By Barbara Gail Techel  »  Writing a children's book is a dream of many. Why not be that someone who makes that dream come true? You can.

First and foremost, you have to have passion for the story you are about to write. Passion will keep your dream fully alive in your heart on days you will struggle, and feel like you want to throw in the towel. Have passion for the character of your story, or passion for the message of your book. Have passion for wanting to teach children an important lesson that will enrich their lives for the better.

Study many children's books. Try to read at least five each week. Read them like a writer and not necessarily a reader. Study how sentences are structured and how the character is developed. Look for books that may be considered competition to your topic. Look for a different angle so your book does not sound too similar to other books like yours. You can do research on your specific subject by looking on Amazon. You will find oodles of book titles and descriptions to compare with your book's story.

So how do you begin? I realize this may sound a bit too simple, but you just begin. Really, that is it. Keep in mind your first draft will hardly resemble your finished manuscript. Don't worry about grammar or spelling, just start writing and keep going. Your grade school teacher's voice will inevitably pop into your head. Ask her politely to take a vacation. Too often beginning writer's let perfection stop them from getting the story out of their head and onto paper.

Set a goal to write each day that is attainable for you. It may just be 15-minutes a day, but that adds up to over three hours of writing per week. That can produce a first draft in no time at all.

At some point, maybe even before you begin your book, you will want to look for a writer's group in your area, or you may find one on the internet. You may also want to consider a critique group specific to children's books. Research the group and make sure they offer constructive feedback and will support you through the many drafts you will write. A critique group can be a valuable tool in producing a quality book.

Ask teachers and librarians for feedback on the subject you are writing about. Ask them if they would be willing to read the final draft of your manuscript and offer some helpful suggestions. Once your book is in print gift them a copy of it as a thank you for helping you. This is also a great way of then asking about doing a presentation for the teacher's class or the library.

After many edits you have personally done, it is now time to hire an editor. I can't stress this enough. Especially if you choose to go the self-publishing route. Your name will be on that book and you want your work to shine and be a professional representation of who you are. Invest in yourself and your message by finding an editor who will help to make your story be the best it can be.

So begin right now to write your children's book. Then, keep going! Keep the passion alive, one word at a time. Before you know it, you will be holding your complete book in your hands and you can say you followed your dream. How many can say that? You can!

• Barbara Techel is the author of Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog,a true, inspirational story about her dachshund that started out walking in life until a spinal injury leaves her paralyzed. Frankie is custom fit for a wheelchair and learns to keep on rolling. Visit Barbara at joyfulpaws.com