Writing books for children is a remarkably interesting and exciting job that will most likely capture the interest of some writers. This is because, to a large extent, you will need to put yourself in the children’s world to write something that appeals to them. That is not as easy as one might think, because a lot of effort will be required. However, here are some tips that will help you write for children.
Read some good children’s books.
When you take your time to read as many children’s books as possible, you will know the content that children are reading today and this will serve as a great guide for you when deciding the things to write about or include in your writing to capture and keep their attention.
Spend quality time with your target audience.
This is another resourceful tool for your work. You should interact and communicate with children about their favourite books, movies, etc. This should apply specifically to the age group for which you intend to write. When you spend time with them, you will learn the things that interest them. If you have the opportunity, you can also read to children and note what gets their reactions the most.
Do online research.
Carry out some research on the internet to find out which children’s books are popular. Also, discover the books that capture the attention of parents (for their kids) and children as well. Do not limit your research to what you find out from your children’s or friends’ children. Do a broad survey.
Make it fun.
Ensure you put in a lot of humour to make your book more interesting. This is because kids love to laugh. Consider yourself a child and let your thoughts run wild. Many times, the silliest ideas become a hit with children.
Keep it simple.
Stick to the use of simple English. Do not forget your target audience. They are not college graduates; they are kids. Let your book fit into their age bracket. Unlike adults, the levels of comprehension amongst children differ and vary to quite a large extent. The way you would write for a five-year-old differs from how you would for a child about to leave grade school. Write for a particular reading level, decide on the level before you start. Focus on your selected audience.
Cover design magic
Let the cover design of your book be eye-catching, with colourful images and suitable fonts. Fonts that are larger and very bold are more attractive to children. Your book has to stand out among several on the shelves of bookstores if you want it to sell fast. Go to your local bookstore and find out the books that get the most attention. Look out for what makes them more attractive, then take it a step or two higher when producing your own. It would improve the acceptance of your books in the market.
So remember, when you write for younger children, keep everything simple and fun. Always do your research and have a great cover design that catches their attention.
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