What First-Time Children’s Book Authors Often Get Wrong
Most first-time children’s book authors don’t fail because of bad stories, they struggle because they misunderstand the production reality of children’s books.
One of the biggest mistakes we see is assuming illustration is just “art added at the end.” In reality, illustration influences pacing, page turns, trim size, and even how the text is read. When this isn’t considered early, projects often require expensive revisions later.
Another common issue is underestimating how many decisions are involved. Fonts, margins, color profiles, bleed, binding type, these are invisible details readers never notice unless they’re done wrong. First-time authors often don’t realize how much coordination these elements require.
The authors who have the smoothest experience are not the most talented, they’re the ones who get guidance early and treat the book as a designed product, not just a story.
GETTING STARTED
Do You Really Need an Illustrator Before Your Story Is Final?
This is one of the most misunderstood steps in children’s publishing.
You do not need finished illustrations before your story is final, but you do need illustration awareness. A story that reads well on its own may not work visually once page turns, spreads, and pacing are introduced.
Professionally, we often review manuscripts specifically to identify:
scenes that require visual clarification
text that competes with illustration instead of supporting it
moments that are better shown than written
Illustration should support the story, not fix it. Finalizing text with this in mind prevents costly redraws and layout issues later in production.
Feeling unsure about your next step?
Online estimates often promise children’s books in “2–4 weeks.” In professional publishing, that’s unrealistic.
A well-produced children’s book typically takes:
2–3 weeks for planning and art direction
4–8 weeks for illustration (depending on complexity)
1–2 weeks for layout, formatting, and revisions
The biggest delays usually come from unclear direction, rushed decisions, or reworking illustrations after layout begins. Projects move fastest when there’s a clear process and a single team guiding decisions.
Good books aren’t rushed, they’re coordinated.
How Long Does It Take to Publish a Children’s Book? (Realistic Timelines)
We help authors turn ideas into finished, publish-ready books, with guidance at every stage.
