Writing Tips Wednesday—Why Write Fiction for Kids?

Here at the Storyteller Squad, we write for kids. Is that because we’re not good enough to write for big people?

Absolutely not. Writing novels for children, tweens and teens requires more thought and effort than fiction for grownups. If anything, your prose needs to be more vivid, your verbs more full of life, your pacing more captivating, your humor more on point, and your story structure crisper to hook younger audiences.

If it takes so much more, why bother?

Because writing for young readers is critical. And a whole lot of fun.

WHY WRITE FOR KIDS?

• We need readers who will become thinkers. Kids who read develop better reasoning skills and a broader knowledge of the world.
• Reading trains and teaches kids. All books have a message. Not all messages are good. We let our worldview of faith shape the meanings behind our novels.
• If we don’t offer them something invigorating, uplifting, inspirational, and demonstrating kindness, youth have plenty of unhealthy choices clamoring for their attention instead. The ones that scare me the most are the stories that glamorize witchcraft, sorcery, and monsters. There’s a real darkness out there. I’ve felt it. I don’t want anyone to go there. Write light.

QUICK TPS

These are thoughts I keep in mind when I write my novels.

• Don’t write down to kids. They’re more cerebral and aware than many grownups realize.
• Do take them outdoors. Let’s get away from cellphones and video games (unless those are key components of the story).
• Don’t be boring. Kids crave moralistic tales. They want battles between good and evil. They want to laugh. They want to enjoy life. Let them.
• Do pump up stories with adventure, danger, and silliness. Humor is huge!
• Don’t forget to add heart. Kids feel emotions more deeply than adults seem to believe. The thoughts and emotions are very real to youth and should be treated as such.
• Do show the things of God as part of everyday life. A reviewer once criticized one of my works because the kids weren’t saving all the God talk for inside church with proper pastoral supervision. No, no, and NO! I strongly disagree. We are called into everyday relationship, not to once-a-week ceremony.
• Don’t let grownups swoop in to save the day with platitudes and tut-tutting. Let the kids get into their own jams, and let them use reason, faith, research, and enough errors to keep us entertained as they figure out how to get unstuck. (However, don’t make adults stupid. Even while you are teaching your young readers to think and pray, don’t inadvertently send the message that the advice and experience of their elders must be shunned. Learning to ask for help is a good lesson.)

HAVE FUN

This is a ministry. These stories are extremely valuable. Our youth need solid influences. But if you’re not having fun, get out and leave it to someone else. If you’re not having fun, it will show. Write with humor, heart, eagerness, abandon, and earnestness. Souls are at stake. It’s a serious calling, but one that needs to be enjoyed.