Don’t procrastinate. Write about anything you like! It can be the worst drivel ever, just get the words flowing. The sooner you start, the more you’ll be thinking of newer and better ideas.
Don’t think you can’t get started just because you don’t have a stellar idea. Just start! The ideas will come as you write.
Don’t let your final draft be sickly, syrupy sweet or condescending in any way to kids. Don’t write in rhyme if you really don’t need to. Yes, it worked for Dr. Seuss. You are not Dr. Seuss. Sorry.
Don’t find your own illustrator. You could be turned down for that reason alone. Let your writing speak for itself.
Don’t worry about getting published until you have the writing done. Once your writing is ready to submit, don’t deviate from the publisher’s guidelines. If they don’t want stories with animals that talk, and your entire book is about a talking aardvark, find another publisher.
Don’t get discouraged by rejection letters. It only takes one YES!!
You can wish and hope and wonder all day long, but until you actually begin to put words on paper, you’ll never know if you can make it real. If your dream is to write for children, then sit down and WRITE.