 For Authors: September 05, 2007 Issue [#1919] |
  For Authors
This week: Edited by: Vivian  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
After the last newsletter I wrote concerning tips for writing for children, I received numerous requests to continue covering children's books and stories. Here's the next chapter, Part I: the first seven needs and fallacies when writing for children.
Viv
Next week's editor will be -- ME.
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Needs when Writing for Children Part I
I covered some of these ideas in different ways before, but this week we'll consider them from the perspective of false ideas (not-to-dos) that keep circulating about writing for children. Here the first seven of fourteen not-to-dos with suggestions for what-to-do.
 1. Never write "cutesy." You are writing for children who are more clever, discerning, and shrewd than most adults were when children. Television, computers, and Internet have opened the world to today's children. Cutesy will not interest them. They want and deserve substance and excellent writing.
2. Never talk or write down to children. No one likes to be patronized or to have anyone be condescending. Baby talk is a major "no-no." According to Eugie Foster, in "Ten Myths About Writing for Kids," writers shouldn't underestimate the ability children have to learn new words. "The best way for kids to expand their vocabularies is by encountering new words in an engaging context." Writers should use interesting language that creates strong visual images and in such a manner that children can understand words from context or easily from the person reading the story.
3. Never preach. Children read for entertainment, not to have another lesson used to beat them over the head. If a story or book has a moral or lesson for children, it should be evolve from the plot and character conflict. The "moral" should be never have to be spelled out. The writer's first duty is to create a good story that's exciting and entertaining. Any lesson should be delivered subtly.
Write4Kids.Com states, "Your job as a writer: to entertain. If your story has a message, tell it through the plot and characters, not by a 'moral' tacked on to the end."
4. Never write a book without a plot. Even young children like a story to have a beginning, middle, and end; they like the tale to make sense. Even Dr. Seuss' rhyming stories had a plot.
5. Don't avoid serious or controversial subjects. Children are bombarded with serious subjects every day, many times without understanding them. Television and video games, as well as web sites surfed, smoother kids with tragedy, even if death and violence hasn't touched them personally. A story that introduces tops such as death and handles the subject in realistic, sensitive ways actually help children cope with the realities of the world. Often the plot of a book will open the door for parents to answer questions that disturb their children.
6. Don't allow adults to "carry the day." Plots need to empower the young protagonist. Of course adults are needed, and their help may be required. However, the solution shouldn't be an adult making a miraculous save, but the character or characters solving problems.
7. Never use talking animals incorrectly or write in clichés. Originality is needed when writing anything, and that means when writing for children. Any character, especially talking animals, must be three-dimensional, with animals as fully developed as human ones. Quirks, failings, motivations, and personalities should be seen, not flat, clichéd speaking creatures.
Many times when a novice writer incorporates animals as characters in a story, clichés pop up: the ugly duckling that turns into a swan, shy creatures that suddenly become bold enough to save the day, apparently moral-filled stories that show it's okay to be different.
According to Write4Kids.com, using talking animals isn't all bad. "What's important is that your animals have completely developed, unique personalities and characteristics." Children will not be drawn to characters that are stereotypes, even if they are animals.
Next week I will return with the other seven ideas: Don't think all children's stories must include a child; never use rhyme unless used correctly; don't illustrate your own book; never think writing for children is easy; don't believe that research isn't necessary for children's books; and never write before knowing how to write.
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From W.Com Writers
Please read and review the following stories. Do they seem like stories that children would really enjoy? Why or why not?
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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From Our Readers
writetight
Thanks for selecting my "The Flavors of Life" as one of your editor's picks, Viv.
Dan
You're very welcome. I try to give different people a chance to be highlighted, rather than cover the same ones over and over. The people who have been around a spell deserve a bit of publicity, too. 
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tailennion
Thank you! I wish more adult authors would take your advice when writing for us teens, especially the final suggestion. I hear more than enough vile language at school, and I don't want to read it, too.
Zoe Graves 
I had a thought on swearing in teens' books. When I was a teen and I'd read a book meant for me, I was always ticked they'd say darn and shoot. I know I never talked like that with my friends.
I'm sure many teens use rather strong language; in fact I know they do, after being around teens almost my whole life: first as one, then teaching them and rearing them, and with teen grandchildren over the years. However, just because teens are exposed to the more vile part of life doesn't mean that writers have to continue dumping more on them. There are times when violence, cussing, or other steamy parts of life go with a character, but even then it can be handled better than some of this that's used for shock value only.
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Granny
I have written a couple of things for children, and I was brazen enough to put it on the site for"pat your own back". But, no feedback so far.
What should I do to get my story noticed?
Granny
I would first check and see if the story is well written, as close to polished as you can make it. Then I'd read and review some children's items. I'd also read public reviews of children's items. Finally, I would join a group that reviews each other's works. I hope that helps.
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andromeda
Helpful. I tend to focus on junior high to early high school age. I'm not very good though...
Andromeda
Just keep working and reading. The more you read of books you want to write, and the more you practice, the better you will be.
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inizhay
I was very happy to see the subject for this newsletter. And I completely agree with you that too many writers for teenagers don't give them enough credit for actually have intelligence and a great many of them are more mature than most adults believe.
Thank you for addressing this topic.
girlwhowearsadirtyshirt
Thank you very much for your newsletter on writing for teens. As a teenager and avid reader myself, I'm constantly disappointed at the quality of my library's "young adult" section. These tips are really helpful.
Aslander
Thanks for a great newsletter. I am in the midst of writing a "Tween" styled novel and this was loads of help.
I'm glad you all found the newsletter helpful. Thank you for letting me know.
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Little Scribbler
Interesting newsletter.
Being a teenager myself (age 14) I found myself nodding at most of this.
One thing you forgot to add in this newsletter is that teenagers read books of different sizes. While I quite often read novel by authors such as Dan Brown (who also writes the best novels!!) and Clive Cussler (also very good), I have a friend two weeks younger then me who is shocked at what I can read, and claims never to have finished a novel. Also, many of my friends probably would also read small novels, of only 300-400 pages (400 pushing it).
If you ever write a newsletter on teens again, I suggest you add that in.
I'm sure different teens read different lengths of books. Any group of people does. I'm not sure where that would go in tips for writing for teens, though.
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dogfreek21
A resounding AMEN! from this teenager! Very good points, Viv!
One thing about teen fiction I hate, is going from junior high to senior high books seems to be going from innocent to... not innocent. Just because I'm older does NOT mean I want bedroom scenes. Sometimes, I prefer younger fiction just because it simply is more innocent.
*sigh* I'm afraid that in many good books I skip pages because of the graphic details that I really don't find interesting or entertaining. My imagination would be so much better without all the information that doesn't appeal to me.
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Thank you for joining me for another For Authors Newsletter. I will be back next week with Part II.
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