Posted by on Nov 5, 2011 in
Writing Books Get excited about writing children’s books! Write bestselling books for kids of all ages! Writing for kids can be rewarding: discover how to write bestselling kids’ books by knowing what your target readers want.
<b>Writing Children’s Books for a Target Audience</b>
First, choose your target readers: babies, toddlers, preschoolers, beginners or preteens. A story that’s a potential bestseller with one age group may fall flat with another.
It’s important to decide on the age level before you start writing: this will determine the kind of book you write, the length and complexity of your story, and the number, ages and treatment of your characters.
Studies in childhood development show that as kids grow from babyhood to the preteen years, they look for different kinds of books.
<b>Writing Children’s Books for the Earliest Years: Toddler and Baby Books</b>
Babies and toddlers love to listen to simple tales revolving round the familiar world of home, family and friends. Also popular are adventures of mischievous children, talking animals or toys that come alive.
<b>Babies</b> love to hear about the doings of other babies (especially naughty ones) and baby animals. Learn from bestselling baby books like <i>Welcome, Little Baby</i> by Aliki and <i>Spot the Puppy</i> by Eric Hill.
<b>Toddlers</b> enjoy stories with lots of repetition, catchy words and rhymes. Take a cue from favorite children’s books like <i>Goodnight Moon</i> by Margaret Wise Brown and <i>Jamberry</i> by Bruce Degen. Toddlers also love to hear about the escapades of other kids and talking animals, as in the Alfie stories by Shirley Hughes and the Little Crittur series by Mercer Mayer.
<b>Writing Children’s Books for Preschoolers</b>
Although some preschoolers may have started to read by themselves, most will still have adults reading to them. How your story sounds is therefore very important; read it aloud — does it flow smoothly? Does the story hold your attention?
Books about family and school life are popular with preschoolers, especially if they’re funny stories with children or animals as the principal characters. Get a taste of kid humor from bestselling children’s books like <i>Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day</i> by Judith Viorst, and <i>If You Give a Mouse a Cookie</i> by Laura Numeroff.
<b>Writing Children’s Books for Grade School Kids: Beginner Readers and Chapter Books</b>
<b>Beginner books</b> — also called easy-to-reads — are for kids just starting to read by themselves. The writer’s aim is to make the reading experience a pleasurable one for the child, who can then claim to have read the book “all by myself”. This happy result comes about when the vocabulary and sentences are kept simple and concrete. Most beginner books run to only about 1,000 to 1,500 words, or between 40 and 64 pages.
<b>Chapter books</b> are for more advanced readers, and may range from 1,500 words to 10,000 words, or between 40 and 80 pages. They are usually divided into chapters of 3 to 4 pages each.
Grade school kids enjoy funny stories, and fast-paced adventure and fantasy stories revolving round family, school and friends. To understand what appeals to kids, look at popular children’s books like <i>Kids of the Polk Street School</i> series by Patricia Reilly Giff, the <i>Babysitters Club</i> series by Ann M Martin, and <i>Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing</i> and sequels by Judy Blume.
<b>Writing for Preteens</b>
Preteens want their stories to zip along at a fast pace, with plenty of action, adventure and humor. They prefer protagonists who are their own age or slightly older: active, intelligent, resourceful characters capable of solving problems by themselves.
Preteens look for stories that address relationship and growing-up issues in a way they can identify with: books such as <i>The Divorce Express</i> and <i>Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice?</i>, both by Paula Danziger and <i>Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret</i> by Judy Blume.
For more tips and ideas on writing children’s books, visit http://www.creativejuicesbooks.com/creative-writing-ideas-kids.html to help you write the best books for kids.
Tags: Bestselling, Books, Children's, Kids, write, Writing
Posted by on Aug 12, 2011 in
Writing Books Are you in the progress of writing a children’s book? Have you thought about writing a nice little story that children and their caregivers would like to read? There is defiantly a need for more well written children’s books. Write a children’s book, you never know what might happen if you do!
Writing for children is a fun and creative and the stories you can write can be filled with excitement and imagination. Once you know what you’re doing; you could be asked to write books faster than you can come up with the ideas. Wouldn’t that be nice. You could be busy for quite awhile or choose to write whenever you want!
Before you start or if you already have, have a look at the following 5 best-kept secrets that you need to know when you write a children’s book! These guidelines will help you to make sure your children’s book is as great as it can be!
1. Research
Do your research. Research what you’re writing about. If your story idea is based on something you’re not exactly sure about or the story is unclear to you, your readers will probably pick up on this. When you write a children’s book ensure you do your research so your writing is clear and valuable to the reader. It is important to do your research so you’re knowledge of the situation is credible for the reader. The worst thing is leaving your reader thinking “What if….Be precise and straight to the point. Don’t ramble into too much detail; again, you will lose the interest of the reader.
