Written in Jayce’s voice, as told to his family.
I wrote my first book when I was 4. It was called Jayce’s Sweet Tooth, and it was about what happens when you eat too many sweets. I know a lot about that.
People always ask me: how did you write a book? You’re so young! And I want to tell them — anyone can write a book. You just have to start.
Step 1: Write about something you know
My first book was about sweets because I love sweets. A Beach With No Sea was about a birthday that doesn’t go the way you planned — because sometimes things don’t go the way you planned, and that’s okay. Alphabet Rules was about the alphabet, because I love letters and I wanted other children to love them too.
When you write about something you really know, the words come more easily. Think about your family, your school, your favourite food, your best friend, your biggest worry. That is your story. Nobody else has that story. Write it.
Step 2: Don’t worry about it being perfect
My first draft of Sweet Tooth was not perfect. It had crossings-out. It had pages that got scrunched and had to be smoothed flat again. That’s fine. A first draft is just you getting the story out of your head and onto the paper. You can fix it later.
My mum helped me fix it later. Your grown-up can help you too. That is what editing is — it’s not changing your idea, it’s making your idea clearer.
Step 3: Read lots of books
I have read over 2,000 books. Reading helps you write. When you read, you learn how stories work — how they start, how they build up, how they end. You learn new words. You learn how other writers solve problems. Then when you write, some of that comes out in your own words.
Read everything. Read picture books, read chapter books, read poetry, read the backs of cereal boxes. It all counts.
Step 4: Don’t wait until you’re older
I was 4 when I published my first book. I am 7 now and I have published four books and curated an anthology of 20 other young authors. I didn’t wait until I was a grown-up. I didn’t wait until I was sure. I just wrote.
You can do the same. You do not have to be old to have a story worth telling. You have a story worth telling right now.
My mantra is: “Think It, Say It, Love It, Write It and Inspire the world.” That is the order. Think your story. Say it out loud. Love it enough to write it down. And then share it with the world.
Go and write something. I can’t wait to read it one day.
— Jayce Joyce BCyA, author, age 7
📬 Stay in Jayce’s World
Get news about Jayce’s latest adventures, new books, school events, and the Books From Children To Children competition — straight to your inbox.