May 12, 2004 10:54
I have a sore throat, and it's only midweek. Today is the long day, too.
But here are some things I keep in mind when I do a kidzbook. Not rules, or goals, or anything that organized. Just stuff I keep in mind.
* Short chapters read faster
* Stakes can be high, but see them through the kid's eye view
* Open narrow-focus. Things can get as complicated as one wants later, but open linear, pref. with an emotional hook that kids can relate to, and widen the focus an item at a time.
* Remember how kid socializing works.
* When in doubt, read kid writing, NOT writing for kids, ask kids at school, reread old diaries.
* Kid humor is, well, kid humor.
* Remember what adults looked like and sounded like through kids' eyes--and resist the impulse to let the adults be center of attention
writing,
ya,
kids