Writing For Children – Where To Begin

If you have thought it would be nice to write for children, but you just weren’t sure where to begin, I have some suggestions for you. First of all, let’s talk about your motivation. Why do you want to write for children? If you are hoping for fame and fortune like J. K. Rowling, think again. Writing for children is a craft that takes years to perfect and even then the monetary gains may be very small for the amount of effort you have to put in. If you love children, enjoy reading children’s books, and surround yourself with children at work or at home, you may have what it takes to write for children.
There are many ways to enter the children’s publishing world. A good place to start is to decide what type of writing you want to do. Everyone immediately thinks of books, but there are many magazines, both print and electronic, that publish material for children. You may want to start small and build on your success. For example, you could write puzzles and craft pieces for magazines and later work on fiction stories or non-fiction books. Other writers just dive right in and begin with book-length manuscripts. It is a good idea to pick up a few books on children’s publishing and read about the children’s book industry before you begin. A few books that I have found helpful are: “How to Write a Children’s Book and Get it Published” by Barbara Seuling and “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books” by Harold D. Underdown and Lynne Rominger.
There are many types of books written for children. I will give you the name and a brief description of the different types of books available on bookshelves. A board book is a book for toddlers with bright colorful pictures and simple stories or concepts. A picture book is for children ages 3-8 with beautiful illustrations and word counts ranging from 200 – 1000 words. An adult usually reads a picture book to a child. An excellent example of a picture book is “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. An easy reader book is for beginning readers in Kindergarten through second grade. These books have simple, easy to read sentences with patterns or repetition of phrases or words. Chapter books are for children who have outgrown the easy reader stage and are ready for a challenge. These books have more action and dialogue than easy readers and contain about 80 – 100 pages. Young Adult books have a more complicated plot and a wide range of subject matter. Usually the hero or heroine in the book is about the same age as the reader. Finally, Hi-Lo books are for older children who are not reading at their grade level. They need books written in simple language, which discuss topics that interest teenagers. The books need high interest with a low reading level, thus the name hi-lo.
Children’s writers should read as many quality children’s books as they can. Choose the genre that interests you most, and read a variety of books from a variety of authors. No two styles are exactly alike. The subject matter of the books can be something simple, like a trip to the grocery store, to complex, like the death of a family member.
A writer must also find time to write. If you are just starting out then you probably have a job outside the home. Try to rework your schedule so you can find a little time each day for your writing. Small chunks of time can add up quickly. You might be able to write 500 words a day in 30 minutes or less. Take a notebook in your car and on errands with you. You might have to wait at the dentist’s office for fifteen minutes and sit in the carpool lane at the school for ten minutes. Use this valuable time for writing instead of daydreaming or talking on your cell phone.
Finally, once you have some stories down on paper, it is time to let someone read them. This is where a critique group comes in. I recommend that you find a critique group to join soon after you start writing. It’s nice to share your writing with family and friends, but they don’t always give you honest feedback. A local library or bookstore is a good place to look for a writer’s group to join. There are also many excellent on-line critique groups that allow you to send your critiques back when it is convenient for you. Whether you choose a group that meets in person or one that meets on the Internet, it will be a wise investment of your time.
Of course, I have only scratched the surface of the basics of writing for children. This business is not an easy one, but I guarantee it will be an adventure. Take the first step and see where it leads you.