Writing for Children

[HisWriter]

Does anyone here write for children? Or just have opinions about children's writing? I want to write for children, and I would be interested in hearing people's opinions about the purpose of writing for children and so forth.

I would be particularly interested in hearing from you, LookingLand, as I noticed in the Harry Potter thread that you mentioned that you have strong opinions about the purpose of writing for children. So do I. That's why I want to write for them. I feel strongly that there's a need for postive role models in children's stories.

Also, I'm in a bit of a fix with the story I'm currently writing. I suddenly realized that my main character is the adult father and not one of his young sons. Why I didn't think of it earlier I have no idea. I know that in stories for children the main character is supposed to be a child, or else children won't be able to identify with him. But my whole conflict is based on the father, so I would have to totally make over the story to make the children the main characters. But it's not really an adult story either because I was writing it with my 11-year-old brother in mind. There's a side-plot that the children are involved in. Is it possible to put in enough action involving the children to make it interesting to children and yet have the main character be an adult? I know it's against the rules. Just wondering.

HisWriter

[LookingLand]

Howdy!

I think one way you can rethink your approach to the story is to retell it from the point of view of the child. That way, you have the child experiencing the world of the adult, but through their own eyes (and it doesn't have to be first person narrative, just shift it so that we understand the action from the viewpoint of the child). Make sense? A lot of books for youth deal with the child's relationship to the adult world and their understanding of the adult world and the impact of the adult world in their lives.

I would say bring the children's story to the fore, make it the framework for the story about the father, and tell it from the child's perspective. This way, you're actually getting more mileage for your words because then you are telling the father's story, but you are telling the child's as well--and that's how your young audience is going to experience the story, so they need that bridge (or door, if you prefer) in order to enter into this world.

Good luck!

~ Alice

[HisWriter]

Great advice!

I'm going to start rewriting right away and see how it goes. Thanks much!

Amy

[reflecthim]

Are they any books out there that show a child actually having a relationship personally with God? I try to stress to my kids the need to talk to God themselves, even my six year old. I tell them that I'm not always available, but God is and that He is the one who can fix things or give them what they need. ie, new friends, help with not lying or being mean to siblings, etc. Maybe this would be a subject to base a kids book on.

Hind's Feet in High Places is a great book showing how even young adults can have a relationship with the Lord as they journey in life.

Maybe I'm just not aware of these types of books since I read books geared for adults.

[wgjones3]

Well, I'm gonna give you the same old generic advice I'd give anyone asking about writing for a specific market...

Find books that are written toward that market (in this case, children's books), and read them. By your 20th book, you should have developed a definate mental picture of what a children's book should be like.

Just about any book, if it's been published, has some merit. Learn what you can, then write. That's all you can do.

Oh, and I almost forgot one important thing... PRAY.