Writing: Kidzbooks...aims? Goals? Reminders?

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

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