Tips & Tricks

English: How to write children's fiction?

How to write children's fiction?

By LovelyBurns

Before writing

1. Read

This can be obvious or not at all. Read children's stories you find in libraries or bookstores. They'll help you get an idea of what children like to read. Talk to kids and try to find out what kinds of stories they enjoy.

The youth book department in stores/supermarkets can give you a good idea of the kinds of books that are popular with kids.

2. Story Content

Children's books offer a wide range of stories. You'll  have to adapt your story to your target age group.

Ask yourself what age group you are interested in as a writer. The term "children's book" covers everything from simple books with a single word per page for young children to more elaborate books and novels for older readers. The storyline, content, and theme of your book should be appropriate for the age of your readers (remember that parents always have the last word on what is appropriate for their kids to read).

Are you targeting young children or older children? Decide if you want to write for children from 2 to 4 years,  4 to 6 years, 6 to 8 years, 8 to 10 years, or from 10 to 12 years (these are the age groupings we use on this profile, but others are also possible).

The length of the sentences, the tone, and the style of the story will differ depending on the target age group.

For example, if you are writing for children aged 2 to 4 you will use simple language and very short sentences. If you write for children between the ages of 8 and 10, you can use more complex sentences.

3. Age

The younger the reader, the shorter the text and the more illustrations the story should contain. Illustrations should take the place of descriptive text in stories aimed at young children.

From the moment a scene is illustrated, you won't have to dwell on descriptions. But you still need a story to capture the child's attention and keep them hooked to the last page! 

Note that the layout of picture books differs from that of chapter books. Books for small children often contain an entire page of illustration in combination with a few lines of text on the page next to it.

If you know how to draw, you will certainly have a fairly accurate idea of what you want your illustrations to show. If you need to hire an illustrator, don't choose him or her randomly. His or her personal style must suit your story.

The younger the reader, the more familiar and simple the vocabulary should be. Pay attention to the setting and the objects you use, or your readers won't understand your story. It helps to depict familiar situations with everyday objects. 

Your readers are still in the age of magical thinking where anything is possible: nothing prevents dragons or flying saucers from appearing in an everyday setting. Still, the story should focus on problems that children care about.

Rhythm is important as well: the younger the readership, the shorter the sentences. Feel free to use rhymes at the end of your phrases to keep children's attention, but make sure your rhymes feel natural rather than forced.

Most stories for very young children are told in third person.

Children love collections of poems and short stories. So, for your first attempt, choose what seems easiest to write.