Writing and illustrating a children’s book was one of the most creatively fulfilling things I’ve ever done—but also one of the hardest. Looking back, there are so many things I wish I had known before I started (some of which would’ve saved me from a lot of spirals). So today, I’m pulling back the curtain to share exactly that: what I wish I knew before writing a children’s book.

Whether you're dreaming of writing your own, halfway through your first draft, or just curious about how words and watercolor come together on the page, this one's for you.

Let’s start at the beginning.

The Excitement (and Naïveté) of Starting

When I first felt the nudge to write a children's book, I was full of excitement. I had this big, sparkly vision in my head. I could see the watercolor spreads. I could feel the message. I imagined myself reading it to my son, watching his little face light up.

What I didn’t have? A clue what I was doing.

That’s the funny thing about starting something new. You don’t know what you don’t know. (And in some ways, that’s a gift—it helps you get started before you’re ready.)

But wow, if I could sit down with past me, I’d offer a few gentle warnings—and a lot of encouragement. Because as much as I loved this project, it stretched me in ways I didn’t expect.

So here it is. The real stuff. What I wish I knew before writing a children’s book.

1. Writing for Kids Is Harder Than It Looks

Seriously. Writing something simple, clear, and meaningful is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

I thought I could just write what I wanted to say and tweak it later. (Nope.) Every word has to carry weight. There’s no space for fluff. You’re not just telling a story—you’re thinking about rhythm, tone, and the way each line might sound out loud. It’s like poetry, but for tiny humans with very short attention spans.

The truth? Writing for kids is an art. And it takes time to get it right.

If you want to see more about how this process unfolded for me—start to finish—I wrote a blog about it here.

2. Every Word (and Picture) Matters

This is something I really had to learn as both a writer and an illustrator. Every word has to earn its place—and every illustration does, too.

I couldn’t just create something that looked good. The art had to move the story forward. It had to add meaning. And if I didn’t get the emotion across in the visuals, the whole story would fall flat.

I probably rewrote the manuscript a dozen times, and that was before even starting final illustrations. I also sketched hundreds of versions of the characters and scenes before things began to click.

What I wish I knew before writing a children’s book? That the editing process doesn’t stop with the words. The art gets edited, too. A lot. (I scrapped full spreads multiple times.)

If you're curious how I approached illustrating this book and how that process unfolded, I walk through all of it—step by step—in this post.

3. The Story Needs to Work Visually

Even before you add paint or pencil to paper, you have to think in pictures. That was new for me. As a watercolor artist, I’m used to creating beautiful things. But illustrating a book is about storytelling.

I had to ask: What’s happening in this scene? What’s the emotion? What needs to be seen even if it’s not said?

It’s not enough for the text to carry the message—the images have to do heavy lifting, too.

That meant planning layouts, figuring out pacing, and thinking about things like page turns (which are surprisingly powerful in picture books). These little decisions shape how the story is felt and experienced by the reader.

So one of my biggest takeaways? You have to think like a director and an illustrator at the same time.

4. Editing Is Brutal (But Necessary)

Let me tell you—editing this book hurt a little.

Not because I was being overly critical, but because I had to let go of things I loved. I cut lines I was proud of. I redid illustrations that took days. I scrapped ideas that felt “fine” but not right.

And it made the book so much better.

That’s one of the hardest and most important things I learned. If something doesn’t serve the story, it has to go—even if you’re attached to it. (And honestly, sometimes I wasn’t sure what worked until I saw it not working.)

5. It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

What I wish I knew before writing a children’s book is just how long the whole process would take. Not just in hours, but in emotional energy.

There were weeks where I made zero progress. And there were random moments—like a 20-minute sketch session at my kitchen counter—when everything suddenly clicked.

Creative projects have a rhythm. They can’t be forced. (Believe me, I tried.)

You have to stay in it, even when it’s slow. Even when you’re tired of the character you’ve drawn 78 times. Even when your inner critic is louder than your excitement.

This isn’t a race. It’s a conversation between you and the work. And it takes time to hear what the story is really trying to say.

Creating a children’s book challenged me in ways I didn’t expect—and in the process, it made me a better artist. Read more about it here.

The Unexpected Joys of the Process

Even with all the hard parts, this process was full of sweet surprises.

I had moments where the story made me cry. (Which felt like a good sign.) I had breakthrough sketch sessions that reminded me why I fell in love with watercolor in the first place. I saw my son light up when I shared a new character or scene with him. Those moments made every hard day worth it.

I’m always creating—whether it’s painting, teaching, or experimenting just for the fun of it. But working on this book took that creative play to a deeper level. It asked me to be even more intentional. To explore emotion through character. To mix storytelling with visuals in a way I hadn’t done before.

It was about expanding my creativity. Tuning in more closely. Letting play and purpose overlap in a really meaningful way. (And honestly, that’s been one of the most unexpected gifts of the whole process.)

Curious How It All Came Together? Watch the Process Unfold

While I was working on the book, I documented the entire journey—from early sketches and rough ideas to final watercolor illustrations. I shared character development, experiments with style, and all the behind-the-scenes ups and downs in a YouTube playlist.

If you want an honest look at what writing and illustrating a children’s book actually looked like for me, these videos are such a fun way to dive in. You’ll see how Clarence’s world took shape, how I explored different emotions through art, and how the whole vision slowly came to life (with lots of trial and error along the way).

What I Wish I Knew Before Writing a Children’s Book: Final Thoughts

So, what do I wish I knew before writing a children’s book?

I wish I knew how much thought it would take. How long the process would stretch out. How deep I’d need to go to make it feel real. And how fulfilling it would be to see it come to life—one word and one brushstroke at a time.

If this is a dream of yours, here’s my advice: start messy. Follow the whisper. You don’t have to know everything. You just need the willingness to keep showing up and listening.

Creating a children’s book might seem like a big, scary mountain to climb—but trust me, the view is worth it.