Book Quote by Arthur Ransome
“You write not for children but for yourself. And if by good fortune children enjoy what you enjoy, why then you are a writer of children's books.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “On Writing for Children” (published 1950)
Writing primarily for oneself can still benefit children, blurring the line between adult and children’s literature.
In simple terms: If you write for yourself, kids may enjoy it too, making you a children's author.
Key Takeaway
Write authentically; audience will follow.
Themes
authorship
self‑expression
children’s literature
intentionality
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
pragmatic
Type
essay
reflective
When to use this quote
- school projects
- family bedtime stories
- creative workshops
- publishing decisions
Key Concepts
creative freedom
cross‑age appeal
literary classification
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you write for yourself or for an audience?
- How does intent shape genre?
A Different Perspective
Not all self‑focused writing suits children.
![“People think, Hey, I love kids, I want to write children’s books. But they think children are happy. That’s their first mistake. [Messinger, Jonathan. "Guilt for dinner: The Mo Willems interview." Hipsqueak . 5 May 2011. Web. 18 November 2011.]” quote by Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e24/mo-willems-25067_books_people-think-hey-i-love-kids-i-want-to-w_283406.jpg)
![“I still retain a bit of a child's focus on things, so we [with my sister] figure if we're going to write books, our best shot is to write children's books, because we relate pretty readily on that level.” quote by Bob Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/471/bob-weir-12387_best-shot_i-still-retain-a-bit-of-a-child-s-focus_2833726.jpg)
