Q&A for How to Write a Book As a Kid

You write with a lot of detail and create minor subplots. If you have already done this and it's still short, look in some of your favorite epic-length books and see what they did.

The best way is to be interested in what you are writing. If you are interested and excited about the topic or story, the writing will come more naturally to you.

Talk to someone who is inspiring, caring, and won't judge you if you for wanting to write a book (friend, BFF, maybe even your parents, etc.). Also, read other books in the genre to get inspiration.

Writing can sometimes be a challenge, but if you put your mind to it, you might find that it is more fun than it is hard!

You can give them any names you'd like! Use websites that list baby names, or get a name book from the local library if you want a lot of different ideas.

Many writers will tell you to "start in the middle of the action" rather than starting at the very beginning. This way, your reader will be dropped right into the interesting part of the story, and you can give them background information as you go along. But, it's really up to you how and where you start it!

Try to get a piece of paper and plan it out. Ask questions like: How's my story going to end? What would happen if...? How would this person react to this?

Of course not! You can keep the book for yourself. If you want, you can share it with your friends and family. You can also post it on publishing websites, such as DeviantArt, WattPad, and FictionPress.

Make a plan, create an outline, or draw a mind map to help you with the flow of your story. Write lots of notes with descriptive words and small adventure ideas. You will soon see where your story begins.

If you are self-publishing your book, you often have to make your own cover, or use a generic one. But if you are having it published by a regular publisher, they will give many covers to pick from.

Then write it as if this is the book you have always dreamt of reading. Where would you like to travel? What do you want to do? Who would you like to meet? When writing for yourself, make sure it fits your own criteria 100%.

Use your favorite online search engine to perform a search for "publishers of kids books" or "publishers of kid authors." Doing so should direct you to lists of publishers who are interested in work by young people, as well as direct links to those publishers' official websites.

Just type it up on the computer and edit it as you're typing it up. Maybe you'll like it better when you're done, and once you've typed it up, you can publish it on websites. Also, I've found that I often don't like my own stories but my family and classmates do. Sometimes you're just being hard on yourself.

Continue where you left off. Make the end of your first book a cliffhanger, or leave a question unanswered. That will make you AND your audience want more!

You can write your book by hand, or you can type it on a computer.

There isn't a set number of times. The more publishers find your story not interesting, the more times you are rejected. Persistence is crucial if you want to get a book published, regardless of your age.

A book's title has something to do with the plot or the main character. For example, if your book is about a girl's dream, you might call it: "Gisela's Dream."

Try making an outline or "road map" of your whole story so you know where events are going and what needs to happen for you to get to a climax and resolution. Reread what you have and see if you need to rewrite anything. Have an open mind and think creatively!

The internet has lots of sources available to writers that include writing tips. Often, writing magazine and books will give you any answer you seek, many you can find at your local library.

Sometimes it can be easier if you just jot down the idea of stories and then, when you have more inspiration, you can finish the story.

Writer's block is when you cannot find inspiration to write or you can't figure out how to continue your story. If you think your story sounds like another story, make a few changes, and just keep writing. The more you practice, the easier it will be to develop your own unique style.

Ask your parents. It's ok! You're still a kid. Don't feel scared. Being inspired is what helps you be stronger!

Yes! These are generally referred to as short story anthologies.

Yes, although the book will have to make sense a little bit if you want anyone to be interested in reading it.

Look at other titles you like and study how the title relates to the story. Then take some time to brainstorm.

Just because some people don't like your idea doesn't mean others won't. Don't let anyone stop you from writing your story if you think it is a good idea. And don't start a new story until you've finished the last one.

Make it a huge mystery why the secondary characters are doing this, or explain the history while leaving out things that will reveal their identity. You can add small hints on who they are, too!

Depends on what you feel comfortable with; it's a matter of preference, though it may be easier to edit on the computer.

It's your choice, but I recommend typing it. That way you can take out sections you don't like, and easily add conversations between characters. Also, if your handwriting is messy, or you have bad spelling, it saves you a lot of work. Decide if you like writing or typing better, and which one is faster.

Check out How to Publish a Book for directions on how to publish your book.