So you want to write for children. That’s great. The key to knowing how to write for this audience is research.
Language is important. Just because picture books are short and the material is communicated in simpler language doesn’t mean they are easy to write. That applies to longer books and chapter books as well. Remember, you are an adult, seeing the story from an adult’s point of view. What you need to do is get into the children’s point of view and use language that is age-appropriate. You need to understand what interests them and how to communicate with them on the right language level.
The first step is to research your audience. You may know what age group you want to write for, but do you know what that age group is reading? Go to bookstores or browse the children’s sections of online bookstore sites. Read about the current bestsellers for your target age group.
Take it one step further. Go to the library and borrow some of these books. Read them with a critical eye to see how they are structured, how they tell the story and how they appeal to the reader’s imagination. Pay attention to the language levels. Speak with the children’s librarian and ask about current trends in children’s literature.
Get to know your target age group in person. What are your own children reading? What are your friends’ children reading? What do they like or dislike about books?
Once you have identified what you want to write about, get it down in draft format. Then arrange to read the draft of your story to a children’s group and ask for feedback. Ask if you can read to a class at a local school, for example. Children can be very candid about how the story appeals to them. They can often give you good ideas for improving your manuscript before submitting it for publication.
Images are important for covers and also for the inside of picture books, but usually a publisher will add those. However, if you want to self-publish and use your own art or that of a friend, do the research so that you know what format the work should be created in so that it will work in an online book as well as in a print copy. Remember children like primary colours and pictures that they can relate to. Your characters should engage their audience and help endear the book to readers.
If you look at some of the children’s books that have stood the test of time, analyze them to see what has made them so popular. Ask a child why they love the book. Remember, research is key.
For more information on writing for children, visit the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators – Canada East chapter at www.scbwi.org where you will find all kinds of information on writing for children as well as writing resources, information on events (annual conferences and local meetings) and useful links to other sites.
