Writing For Children What Drives A Children’s Story

If someone were to ask you what it is about some of your favorite books that you find most compelling, you may be inclined to answer with something like, “It has an exciting plot,” “It’s fast paced,” or some other answer about the storyline. However, upon deeper reflection, you may come to realize that what’s often the most compelling about certain stories is the emotional drive behind the primary storyline. Sure, an interesting plot line is essential for a good story, but what’s behind the steering wheel of that plot? What’s really driving the story?
For many readers, a strong emotional connection to the characters and their situations is what keeps them reading. After all, if you don’t care about the characters, you’re much more likely to stop turning the page and instead turn to a different book altogether. This concept, of finding ways to allow the reader to connect to the character, is used throughout literature and movies. It’s how authors make you care about the “bad guy” in some books and movies. This idea is not limited to adult literature, however. Compelling children’s stories also allow the reader (or listener) to enter the story and connect with characters and situations.
Think about some of your favorite childhood stories. What was it about those stories that made you want to read them over and over? Even stories for the youngest child can create a connection. “Goodnight Moon,” the classic board book by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd is one such example. Initially, the story seems very simple. A young rabbit boy says goodnight to the various things in his room before going to sleep. However, in doing so, the story depicts a safe and comforting environment for the child, an atmosphere that resonates with young children–and a reason why this story has remained popular for so many years.
Stories for older readers can accomplish the same thing. The idea is to keep the story and concepts age appropriate, as is done in “Goodnight Moon.” Judy Blume’s “Blubber” addresses issues that many kids can relate to, such as feeling like an outsider and being bullied. More recently the Harry Potter books deal with an assortment of issues that resonate with young readers, such as feeling different, finding one’s inner strength, and facing one’s fears.
Effective stories for children often appear to be simple stories; however, a closer look reveals that these stories address complex issues that many young people can relate to on an emotional level–and this is what keeps readers coming back for more. How do you do this in your own writing? To drive your story, think about what drives your character. What does he or she want? Why is he or she acting in a particular way, or going to a particular place? What does your character hope to achieve? By asking yourself a few questions about your character’s motivation, you can find your own in writing the story–and this will help motivate children to read your story.