Have you ever written a book for children, or stories aimed at a younger age group?

I know we have writers of adult fiction, and YA writers, but I wondered if any of you wrote specifically for children.

It's something I did when I was younger. I once wrote a bunch of stories that were basically mirrored off the Famous Five (I was a big fan when I was a kid), but writing stories for childen it's something I'd also like to do at some point in the future.

Would you write adult and kids fiction under the same pen name?

What tips do you have for writing for children, possibly 7-11 or around that age? You don't want to dumb down your writing, and you don't want to make your stories too complicated, but at the same time you want it to be good writing that growing minds can learn from, and stories that keep their interest.

I realised the other day that we had very few topics about writing books aimed at children, and I wondered if any of you had done this.

I've written a few picture book manuscripts and short stories for children (all unpublished so far), but I hope to publish some of them in the future. I also want to write children's chapter books.


Yes.


Read books that were written for that age group.

I've written a (will be) picture book that I'd like to have published. I don't know about advice though, I don't know how writing Sadie's dragon went... I should find some test subjects of that age group...

But for me, having so many story ideas in my head, and not enough time to develop an entire background world to it, I think I would like to make some of those into children's books whether chapter or picture.

http://insideliamsbrain.wordpress.com/2 ... -for-kids/

This is good post I read recently about writing to children.

I haven't written for children myself...if I did, it would be a kind along the lines of Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh or Beatrix Potter, though. I really like those....

I think you can tell when a writer hasn't 'written down' to children when you enjoy his books when you grow up as well as when you were young.

*pulls out soapbox*

Ahem.

I write for children. I also write for young adults. I also write for adults. But, primarily, I write for children. Why? Because children are clever. And children's books are clever. Often more so than the 'grown-up' books. Anyone who's even peeked at my blog knows that I do a lot of book reviews and most of these are of children's books. Why? Because that's what I write. That's my genre. There are simply so many good books out there so I restrict myself to 'my genre' for the most part, treading water briefly in the other zones before I dive back under.

Lewis had a lot to say about writing for children. "Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again." is one of his more famous ones--and I think one we all agree with, otherwise we wouldn't be here, right?

The other quote of his that comes to mind, and is one I model my writing after, one that I live by each time I pick up my pen, is this: "A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest." By which, I take it, he means that 'dumbing' the story down just doesn't cut it. As I said, children are clever--much more so than I think we tend to give them credit for.

I don't dumb down my writing. But, then, I don't write the way I would for an adult either. Ever seen VeggieTales? In almost every episode there is a joke that only the parents will truly understand, a reference to some by-gone happening, person, or thing. The kids think it's funny for one reason, but the adults are the ones who crack up about it and can't breathe for a good five minutes. That's the right kind of storytelling. Big Idea doesn't get everything right, but they've nailed that one.

I love children's stories because they are so bright and funny and intelligent, and sometimes they are dark and harsh and thoughtful.



Totally agree with you there. I never read Milne as a child, and I think I missed out. I love those stories so much, and the absolute wonderment in them as seen through the eyes of a child's imagination in the hand's of the adult who loves them. And Potter has long been a favorite.

I agree that there is a difference between the genres--a huge difference. "Through the Skylight" is a book I read a while ago--skimmed, actually--which was written by a writer who was accustomed to writing for adults. It lacked charm and interest. It was dull. Not every Adult or YA author can write for kids, and vice-versa.



The best tip I have is a confusing one. Don't treat children like adults, and don't treat them like babies.

Basically what I mean is that kids don't respond to the same things as adults do, and--even outside of the written world--adults tend to take that, even without meaning to, as a sign that the kid lacks the brains to 'get it', and that's simply not true.

On the other hand, we can't try and make them grow up faster by making the stories seem above any of them. It's an intricate balance and one I'm finding hard to put into words right now. I think like a child when I write for them--not childish, but child-like and there is a huge difference, like the difference between a wise man and a wise guy.

Second best tip is the same as any other writing form: Read it. Read lots of it. Breathe it in and out. Read the classics of it. Steal what you love. XD

Anyway, I'm just yakking now. Thank you for bringing this up, Lady E.

Caeli, would you be willing to proof-read my picture book and tell me what you think/what it needs?

I didn't realise you had written some children's books, Jon! That's so neat!

