Children's Stories
by Ash
(USA)
Hi Glen! I was wondering how you would go about writing a children's story. Does it have a simple beginning, middle, and happy ending or is it more complex than that? Do you have any tips on language or avoiding heavy-handed themes?
Thank you for your help and have a great day!
Answer: All good stories, regardless of the age of the readership, follow the same four-part structure...
setup --> complication --> crisis --> resolution
With children's stories, you have to know what age group you are writing for. There are big differences between picture books, chapter books, and middle-grade/juvenile fiction. Obviously, the younger the readers, the shorter the word count and the simpler the vocabulary.
Remember that you're not just writing to appeal to the children, but to appeal to parents, teachers, and librarians (who actually make the decision to purchase). Adults want children's books that express good values and encourage literacy (so grammar matters more than with adult books).
Kids, on the other hand, want stories that reflect feelings and experiences they can relate to. They also like stories that involve things adults would disapprove of -- such as imagination, adventure, rule-breaking, and risk-taking -- things the readers wish they could do. They like stories where the kids make their own decisions
Of course you have to match vocabulary to age, but remember too that children learn new words by reading. Teachers like books that help kids expand their vocabulary.
Not all children's books have purely happy endings. Sadness is part of life at any age. It's a matter of treating the subject with sensitivity. (E.g. Charlotte's Web, Bridge to Terabithia, Love You Forever, Old Yeller, The Hobbit.)
Dramatica argues that a complete story has four throughlines or perspectives (those of the overall story, main character, impact character, and their relationship). Picture books usually have only enough words to cover one or two throughlines (overall and main character). But some books focus on the impact character rather than the main character (e.g. The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax.
Middle-grade books can be more sophisticated and develop all four throughlines, making them much more like adult novels.
However, what distinguishes almost all children's books is that the main character is someone the reader can relate to. They are either a child or have a child-like perspective on the world.
- Home
- Plot Questions
- Children's Stories
Search this site...
|
||
| site search by freefind |
100% Human Generated Content!
All
articles on this website were written by a human being -- one possessed of flaws and limitations, but also with a personal perspective and a desire to help fellow
writers. No article on this site was written by or with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI).
Popular Articles
Mini-Course
Never be stuck for a great story idea again! This online mini-course will show you how to create simple ideas for original characters and build a plot around each character that contains the essential elements needed for a compelling story.
Recent Postings
-
Writing thoughts and diary entries.
Question: This is my first time trying to write, I constantly imagine fictional scenarios, so I decided to write a novel with them, but in my idea, we -
Synopsis Format
Question: Hello! Thank you for answering my question about how many characters to add in a synopsis! I should have included this question with my last -
How many characters to include in a synopsis
Question: Hello! I'm new to your site, and I love it! I didn't see a question and answer page for synopsis writing, so I wasn't sure where to post this
"I've read more than fifty books on writing, writing novels, etc., but your website has the most useful and practical guidance. Now that I understand how a novel is structured, I will rewrite mine, confident that it will be a more interesting novel." - Lloyd Edwards
"Thanks to your "Create a Plot Outline in 8 Easy Steps," I was able to take a story that I simply just fooled around with and went willy nilly all over, into a clearly defined, intriguing battle where two characters fight to keep their relationship intact, and try to find a balance in control of themselves and their lives. Thanks to you, I'm not ashamed of the poor organization of my writing." - Nommanic Ragus
"I am so glad I found your site. It has helped me in so many ways, and has given me more confidence about myself and my work. Thank you for making this valuable resource, for me and my fellow writers. Perhaps you'll hear about me someday...I'll owe it to you." - Ruth, Milton, U.S.A.
"I never knew what to do with all the characters in my head, but since discovering Dramatica I am writing again in my spare time. Thank you for making this available. Yes, it is a bit complex, and it does take time, but I love it because it works." - Colin Shoeman
"I came across your website by chance. It is a plethora of
knowledge, written in a simplistic way to help aspiring writers. I
truly appreciate all of the information you have provided to help me
successfully (relative term) write my novel. Thank you very much!" - Leo T. Rollins
"I
can honestly say that this is the first website that is really helpful.
You manage to answer complex questions in relatively short articles and
with really intelligent answers. Thank you for taking the time to write
these articles and sharing them so generously." - Chrystelle Nash
"...had no idea that a simple click would give me such a wealth of valuable information. The site not only offered extremely clear and helpful instructions but was a very enjoyable read as well. The education from your wonderful site has made me a better writer and your words have inspired me to get back to work on my novel. I wish to give you a heartfelt thanks for How to Write a Book Now, sir." -- Mike Chiero