How to Write Children’s Books
Posted on July 23rd, 2009 by Carmelia
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Stories in children’s books look simple and easy to write, but there’s a lot of things going on making a great children’s book. Here are the things you should know and consider when it comes to writing children’s books.
Who Is Your Audience?
Like any other writer out there, you have to determine who your audience will be. Books that cater to seven-year-olds are not the same with books that cater to 12-year-olds. Writing for an audience means you should put yourself in their shoes, and in this case, you have to think like a child.
For example, the age group ranging from five to seven years of age will probably be interested in fairy tales, while kids in the age of eight to nine will like stories that fire their imagination. Pre-teens will probably like reading about things that they can relate to.
Knowing and understanding your chosen audience will help you write the best book that can capture their imaginations and educate them as well.
Use Pictures
If you’re writing stories for children age nine and younger, you may want to consider working with an artist to illustrate. Pictures make stories more interesting for kids, but the older they become, the less need there is to illustrate everything in the story.
Start Plotting
Now you know who your audience is and what their interests are, it’s time to start plotting a story. What genre will your story be? Will it be action, mystery, fantasy or something scary? Remember, the younger your audience is, the simpler the language should be. It doesn’t mean that your plots should be simplistic, but your language may be a little limited. Dr. Seuss used a limited array of words, but it didn’t mean that his stories were limited.
Once you know what the story plot is, start outlining how the story will progress. You can do this per page, with a quick scribble on what you want the illustration to look like. Your plot should follow the basic progression of a story: The beginning, the conflict, the climax and the resolution of your story. An outside conflict being dealt on the main character is a great way to draw your audience in, and keep them invested in your story.
Characters
Who is the main character of the story? Who are the supporting characters? Is there a villain? Interesting characters do a lot to draw children in. Characters who have childlike attributes and outlooks also help children relate more to them.
A great way to outline characters is to list their characteristics. Physical characteristics, hobbies, interests, likes and dislikes may not contribute to the story, but they will help you knowing the character inside and out. That way, you’ll know how they will consistently react when faced with certain situations ad provided by your plot.
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