Tag: how to write kids books

Write 30 Children’s Books in 30 Days, Here’s How (Free Writing Prompts)

Think of this as your permission from the universe to write.

Each November I participate in a challenge with a daily goal of writing one children’s book a day. Yes, some of the stories stink, most really. But there are always a few bits of magic in there. And those little gems are the ones I try to massage later in to stories worth publishing.

The key is to do the massaging once the month is over. Having a perfect story by month end is not the goal. Creating thirty totally new stories is.

Here’s how the challenge works:

  • Set aside thirty minutes a day, for 30 days straight
  • Use one writing prompt, found below, per day
  • You can go in order, or skip around, but finish every one – even the ones that don’t inspire you at first glance, because you want to stretch yourself to take on new subjects, perspectives, and ideas
  • Use the hashtag #chibowrimo on social media to see what others are writing
    • (Chibowrimo = Children’s Book Writing Month)

Every year I feel excited, and overwhelmed, by this challenge. But when I look back at the last five stories I published, each one started as part of a prompt from #chibowrimo

Now it’s your turn.

Don’t overthink it. Just print out the list of prompts, put it by a fresh notebook and pen, and set a reminder on your phone to get started on Nov. 1st.

If you want some other prompt options check out these, and pick your favorite.

The universe is ready to hear your stories. It’s time to let them out.

30 Stories in 30 Days, Children’s Book Writing Prompts:

  1. A story about a backpack full of…
  2. A story about an epic hike
  3. A story about a cell phone that only calls one person
  4. A story about an animal that lives abroad (ie: a pigeon in Paris)
  5. A story about a kidpreneur that makes money for someone in need
  6. A story about the Worst Teacher Ever
  7. A story that uses alliteration. Pick a letter of the alphabet before getting started.
  8. A Story about a topic kids find hilarious
  9. A story about caring for grumpy people or animals
  10. A story about how to clean a big mess
  11. A story about Plan B being better than Plan A
  12. A story about caring for something small and fragile
  13. A story about a person with an embarrassing secret
  14. A story about your new world record in…
  15. A story about a letter that gets lost in the mail and found again a year later
  16. Free Day, YOYO (Your on Your Own)
  17. A story about a Holiday with a twist
  18. A story about an adult that needs help from child
  19. A story that is a song, or has a rap in it, to teach something new
  20. A story about a train carrying a special surprise
  21. A story that is under 100 words
  22. A story about a magical item of clothing
  23. A story that is non fiction (but still interesting)
  24. A story about going to sleep
  25. A story that is a sequel to something else your wrote
  26. A story about finding $100 and having an internal debate about what to do with it
  27. A story about how you stopped the “bad guys”
  28. A story about how to stop anger in the world
  29. A story about being the first kid on the moon
  30. A story that includes Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas – bonus points for New Years too!

Get Writing! 30 Free Story Prompts for Kids Books

Last year I wrote THIRTY children’s stories in the month of November.

Want to join me? I made it easy. Just download this list of writing prompts

Last year I wrote THIRTY children’s stories in the month of November.

I was inspired by some friends that were doing #NaNoWriMo and writing an entire novel in one month. Based on a children’s book word count of 500-1k words, I figured I could handle writing a book a day for the month, and thus Children’s Book Writing Month (#ChiBoWriMo) was born .

Kya Mouse, a character created during a writing prompt

I was able to use the stories I wrote last November to publish three books this year (Check out the Smart Girl Fairy Tale Series), and I hope to do it again.

Want to join me? I made it easy. Just download this list of writing prompts here.

Hang it somewhere special and plan at least thirty quiet minutes a day to sit, think, and write.

Trust me, I know a prompt may seem odd when you first read it, but give it five minutes and see where your mind begins to go. Before you know it, you’ll have a rough draft before you.

And a rough draft is all we are going for here. At the end of the month you can read your stories over and pick a handful that deserve a second draft.

Use #ChiBoWriMo on your social posts so we can cheer each other on.

Once you finish the challenge, you can always do another round with these additional prompts.

And don’t forget, this is supposed to be FUN! Let your silly side out.