventure, or when a grandparent writes to say they read one of my books every night with their grandchild, I know that every late night, every technical hiccup, every revision… it’s all worth it.

Creating stories that connect with children, that become part of their bedtime routine or their classroom laughter, is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. And while it may take a whole team—and a whole lot of tea—to get a single book out into the world, the joy it brings is immeasurable.

So here’s to all the wrangling of words, all the fiddling with file formats, and all the imaginative energy that flows from this grandmother’s heart to the hands of little readers everywhere.

Because at the end of the day, hearing a child squeal with laughter over Netti Spaghetti and Noni Macaroni?That’s the greatest reward of all.

Writing Gently,

Liv McLean