2. Characters.
Have you made the big mistake a lot of writers of children’s books are making? Many beginner writers develop a wonderful story that they believe everyone will fall in love with then they try to fit the characters around this storyline. This can see you in a wee bit of trouble down the line. The best way to create realistic characters your readers will connect with and care about is to develop them first! Get to know everything about the characters you create. Know their physical characteristics, their personality traits, their background and emotions. The more you know about them the better off your story will be! This will show your readers you have passion toward them and will project through your writing. Therefore, your audience will want to find out what happens to them.
3. Mood of the story.
As most of us writers know, you rarely sit down and write a book cover to cover in one sitting right! Unless you don’t fancy sleeping, then you are the minority. The rest of us will write in sections or little bits here and there. Attempt to write when you are in the same mood you were in when you were last writing. Otherwise, you might have a situation where the readers emotions are up and down throughout the story. This can be quite upsetting for a young child. Another reason could be when the beginning is fulled of excitement, the middle is dull and the best is saved till last. You’ll probably end up with an uncomfortable read for your audience. Try to divide the drama throughout the story and keep the tone and mood steady. You don’t want to lose the reader before they get to the best part of the story.
4. The Plot
When you write a children’s book, as it is with all books, the plot is another important aspect to consider. Especially when writing for children. Children are more likely to look to the characters as role models. Therefore, when you are creating the plot for your children’s book, you need to keep your audience in mind. All great books have one thing in common, weather it’s for children or adults.It’s plot will have some sort of conflict! There are two types of conflict, internal and external. Internal conflict is when the main character has to deal with a conflict from within. For example, fear, insecurities or a struggle of right and wrong. External conflict is when the main character has a conflict to deal with outside of their control. For example other people, animals, or a situation where they have no control. Add some sort of conflict to the characters journey and you have a great story!
5. “show, don’t tell”
Have you heard about “show, don’t tell”? All modern day writers are now using the “show, don’t tell” way of writing. You can defiantly learn how to write in this style, and I strongly recommend that you do. But “show, don’t tell” is where you become a ‘storyshower’ and not a storyteller. What I am trying to explain here is, that even though writers are telling the story, you want to show your readers what is happening so they can create a picture in their mind. This can be done through description. Show your reader how the character is feeling, their actions, their physical reactions and body language, where they are in the story, etc. Add description of the surroundings and the feel of what’s happening around them so you reader feels like they are standing next to them. Show the reader through description as much as possible to add depth to the story. Imagine a movie; the director doesn’t put words up on screen when a character is sad, happy or excited. He instructs the actors to act a certain way and show through their faces and actions how they are feeling. This is the same with an author. You must give enough description to show your readers how the characters are feeling and the situation they are facing.
I hope you have found these 5 best-kept secrets helpful when you are planning how you will write a children’s book. Next comes editing, proofing and formatting. Remember to find out what individual publishers are looking for so you have the most success when submitting your manuscript. Don’t forget to check for grammar and spelling mistakes so you finished result will look professional.
Tags: Book, Children's, Know, Need, Tips, write
Posted by on Mar 13, 2011 in
Writing Skills Writing is an essential means of communication that impacts every aspect of our lives. We write grocery lists, notes, directions, resumes, letters, and the list goes on and on. Children in the early stages of their development are eager to write. As they get older, however, this enthusiam dwindles and they become less interested in the subject.
In the classroom, educators use a writing process that is complex and systematic. It involves a number of steps that begins with the prewriting stage where students are required to brainstorm and generate new ideas, and culminates with the publishing stage where students write their final copy for publication. Publication can be in the form of sharing the piece with the class or displaying it on one of the school’s bulletin boards. In any case, the final copy is usually free of errors, as it is an improved version of the final draft. Organization and clarification are two critical components of the writing process. It is vital for students to organize their thoughts in a logical sequence, and clarify what they write. In order to better assist children at home, parents need to familiarize themselves with this process.
Writing should be enjoyable for children. Making it fun will ignite in them an enthusiasm for the subject. It should be presented to them in such a way that they are able to perceive the connection between writing and real life experiences. In this way, writing will be more meaningful, and children will develop a greater appreciation for it.
As an educator for over 23 years, one of the questions that I am frequently confronted with is: How can I help to improve my child’s writing skills at home? Below are some startegies that parents can implement to facilitate the development of good writing skills in their children:
1. First of all, ensure that all materials that are needed for writing such as lead pencils, markers, colored pencils, and paper are readily available to your children.
2. Younger children in particular are fascinated with drawing. Encourage them to do so. Then ask questions about the drawings. “That’s a beautiful drawing. What is the girl doing?” “Why is the boy crying?” “Can you tell me what is happening in the picture?” Use each drawing as a stimulus for writing. Be careful NOT to use negative words, but words of encouragement and praise. Find something positive to say about each drawing. If the drawing is colorful, let your children know that. Negative words can totally destroy children’s interest in writing. If they are at the stage where they can write, have them write a sentence or two about each drawing.
3. Encourage your older children to keep journals, as this is an excellent outlet for them to express their inner feelings and emotions. If they are willing to share their entries with you, utilize the opportunity to read and discuss what is written. You would be surprised at how much you can learn about your children just by reading their journals. People in general usually feel more comfortable putting their thoughts on paper as opposed to verbalizing them.
