How to Write Stories for Children

Stories are an integral part of one’s childhood. Most of us grew up reading and listening to tales of courage and bravery, such as Ramayana and Mahabharata, and they are still engraved in every child’s memory. Children usually remember the stories from their childhood for the rest of their lives; hence, story writing for kids is not an easy task.

Here are some tips on ‘How To Write Stories for Children’

• Select an age group

The author must decide who their target audience is before they write their book. Books for children aged five to eight require a lot of illustrations, and the language has to be simple and clear. As age increases, one can use difficult vocabulary, and illustrations may not be required. Most children in the age group of eight to ten are first-time readers, hence, the length of the book should not be more than 25,000 words.

• Write a basic story line

Once you have decided your target audience, it is time to outline the plot and write the first draft of your book. Some authors prefer to decide a basic outline and then continue the story

• Create memorable character

The characters in your story need to be relatable and likeable, and the reader must be able to identify with the protagonist’s qualities in the story. Most kids’ stories have a child from the intended age group as the lead, for example, Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. Kids usually get inspired by characters in a book. To deal with this, one can write every character’s name in the outline and list out their qualities and see if they enhance the plot.

• Decide the theme of your book

Always select a plot that will capture a child’s imagination and take them on a wonderful journey. Fantasy novels such as the Harry Potter series and The Jungle Book appeal to the younger crowd, as they open new worlds for them. A story’s theme is very important, as it is the central idea a book revolves around. Common themes in children’s books are friendships, family, moral values and responsibility.

• Effective story building

Every book is set in a certain background, and the book’s theme and characters are based in that setting. One can create their own realm and place their characters in the plot accordingly. Who can forget the magical world of Hogwarts in Harry Potter, the middle earth in The Lord of the Rings and the mystical land of Narnia! While one does not need to do the same, try to create something unique and beautiful. The personification of non-living things and talking animals and objects seem to do the trick for most children’s stories.

• Create Moral Stories

Most children’s stories have a moral so that the reader can obtain a valuable lesson from the book. ‘You are what you read’. What one reads determines their attitude and perception of the world. Especially in stories written for young children, try to incorporate moral and elements that interest them while deciding the plot for the story.

Happy endings always work for children, Do remember that children have short attention spans, so break your content into small paragraphs and chapters. Keep revising your draft till you are satisfied with it, and try to put yourself in the reader’s shoes to see if there is anything more you can add to the book.

I hope this article will be helpful to you. Follow Lone Thread Books to learn more about reading, writing, and publishing.

| By, Aswy Hanna Paul, Lone Thread Books. |