Unlocking the Magic

Why Writers Should Explore the World of Children’s Books

There are two train of thoughts regarding whether or not writing a children’s book is a good idea.

For some writers, the thought of writing children’s fiction is akin to career suicide, believing wrongly that is not true writing and should be avoided at all costs.

For others, not only do they value this kind of literature, but truly enjoy the experience of creating new worlds for youngsters, teaching them new things and encouraging them to fall in love with reading.

I’m firmly in the second camp.

In fact, I won a national award a few years ago for one of my children’s novels, DarkIsle.

So, why should writers create for children and Young Adults? What’s in it for you?

From my own point of view, I loved writing my DarkIsle series. A serial reader from a young age, I’ve always loved fantasy. However, when I first started out on my writing career many moons ago, I did not even consider writing for kids. Instead, I began to write books for adults, believing this to be my true path.

Then those rejection letters began to come flying through the letterbox (trust me, there were many of them).

And my heart sank lower and lower.

And I began to reevaluate my talent or (as I thought at the time) lack of it.

I was on the verge of giving up writing altogether when I remembered a story I had begun in my early 20s centring around a dragon statue overlooking Irvine Beach in Scotland. I wondered what would happen if that dragon ever came alive and DarkIsle was born.

I wrote that novel over the course of six months, putting everything into it that I had loved as a kid in books: a child going on a quest, talking animals, evil witches and warlocks, a castle with secret passageways and an exciting, dangerous adventure where the baddies would get their comeuppance and good would prevail.

And I sent it off.

And it got published.

And I was commissioned to write two sequels, which I did.

That first novel saved me from giving up on my dreams of being a full-time writer. It gave me the confidence to keep working away at my writing, improving my technique and letting my imagination run riot as I carefully crafted the next books.

It gave me the confidence to keep going and it made me believe that I was actually good enough a writer to actually make money.

Now, I have ten published books and two more at the editing stage (including one for Young Adults). I’m about to embark on another fantasy novel for adults and I have a whole raft of ideas for future book series.

And I will write them all. Eventually.

So, why should you consider writing for children and teens? I know why I did it and here’s some reasons why I think you should give it a go:

· It’s fun and you get a lot of pleasure out of creating a story aimed at youngsters. Yes, you still have to put in the work — even books for babies can take some time to get right — but it’s so worth it.

· You get to inspire and educate kids. There’s nothing more amazing that receiving feedback from kids who have loved your books. I’ve had children write me letters, I’ve had them lost for words when they met me at book signings, I’ve had them create their own castles and artwork based on my novels. It’s wonderful.

· You get to inspire more kids to read. I took my kids’ books around various classrooms in Scotland and was often told by teachers that even kids that didn’t enjoy reading loved my books.

· Children’s books can also teach youngsters about diverse cultures and hard subjects such as mental health, environmental conservation, homelessness, social justice and addiction. They can make children feel special and included, especially when they see people like themselves being represented in literature. It’s a wonderful way of bringing people together.

· Books provide families with the opportunity to bond with their kids over a great story. Babies and toddlers love to be read to, older kids enjoy sharing their favourite story with their mum or dad. Your book could become a family legacy, beloved of generations of young readers.

And finally, writing for children can offer a wide range of opportunities to authors. The market is thriving and there’s plenty of room for new names. A successful book for kids can also lead to other things such as film and tv adaptations, graphic novels and plays. Just look at the success of authors such as Terry Pratchett, J K Rowling, Neil Gaiman and Suzanne Collins.

Yes, there’s no doubt that writing children’s literature can be fulfilling. Not only can you connect with young readers and leave a lasting impression on their psyche, but you will be contributing to the literary and cultural landscape in many meaningful ways.

What are you waiting for? Get your fingers on your keyboard and start writing!

I’ve written a book on how to write for children and young adults. Writing Magic — Creating Enchanting Stories for Children and Teens aims to help you improve your writing, spark creativity and help you be inspired wherever you go. It covers a range of subjects from plot to characters and pace, and there’s even a section at the back talking about how to get published and what to expect after your book has hit the shelves.

And if you’re a teacher struggling to teach creative writing, there’s a section in there for you too. It’s chock full of ideas about how you can link reading children’s books to other class activities such as history, geography and art. It will give you the confidence and skills to successfully teach writing to children.

Buy Magic — Creating Enchanting Stories for Children and Teens, https://dawnauthor.gumroad.com/l/writingmagic