I was thinking about writing for kids recently and wondered how many writers have given it a try. Just tell a story but make it shorter? Is that all it takes?
Writing for children is not such an easy task. The list below is a part of what a children's writer needs to consider:
- word count
- don't preach
- entertain
- provide a lesson without having to state it
- vocabulary suited to the age level
- choosing an age level to write for
- trends in children's books and stories
- learn to be concise
- know what kids are like in today's world
- don't let adults solve the problem for a child
If you want to write for children, pick an age group that you intend to target. Baby-toddler 0-3, Picture Books 2-8, EZ Readers 4-7, Chapter Books 6-9, Middle Grade 8-12, Young Adult (YA) 13-18. That's a wide range, and whichever you choose, do some reading on how to write for the age group that interests you. I chose Middle Grade primarily because many years ago, I taught 3rd and 4th grade, and I know more about children in that group.
Do some reading to learn about the ins and outs of this kind of writing. One excellent article I found in a search is one from The Writer magazine that highlights the things you should not do when writing for children. Read it here.
When I first started writing, my goal was to write for children, so I applied to take a correspondence course from the Institute for Children's Literature which has been around for a very long time. In the 10 lessons I completed, I learned a great deal, established a base for writing stories for kids, and gained some confidence. You can find them online.
I have had a number of children's stories published online and in magazines but moved on to other kinds of writing. Even so, I still write a children's story every now and then. I have been inspired by newspaper stories of actual happenings, historical events, and memories.
One of my early stories was based on a newspaper article that talked about the number of working mothers who instructed their child to spend the after-school hours in the public library. Definitely a solution to a parent's dilemma. I wrote a fictitious story based on the article. I'll post it below. It was published in Knowonder! magazine and received a Reader's Award. More tomorrow on writing for children.
There’s A Dragon In The Library
Wilhemina Higgins’ long braids bounced as she ran down the narrow tunnel the bookshelves made in the Westlake Public Library. Her untied shoelaces slapped against well-worn sneakers. Past the Js, Ks, and Ls she flew, only slowing slightly as she rounded the corner.
Wilhemina spied a dragon waiting at the end of the row of shelves. She screeched to a sudden stop. Her heart thumped.
At first, it was silent. Then the monster snorted, lifted its huge head, took in a gigantic breath inward, and fell silent again.
Wilhemina swallowed and took one step back. Before she could turn and retrace her path, the enormous dragon reared back on its hind legs, threw back its massive head, and breathed out a whoosh! Smoke curled from its nostrils while flames burst forth from the great mouth. The dragon clawed the air and flapped magnificent wings. The green and purple scales that covered the beast from head to toe gleamed under the library lights. Its amber eyes glinted like cut crystal.
“Wilhemina Higgins!” The dragon roared. “How many times have you been told? There is no running in the library.”
“Do you mean today, Miss Philpot?” Wilhemina looked right into the dragon’s eyes. “Or did you mean all week?”
“You know the rules,” the librarian said. “Why do you come here, if not to read?” Miss Philpot breathed heavily, and she opened and closed her claws.
Wilhemina feared the dragon might snort and spurt fire again at any minute.
“My mother doesn’t get home from work until 5 o’clock.” Wilhemina’s voice was as firm as Miss Philpot’s. “She says the library is a safe place for me to stay after school.”
The dragon pulled her sweater close around her shoulders. “If you cannot follow the rules, you must go outside.”
“It’s cold as a bowl of ice cream out there, and it’s going to rain, too,” Wilhemina answered.
“Then go sit on the steps.”
“The steps are as hard as rocks.”
“You could stay at school,” Miss Philpot answered, barely moving her lips as she spoke.
“There’s no one there,” Wilhemina answered back, in the same way, lips scarcely moving.
“Then you must study while you’re here.” Miss Philpot’s eyes flashed, and her hands turned claw-like once more.
“I’ve studied all day,” Wilhemina told her. She folded her arms and spread her feet apart, ready for battle.
The dragon hissed and narrowed its eyes. “Don’t be insolent.”
“I don’t know what that means,” Wilhemina said.
“Then go look it up!” Miss Philpot cried as she rushed to her desk.
Wilhemina felt a tug on her shirttail and turned around. “What do you want?”
Eyes wide, the tugger looked up at Wilhemina. “Is she mad at you?”
Wilhemina sighed. “Every day. So, what’s your problem, Lucy Ann?”
“I’m bored.”
“Then go read a book.” Wilhemina thought her answer sounded a great deal like Miss Philpot.
“Can’t read yet,” Lucy Ann replied. She pushed her bottom lip over the top one and stared at Wilhemina.
“Oh go away and leave me alone,” Wilhemina said. She sprinted along the line of shelves ignoring the brightly colored book jackets. She stopped at the tall library windows where rain beat against the panes and thunder rattled them. She put her elbows on the windowsill, curled her hands around her cheeks, and watched the wind bend the tree branches outside.
There was another tug on her shirt. Without looking around, she said, “What do you want now, Lucy Ann?”
“Read this to me.” Lucy Ann held up a large picture book.
Wilhemina shrugged and took the book Lucy Ann held out. “Why not?” She sighed.
They marched past the dragon’s desk. Miss Philpot watched silently, but Wilhemina thought she could see tiny wisps of smoke curling from under her nose.
The two girls sat at a round table, and Wilhemina read aloud in a quiet voice, wriggling on her chair as she turned the pages.
“You can do better than that, Wilhemina.” Lucy Ann scowled. “You sound dull.”
There was a moment of silence. Then Wilhemina said, “You’re right!” She sat up straighter, flipped back to page one, and read with more feeling. She used a different voice for each character in the story. Halfway through, she noticed three more listeners around the table.
“Keep going,” one of them said when she stopped reading.
Wilhemina laughed and continued reading the story and showing the pictures to the younger children.
From the corner of her eye, she spied a fluffy, long-haired cat dancing about on dainty paws. Its amber eyes surveyed the group at the table. Then, the cat purred deep in its throat.
When Wilhemina closed the book, the cat purred again and said, “Wilhemina Higgins, you read that book wonderfully well. Perhaps you could start an after-school story club. What do you think?”
“I think I would like that very much, Miss Philpot.” Wilhemina reached out to shake the paw the librarian offered her.
(C)
Masterful writing!
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