4. Suggest that your children write thank-you notes and letters of invitation. When they are away from home, encourage them to write postcards to friends, relatives, etc.
5. After a trip to a place of interest, have your children write a paragraph or two about their experiences. Having a discussion prior to writing will refresh their memories and is considered a brainstorming technique.
6. Suggest that your children write goals and how they plan to accomplish them. You could also participate in this activity by writing some of your own goals with them. It is important for you to demonstrate an interest in writing, as children need to know that you are interested in what they do.
7. Have children help you with writing grocery lists, directions, and instructions. After baking a cake together, moms could have daughters write instructions on how to bake a cake. Dads could have sons write instructions on how to build a bird house after constructing one together.
8. Studies have shown that children who are avid readers are not only better readers, but they are also better writers. Therefore, it is essential to encourage your children to read at home. What is equally important is for you to read a variety of age-appropriate literature to them, identifying unfamiliar words and clarifying the meaning of each one as you read. Make sure that you choose books that not only interest you, but interest them as well. This exposure will give them insight into how effective writers organize their thoughts and utilize details and elaboration. This will also help to fortify their vocabulary skills.
Children will not become prolific writers overnight. Like reading, writing takes time, so parents need to exercise patience. Implementing these activities at home consistently will ensure that children develop good writing skills that will last a lifetime.
Tags: Children's, Home, Improve, Parents, Skills, Their, Writing
Posted by on May 8, 2010 in
Writing Skills Writing is an essential means of communication that impacts every aspect of our lives. We write grocery lists, notes, directions, resumes, letters, and the list goes on and on. Children in the early stages of their development are eager to write. As they get older, however, this enthusiam dwindles and they become less interested in the subject.
In the classroom, educators use a writing process that is complex and systematic. It involves a number of steps that begins with the prewriting stage where students are required to brainstorm and generate new ideas, and culminates with the publishing stage where students write their final copy for publication. Publication can be in the form of sharing the piece with the class or displaying it on one of the school’s bulletin boards. In any case, the final copy is usually free of errors, as it is an improved version of the final draft. Organization and clarification are two critical components of the writing process. It is vital for students to organize their thoughts in a logical sequence, and clarify what they write. In order to better assist children at home, parents need to familiarize themselves with this process.
Writing should be enjoyable for children. Making it fun will ignite in them an enthusiasm for the subject. It should be presented to them in such a way that they are able to perceive the connection between writing and real life experiences. In this way, writing will be more meaningful, and children will develop a greater appreciation for it.
As an educator for over 23 years, one of the questions that I am frequently confronted with is: How can I help to improve my child’s writing skills at home? Below are some startegies that parents can implement to facilitate the development of good writing skills in their children:
1. First of all, ensure that all materials that are needed for writing such as lead pencils, markers, colored pencils, and paper are readily available to your children.
2. Younger children in particular are fascinated with drawing. Encourage them to do so. Then ask questions about the drawings. “That’s a beautiful drawing. What is the girl doing?” “Why is the boy crying?” “Can you tell me what is happening in the picture?” Use each drawing as a stimulus for writing. Be careful NOT to use negative words, but words of encouragement and praise. Find something positive to say about each drawing. If the drawing is colorful, let your children know that. Negative words can totally destroy children’s interest in writing. If they are at the stage where they can write, have them write a sentence or two about each drawing.
3. Encourage your older children to keep journals, as this is an excellent outlet for them to express their inner feelings and emotions. If they are willing to share their entries with you, utilize the opportunity to read and discuss what is written. You would be surprised at how much you can learn about your children just by reading their journals. People in general usually feel more comfortable putting their thoughts on paper as opposed to verbalizing them.
4. Suggest that your children write thank-you notes and letters of invitation. When they are away from home, encourage them to write postcards to friends, relatives, etc.
5. After a trip to a place of interest, have your children write a paragraph or two about their experiences. Having a discussion prior to writing will refresh their memories and is considered a brainstorming technique.
6. Suggest that your children write goals and how they plan to accomplish them. You could also participate in this activity by writing some of your own goals with them. It is important for you to demonstrate an interest in writing, as children need to know that you are interested in what they do.
7. Have children help you with writing grocery lists, directions, and instructions. After baking a cake together, moms could have daughters write instructions on how to bake a cake. Dads could have sons write instructions on how to build a bird house after constructing one together.
8. Studies have shown that children who are avid readers are not only better readers, but they are also better writers. Therefore, it is essential to encourage your children to read at home. What is equally important is for you to read a variety of age-appropriate literature to them, identifying unfamiliar words and clarifying the meaning of each one as you read. Make sure that you choose books that not only interest you, but interest them as well. This exposure will give them insight into how effective writers organize their thoughts and utilize details and elaboration. This will also help to fortify their vocabulary skills.
Children will not become prolific writers overnight. Like reading, writing takes time, so parents need to exercise patience. Implementing these activities at home consistently will ensure that children develop good writing skills that will last a lifetime.
Tags: Children's, Home, Improve, Parents, Skills, Their, Writing