Chapter 13
Once Upon a Time: Writing for Children
IN THIS CHAPTER
Recognizing that writing for children is tougher than it seems
Understanding the needs of different age groups
Going arty with comic books
Delving into nonfiction
Before you pick up your pen to start writing for children, you need to do some careful thinking and some research. Books for children need to be very tightly focused on the specific age group you’re writing for – huge differences exist between writing for toddlers, early readers, and teenagers. You also need to consider the relationship between illustrations and the text and ensure the vocabulary fits the age range you’re aiming at.
When writing for children, many people think of the classic books they enjoyed when small, many of which are still in print today. However, just because these books are still read doesn’t mean that publishers want more of the same. Today, editors are looking for something new, original, and related to the fast-paced modern world. Contemporary children are easily bored and so much competition exists for their attention that a ...
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