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Writing for children can be an extremely rewarding activity. Just ask Catherine Shelby Hale all about it! You have the chance to become something of an asynchronous teacher as children read your books. Through kids’ lit, you have the opportunity to inspire children, stimulate their imaginations, spark their curiosity, and leave a lasting impact on the minds of young people. Are you up for it, dear reader?
Writing for Children
With declining literacy rates all over the world, the role of literacy has become even more important. Children’s literature (or kids’ lit) has always played a very vital role in shaping the cognitive and emotional mindscapes of children. It even touches on their social development. Through the craft of stories, the children’s writer is the distant teacher who helps children know how to solve problems and develop empathy. Reading at an early age also increases children’s chances of developing the foundation for lifelong learning. Books are the most powerful vehicle for transferring knowledge from one person to another, and introducing children to this will no doubt help them in their personal journeys in the future.
Personally, being a writer for children lets you tap into your innate creativity, your inner child, and your imagination. Being a writer for children also gives you a very good way to leave behind your legacy because when your stories resonate with young readers for a long time, you inspire future generations.
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The Hows & Whys in Kids’ Lit
Before you go and start writing, it’s important that you know how to write for your audience and how to consider which elements to include. Captivating young readers seems easy, but it’s really not. So, be sure to read this part here!
Writing for Children: Why You Should Understand Your Audience
If you really want to write for children, you should know that that label is very nebulous. Children are varied. They are of diverse ages. Different age groups have varying attention spans and comprehension levels.
When you’re planning out your story, tailor your language, your themes, and the complexity that you want to convey to the audience you want. This means that you should have deep knowledge of who your readers are and how they operate. Children have varied interests and don’t always have the same perspectives on things.
You should also consider the interests that they can relate with–of course, in consideration of their reading level and their cultural backgrounds. This is why you should understand who you’re writing for.
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Writing for Children: How to Master the Art of Storytelling
There are some people who think that writing for children is easy and simple. It’s anything but! The art of storytelling for children is a very difficult task: you have to nail down an engaging plot, create memorable characters, and establish a very vivid setting. Putting down compelling themes and having appropriate humor in your narrative can be extremely difficult, too. Learn how to weave these into your narrative.
So, be sure to really be mindful of what you write down. Children may not be able to open a bank account, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know anything. Children are very intelligent and very curious. Make sure to play into that and really speak to their level!
More Writing Tips for Children’s Authors
- Go with a strong hook to grab your reader’s attention from the very beginning with a captivating opening line or scene.
- Keep it simple and use clear and concise language that is easy for children to understand. Avoid complex sentence structures and unnecessary jargon.
- Show, don’t tell, and make sure to use vivid descriptions and dialogue to bring your story to life. Let your readers experience the story through the senses.
- Break up the text by using short paragraphs and white space to make your story visually appealing and easier to read.
- Edit and revise your work. The more you polish your story, the better it will be.
Catherine Shelby Hale’s Stories by Grammygirl is a wonderful collection of stories that speak to children and their experiences. If you’re looking to buy an anthology of stories that’s just right for children, click here to grab a copy now!
