AI has created a horde of people who can now enter a prompt and, in minutes, get a complete children’s story.
But what has this done for the children’s book self-publishing arena?
Lots and lots of children’s books are carelessly slapped together. This does all authors a disservice, lessening the validity of self-published books. And, just as important, if not more so, it puts substandard books in children’s hands.
I get it. It’s the ‘I want it now’ and ‘don’t want to do the work’ world.
But it’s not fair to children. It’s not fair to the self-publishing arena.
So, what can you do if you used AI to generate a children’s story and now realize it needs work?
You can hire a professional children’s rewriter.
11 THINGS A HUMAN REWRITER WILL CHECK FOR AND CORRECT IN YOUR AI-GENERATED CHILDREN’S STORY
The items are organized into areas that AI is lacking; areas that need the human touch to improve before publishing.
1. Story Structure and Plot Flow -Does the story have a clear beginning, middle, and end? -Is the main problem easy to understand for a child? -Does each scene logically connect to the next? -Are there any sudden jumps or confusing transitions? -Is the resolution satisfying, meaningful, and kid-friendly? -Is pacing appropriate — not too rushed, not too slow?
2. Character Development -Does each character have a clear personality trait (e.g., shy, funny, lazy)? -Are the characters consistent throughout the story? -Does the main character feel relatable to a child? -Are motivations clear and believable? - Does the character change, learn something, or grow in some way?
3. Emotional Depth and the Human Touch -Are emotions shown through actions, expressions, and sensory details (not just told)? -Is there warmth, empathy, humor, or wonder where appropriate? -Does the story create a connection between the reader and the characters? -Are big emotional moments given enough space (not rushed)?
4. Language and Clarity -Is the vocabulary appropriate for the target age group? -Are sentences simple and clean? -Are paragraphs short and easily absorbable? -Is the tone gentle, playful, or curious?
5. Dialogue Check -Does dialogue sound natural (not stiff or robotic)? -Does each character speak with a unique voice? -Is dialogue kept short and easy to follow? -Are dialogue tags (“said,” “asked”) clear and used correctly? -Does dialogue help move the story forward or reveal character?
6. Sensory and Visual Detail -Are scenes easy for a child to imagine? -Do you use simple sensory details—what characters see, hear, feel, smell, or taste? -Is imagery vivid without being overwhelming? -Are magical or imaginative elements described with clarity and fun?
7. Consistency and Logic -Are character names, ages, and traits consistent? -Are story facts the same throughout (time, setting details, sequences)? -Are magical or rules-based elements logical and stable? -Do cause-and-effect relationships make sense?
8. Read Aloud Smoothness -Children’s books are often read out loud—this is a key step. -Does the story sound smooth when read aloud? -Are there tongue-twisting sentences that need simplifying? -Are rhythm and pacing comfortable for a read-aloud experience? -Are moments of suspense or humor highlighted appropriately?
9. Theme and Message - Is the main message clear without being preachy? - Does the theme fit naturally into the story (not forced)? -Is the takeaway positive, helpful, or uplifting for children?
10. Originality Check -Does the story avoid generic or overly familiar AI-style phrasing? -Are characters and settings unique and memorable? -Does the story offer something fresh?
11. Final Quality Check -Remove repetition, filler sentences, or unneeded explanations. -Improve transitions between paragraphs or scenes. -Check grammar, punctuation, and spelling. -Ensure illustrations will align well with the scenes. -Confirm the story stays under or within the desired word count.
SUMMING IT UP
More and more people are jumping into the AI world to generate children’s stories. It’s fast, quick, and cheap.
AI can be an invaluable tool, and it’s amazing at generating story ideas, outlines, book titles, and more. But it cannot generate publishing-worthy children’s fiction.
To ensure you’ll be proud to be the author of your book and to help keep the integrity of the self-publishing arena, look into a human rewriter.
I’d be happy to discuss your project with you. Just send me an email at kcioffiventrice@gmail.com
I’m a working children’s ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach. I can help turn your story into a book you’ll be proud to be the author of, one that’s publishable and marketable.
