Writing for children can be just as difficult as writing for adults. In fact, even if you’re already an author and have a couple of books published, it doesn’t guarantee you success when writing for kids. Why? Simply because when it comes to writing for children, we have to adopt a new mindset and put ourselves in the shoes of those we want to write for. Besides, there are also different categories of children books therefore it’s important to identify which audience you want to write for before starting to compose your story.
Here are 8 tips that might help you to write a good book for children:
- Identify your reader. The first step is to identify your audience. To do so, you have to choose a category which will influence the content and style of writing.
Here are 5 types of books suited for little readers:
1. BOARD BOOKS (ages 0 to 3)
2. PICTURE BOOKS (ages 4 to 8)
3. PICTURE STORY BOOKS (ages 6 to 10).
4. CHAPTER BOOKS (ages 7 to 10)
5. MIDDLE GRADE & YOUNG ADULT BOOKS (ages 8 to 12)
- Get to know your target audience. This is vital to clearly understand your potential reader. So, in order to write an engaging story for kids you have to read similar books first. So, go grab a few books if you haven’t and spend some quality time reading and learning from the author’s voice, style, and every little detail. Also, a good way to start knowing your target audience is to spend time with them. This way you can find out what interests these kids the most, what they’re eager to know, and the kind of stories they want to read. It is also important to note that your book will have to please not only children but also parents and teachers, so you have to meet the expectations of all three.
- Invest time in illustrations. There are a few options when it comes to adding illustrations to your story and it depends on the type of the book. Below is an example of how pictures can be included:
- Start with a hook. Consider starting the book with an intriguing action that will instantly catch the reader’s attention. Also, try maintaining consistent action throughout the story to hold onto the reader’s attention until the very end.
- Provide a happy ending. This is what every kid is looking for when starting to read a book. They fall in love with the character and want the best for him or her until the very last page. So, note that you should meet this expectation in order to leave your reader satisfied after the story ends.
- Develop strong characters. Such characters are usually unstoppable when it comes to going after their dreams and overcoming the obstacles. It’s important because children (like almost any other reader) tend to see themselves in the characters we create. Kids want to be like their superheroes and chase after them. So, your little reader should be able to relate themselves to the story’s main character, making this story a favorite to keep coming back to.
- Write realistic dialogue. Even though kids are smart, they don’t talk like adults in everyday life, especially younger children. Thus, you should pay attention to how children in your target demographic communicate with each other and with adults, making note of the type of vocabulary, language and tone they use. Again, readers have to be able to relate with the characters and dialogue is an important factor.
- Choose a winning title and a cover. No matter how many times you’ve said someone not to judge a book by its cover, kids will definitely do that. Therefore, you should consider both the title and the cover very carefully.
Dive deep into children’s literature
and tell the best stories you can!
