A Childrens Fiction Book
Is Not Just For Kids

Because, at least with the youngest set, you're going to have to read it a million times!

So, if you want to write in this genre, don't forget the adults who read them, too. Make them entertaining for both generations, and you'll be sought after for more.


For the Child in All of Us

Unless you can remember what it's like to be a kid (and a young kid), you won't have lots of success writing a childrens fiction book.

I personally know several dozen adults who have never really grown up. Give them goofy rhymes and illustrations, and they'll laugh as hard or harder than the kids.

So writing in this genre should include thought put into whether or not the adults will enjoy reading it aloud.

Of course, once you get past the early kid's books, the little sponges will read voraciously themselves. And in those, you can cater only to the kids. Some of the most avid readers tend to be 8-11 year olds, and many of them can read to themselves just fine.

Don't forget illustrations, even with the slightly older reader. They'll enjoy the book more with pictures to depict what's going on. So will the adult who reads this level book aloud to the child with reading difficulties (been there personally).


Rules of the Road

The rules for writing a childrens fiction book have changed, just like it has in fiction books for teens . For one, they're populated with stronger characters than earlier books.

However, don't go messing with material too mature for this audience. It's still full of clean characters and entertainment that modern kids can relate to.

The age range for writing these books is 5-12, or thereabout. But within that range, you should really choose a narrower range. What entertains a five-year-old will bore the twelve-year-old to griping. (And you don't want to listen to that, do you?)

Other rules include no preaching to the kids, no swearing and don't use current slang. It won't be current long enough to keep your book in print for more than a couple years.

Make it vivid by using all five senses so the book comes to life. Kids have short attention spans, especially these days, with TV, computers, game boxes and iPods to compete for that attention. So capturing and holding their attention is vital to your income.

Life may not always be rosy, even for kids now, but steer clear of darker themes if you're going to write for kids. They don't need it in fiction when reality provides it.

And don't forget modern kids are exposed to many more cultures than kids of a generation ago. Be sure your cast includes a good variety of such characters and subjects.

Last, but probably most important, let the kid characters you create solve their own problems. No adults swooping in to rescue them. Remember, the characters are stronger than they were in older books.

So, if you want to write a childrens fiction book, follow the rules, hang out with a few kids if you need to remember what it was like, then write for those kids.


(A note to the literate: The web can not follow all the grammar rules we mere humans are constrained by. It's not smart enough.

So, while I know how to correctly spell "children's fiction" you'll see it on this page as "childrens fiction" in deference to the less intelligent internet. My apologies for those it irritates (I'm right there with you!)