5 Steps to Writing a Gospel-Rooted Children's Book

Hey friend! If this post grabbed your interest, I want to make sure you have theManuscript Masterclasson your radar! Not only will we talk about how to write true, good, and beautiful stories, but you'll hear from other experts in the space who will give you gospel encouragement to continue in your craft.Doors open Sept. 21, go ahead and get on the waitlisthere! If you've landed here at the KidLit Lab, chances are you're wanting to write books that are either explicitly Christian, or at the very least, informed by your Christian faith. I've written both types—some with on-your-nose-gospel presentations and some that don't utter a word of 'Christianese'—but for all of them I go through the same process to make sure my books are as true and faith-informed as possible. Now I'm passing it on to you! Here are five steps I use in my personal process for writing a children's book. (And if these are helpful to you, I would highly recommend joining our fall cohort for the Manuscript Masterclasshere!) You might already have an idea, or you may be on the hunt for the right one. Either way, this step is important. Before you write a single line, take time to ask,'What truth do I want a child to walk away with?'Jot down ideas like: Which aspect of God's character or gospel truth do I want to show? What questions do kids in my life actually ask (or should be asking)? What topics already resonate with my audience? Write down as many as you can, thencircle the three that make you feel most excited. In my writing practice, I like to say, 'Go where the words are.' Follow the ideas that you can't stop writing about. Don't miss more KidLit tips! Drop your email below! Once you've picked a topic (say anxiety, sharing toys, sleep, or friendship), resist the urge to rush into writing. Instead,go straight to the Bible.In mychildren's book writing course, we use a 'gospel grid' to keep your story anchored in truth rather than opinion. I've included some of the core questions from this grid below—jot down the references carefully in one document or journal; they'regoldlater for proposals, parent notes, or marketing. For your topic of choice, ask: What was true in Creation? What's broken after the Fall? How does Jesus redeem it? What will it look like in the New Creation? Pair your Scripture study with solid research on how kids actually experience your topic. As before, write all of this down in a dedicated document or journal so you can pull from this as you write or use it later in your proposal or marketing materials. Look up secular child-development articles, reputable studies, or books Talk with a pastor, mentor, or wise friend about what you're learning Ask a few children how they think or feel about the topic—their answers can be priceless! Now, step back and look at your notes. Ask yourself: Who is my story about? What problem or question does it explore? How will it resolve—what transformation will the child experience? What unique lens will make it memorable (animals, rhyme, humor, a repeating phrase)? Writeone clear sentencethat sums up your book's premise. This becomes your north star while drafting. Finally, do a quick scan ofcomparable books. Note what's similar, what's different, and where your idea fits. This isn't about copying — it's about understanding the landscape so you can stand out. We deep dive on all of this and more inthe KidLit Lab'sManuscript Masterclass, and doors for our fall cohort are opening soon on Monday, Sept. 21! This guided, live course will help you take your children's-book idea from early spark to a polished, publishing-ready manuscript—through clear teaching, practical tools, expert insight, and four live calls with me. Enrollment opens Monday, September 21, and this round is just $397.We'll meet live on: Monday, October 5, 12pm CT Friday, October 23, 12pm CT Friday, November 6, 12pm CT Friday, November 20, 12pm CT Want the full course overview and enrollment details?Click here. JOIN THE WAITLIST HERE!