Learn the ins and outs of writing fiction for children. What you should know before you start. Don't underestimate the difficulty of the genre. Tips to make it easy.
Many people think that books for children are easy to write, because they are short and have pictures. They don’t consider children’s writers to be ‘real writers’, but rather wannabe adult novelists. They think that anyone can write kid’s books. However, nothing is further from the truth.
Myth: It's easy to write kid's lit
Writing for children is a highly specialised art form that requires unusual abilities.
- It demands that the writer is able to go back, both emotionally and mentally, to childhood, and to remember the feelings, moods and situations they experienced twenty, thirty or more years ago.
- At the same time the writer needs to have a highly developed imagination. He or she needs to be able to imagine and create a whole new world –one that entices children away from TV or PC games, and allows them to enter a place where their own imagination joins together with the words on the page to create something magical and unforgettable.
- And the writer’s adult self needs to be engaged in the writing process too, in selecting characters, devising plots, creating a sound structure, choosing language carefully and watching out for inconsistencies.
If you already have these three abilities, or are willing to develop them, you are well on the way to being a published children’s writer.
Why it's so hard to do it well
Although it is true that children’s books are generally shorter than adult books, this does not make it easier. The fewer the number of words, the more value is placed on each one. There is no room for the unclear thoughts, self indulgent descriptions, waffle or padding that sometimes afflict books for adults.
The hardest books of all to write are probably picture books, where the entire theme and story has to be expressed in around 600 words. This demands discipline and careful writing, much like extracting the essential oil from a plant. The end product is a small quantity, but is very potent.
Things you should know before you start
Another reason why it is hard to write for kids is that many factors have to be taken into consideration that don’t apply to adult books.
Let’s say you are hoping to publish a story for eight-year-old girls to read alone. Before you start writing you need to know a certain amount of background information.
- The reading level of the average eight-year-old – what words does the average child of this age know? And how many new words can you introduce to extend her, without overwhelming her.
- What is in fashion at the moment? It’s no good thinking up a wonderful story about wizards and magic when the market is saturated by the Harry Potter books. You need to know something about current trends, and think about where trends are likely to go next.
- The issues that affect the average eight-year-old living in your country.
- You should know something of her psychological development; not only of the stage she is in now, but the one she is about to enter.
A rewarding career
However, although it is difficult, writing for children is incredibly rewarding. There is no greater pleasure for a writer than having an enthusiastic audience raving about your latest book. It is fantastic when a child who has previously never finished a book devours one of yours and is hooked on reading for life. And unlike many adult books, your successful children’s book will go on selling year after year after year.
Ready to start? Click here to read how to start writing your first book for children.
