 For Authors: June 24, 2015 Issue [#7057] |
  For Authors
This week: So, Writing for Children Is Easy? Edited by: Vivian  
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I present workshops about writing at schools, libraries, and writing conferences. One topic that is requested quite often is "So, you think writing for children is easy?" I'll share part of the information from my presentation.
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So You Think Writing for Children Is Easy?
Many people believe that writing for children is easy, that anyone can do it. Having children doesn’t make a person qualified to write for children either. For example, just because I have a heart doesn’t mean I can do open heart surgery. Writing of any kind takes training, starting with reading the type of literature to be written, studying how to write and for a certain audience, and knowing how to use language correctly and effectively. In fact, writing for children is harder than writing for adults because the length of a children’s story is shorter: the plot, characters, conflict, and action has to be concise and precise. Also a child’s attention span is shorter.
So how can a person learn to write for children? One way is to attend conferences and workshops about writing for children, such as this one. Another is to read articles from those who know.
Let me share a few quotes from articles I’ve read:
1. Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are) said, "I never spent less than two years on the text of one of my picture books, even though each of them is approximately 380 words long. Only when the text is finished … do I begin the pictures."
2. Children’s literature, at least good children’s literature, celebrates simplicity without being simplistic. It is full of rich and delicious language, complex concepts and deep meaningful ideas. It is rife with metaphor and imagery, and a myriad of other literary devices. It engages and entertains. It is valuable. And it is literature. – Jean E. Pendziwolen
3. "(To write children's books) you have to understand voice, humor, pacing, dramatic tension, emotional accessibility. . . . You really have to know how to write, and that takes a lot of work and practice," said Bottner, who has been working at it for 18 years. -- Barbara Bottner, a Los Angeles writer and illustrator of 20 children's books
4. Sometimes children are more perceptive and won't make allowances the way adults do," said Barbara Ellemen, children's book editor for the publishing industry's journal, "Booklist." "Children won't sit through a long, leisurely beginning. They want the story to start, the action to start. They want a believable ending," Ellemen said.
So, if children are often more perceptive than adults, have short attention spans, and expect to be entertained, how can we become good children’s writers? Let me share a few suggestions I’ve learned through education (workshops, clinics, and reading) and through experience (writing children’s books that won awards, editing children’s books, and publishing award winning children’s books):
1. Learn how to write. Some people believe that writings for children can be about anything, written any kind of way, not necessarily of high quality. If anything, works for children should be of the highest quality.
2. Write a good story with a fast-paced plot. Write from the child’s perspective.
3. Use correct grammar, spelling, sentence structure.
4. Need to use active voice and action verbs and show, don’t tell.
5. Story should translate into illustrations.
6. Morals or lessons should not be “preachy.
7. The story shouldn’t be too long or wordy.
8. Alliteration, meter, and rhyme must be used well or not at all.
I covered just part of the outline I use in my workshop. Writing for children may not be “easy” writing, but it can be rewarding, if one is willing to learn, listen, and find that “kid” inside. Remember, start the story with action, keep action going, and have a believable ending.
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Words from Our Readers
My last editorial concerned my opinion not to write my full first draft without any revising or editing. I think we should revise/edit as we go if we see something that should be changed.
mik 
I wrote a draft from start to finish, then began my rewrite. I added detail, more descriptions and refined my word usage in the first half...no problems. I flew through the rewrite, just like the draft.
But the second half, not so much. I have been stalled for months. As I refined the first half, I intensified the confrontations, the problems got bigger and more detailed. Now the second half problems seem to go backward in momentum. Almost all of the second half problems don't fit the intensity of the first half. My problem is subconsciously returning to the original story line, even though I know it doesn't work anymore. From now on...I'll edit as I go.
You discovered why I edit as I go.
sarahsbooks
Thank you for this newsletter. I believe you are the first person I've seen that shares my views on revision, especially when it comes to revising while writing the first draft. If I decide to change something halfway through my novel, I have to go back and fix it in the beginning, or else I will forget about changing it. Plus it would drive me crazy to know I had a mistake in my manuscript, but I couldn't go back to fix it until the first draft was done. The more you get right one the first draft, the less revision you will have to do. Not that I mind revision; I think it's one of the best parts of writing.
Exactly.
Grin 'n Bear It!
I subscribe to several newsletters and really appreciate the dedication and work that goes into them, but I must say this has been the best newsletter by far. The content and your editor's picks are resources everyone here on WDC could use--especially anyone who wants to tackle a novel. I edit as a write, but have worried that this propensity disrupts "flow.” I have to admit I review only a small fraction of what I read here on WDC simply because I become overwhelmed with the amount of editing many stories need. Thanks for a great newsletter. I know what I’ve learned here will save me a lot of time and headaches.
Thank you.
brom21 
Your article really caters to my first project that I seriously wish to publish. I plan to spend at least eight months to a year working on it. I also agree with your statement that one must edit has he goes along. I will slowly, out loud read each page three times or so to improve it. One other thing is that I still have yet to read the whole book The Elements of Style. I’ve barely hit the tip of the iceberg to that most helpful publication. Once again, thanks for the tips!
You're welcomed.
Joto-Kai 
Suppose someone could edit a chapter so well that your organization would hire a ghostwriter to finish it? Wink
Sorry, I couldn't rise above the cheap rhetorical flourish. The fact remains, the first draft must get everything down on the paper and clear in your mind — anything else distracts or even derails the project. Some revision processes could actually aid this process — e.g. did I forget to write something down? — but once I try to get a phrase, sentence or paragraph perfect before the story finishing, it's moot.
The draft goes from a 90% chance of being finished to a .01% chance.*
*Percentages illustrative not scientific.
You have a right to your opinion. Use what works for you.
JennyHeart
This is very good information filled with experience from the writer of this piece. Thank you very much.
I'm glad you found the article helpful.
pnut67
I try to edit as I go along, but then there are times when editing is done at the end of a chapter. usually, what happens is just what you said, something later on down the story needs to be adjusted now. So I have to go find it, make it fit the previous editrks as a plausible, believeable story now, and carry on.
I edit some as I write, but I go back over my writing at the end of each chapter, too. Then I go over all I've written before when I begin to write again.
Thank you for joining me again this issue. If you would like me to cover a writing topic, please let me know.
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