Are you going to do the picture art yourself, Rin? That's awesome that you have one finished.

Thanks for the link, Juliet! It looks really helpful. I have always enjoyed Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, and I read a lot of Beatrix Potter when I was younger.

Caeli, I'm loving all your tips! You know so much about it; I didn't realise you wrote books for children. I haven't seen VeggieTales, no, but I understand what you're saying all the same.

It sounds like you need the perfect balance, but that really scares me for some reason as in how to you find that balance. I guess it takes practice, trial and error and experience like everything. When I decide to try writing one, I shall have to immerse myself in my childhood books.

What length do you tend to make them?

Thanks for all the tips! They're really helpful.

First of all, you all either failed to notice--which is great--or are being nice and not saying anything, but I must have been in a poor mood when I wrote that post, because I came out sounding rather snarky. Sorry 'bout that.




Yes, I am perfectly willing to do that for you Lady Kitra! I warn I'm not as much involved with picture books as I am with middle-grade novels--and perhaps I could have made that more clear--but I love picture books and would be happy to read yours and help out all I can! Send me a PM or something.



What length? Good question. It depends. If I'm setting out for a pciture book, or younger children's book, (Which I rarely do, my 'target' is more nine years and up) I would aim for somewhere between a thousand words to upwards of five thousand. (However, most of the best picture-book writers do it far better in less: Take my family's favorite Mo Willems, for example.)

For middle grade books--I dislike calling them that as a label, but at least you know what I mean--I write them like any novel, in the area of 300 pages, double spaced.

I didn't think you sounded snarky at all, Caeli. You were really helpful.

*Nods* Makes sense. I used to read long books at that age, but then I could devour a book in a day sometimes. Thanks again!

I write children's chapter books, those are my favorites anyways. Most of the books I've read are children's classics or Newberies. I haven't really thought about the specifics of writing for children. I mostly just make my MCs children and write the story the same way my favorites are written. Since most of those are old books, I end up using big words and an old fashioned style. I don't really worry about length, I just take however long it takes to tell the story. So far, I've had to be specific about formatting to make the book 200 pages. So that's what I do.

There's a poem I'm writing and I feel like it would make a good picture book. It's about wind and a wild child who grows up with it as her friend.

I really like the – er, convention, maybe you'd call it? – of a lot of children's books being poetry. I think the pattern and rhythm of it is excellent in this area.... Actually, I'd like it if more grown up books were written in poetry too.

Ooh... And illustrations. I really miss those. The illustrations are a form of art too, and I think adults appreciate them (some of them even appreciate them more than children do) enough that they would be great to go in adult books.

By the way, I forgot to mention, anyone who writes books for children would be interested in C. S. Lewis' essay Three Ways to Write for Children. It's good.

*makes mental note to read that essay at first opportunity* Can't believe I haven't actually read it already.

And his other essay, "Why Fairy Stories sometimes say best what's to be said" (I can't remember the exact wording but it's like that), if your children's story has a fantastical slant to it.

Another essay I recommend to anyone who writes fantasy (and it's about the heart of fairy tales, and how fairy tales weren't originally for children, but it's got so many great quotes in it) is Tolkien's great, long essay (at least thirty pages long) On Fairy Stories. You can find them in collections of their works (For Tolkien, either Tree and Leaf, or Tales from the Perilous Realm. For C. S. Lewis, a book like [insert essay title] and other works. There are a few books like that out there for him).

Thanks for the tips, Emilyn! I've read excerpts of Tolkien's essay and need to sit myself down to read the whole thing.



This isn't a real serious tip, but anyone who's writing picture books, I highly recommend you head to your local library or bookstore and just start pulling them off the shelves to read. I have learned more about writing from reading the types of stories I want to write than any "how to" book I know. I would especially recommend

Mo Willems (because he says so much with so little)
Jon Klassen (because he's just clever)
These two are my favorites right now.

Also, read the classics.
A. A. Milne is so beautiful and I love him muchly.
Dr. Seuss
Syd Hoff
Etc.

Yes, I agree about that. I realize the added expense it is both to obtain illustrations and to print them, so I'm not really upset that they aren't more common... but I wish they were, and it would be so awesome whenever there was an opportunity.

I found this after you recommended it – and yeah, it was good. thanks for mentioning it. I didn't know it existed.