How to Publish a Children's Book – a Plot Guide
Use This Simple 6-Step Outline for Writing a Children's Story
Nov 14, 2009
Why do some ideas work, while others fail? What is it that seizes the imagination of readers? Above all, what do editors want?
Editors tell most authors that they want a 'fresh approach'. They know only too well that there are no new plots. Writers should not, therefore, beat themselves up trying to think of one. Rather, think of a fresh approach to an old idea; a new twist that kids will love. A lot of the appeal of any book lies in the way the author has developed the characters; the plot framework remains fairly consistent.
While the following 6-Step outline is not quite a 'recipe' (that conjures up unpleasant images of an assembly line!) it is a proven, reliable structure that can be used by most authors writing children's stories. It will ensure that the story has the necessary tension to keep readers turning pages, while allowing plenty of flexibility in the way the plot develops.
A Basic Plot Outline for Children's Books
1. Bring The Main Character Onstage: Spend some time developing a character that children will like and relate to. (Keep the age of the intended readership in mind here.)
2. Give the Character a Problem: Introduce the character's problem early in the story. Children have a short attention span. Grab their interest up front, and make them worry. Let the main character come up with a strategy for overcoming the problem (that is, deciding how to achieve his/her goal).
3. Introduce the First Obstacle Between the Main Character and the Goal: Readers quickly lose interest in characters who achieve their goals too easily. Let the main character overcome the first obstacle – but not without some effort! However, then a new problem should crop up...
4. Introduce a Second Obstacle: This one should be harder to overcome than the first obstacle. The main character must jump any hurdles using his/her own wit and intelligence (which may include calling on friends for help). Depending on the length and complexity of the story, a third and even a fourth obstacle may appear.
5. Give the Main Character a "Darkest Moment" – that is, a moment when all seems lost. The reader should genuinely believe that things look grim.
6. All's Well That Ends Well: The main character Makes a final huge effort (usually demonstrating strength of character and resolve, and perhaps even some kind of sacrifice) and finally, all is well. The story ends satisfactorily. (Note that this doesn't necessarily mean a "Hollywood Ending" - in fact, that's one of the plot endings that editors don't want to see).
Final Tips on Writing a Children's Book Using the 6-Step Outline
The above plot outline is a reliable framework for most children's stories, but many times, as they plot the story, authors will want to move in a different direction. Here are a few things to remember:
- Not every writer works best with a formal plot outline. All writers should do what works best for them.
- Remember that character development is very important. Take the time to develop characters that children can identify with and (very importantly) like. Characters who are larger than life tend to work well in children's stories.
- Conflict is essential in any story. By creating obstacles to put in the main character's path, writers are automatically building in tension. Take care not to let characters solve problems too easily. Make them work to find a solution.
All writers work in different ways, but sometimes all that is needed is a solid plot outline to make the process easier. A plot outline should be flexible, but the main elements should remain – in brief: "An interesting character strives to solve a problem or reach a goal, overcoming obstacles along the way, before finally achieving his or her goal and bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion."
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
