Sitting at the computer with a blank Word document in front of you may be intimidating for a writer. You just finished one manuscript, or you’ve hired someone to ghostwrite a story, or whatever the reason is, you need or want to write a children’s story.
Hmmm. What should it be about? You think and think. You gaze out the window. You draw a blank. You get a cup of coffee and get back to the keyboard. You still draw a blank.
Alexander Steele wrote a short article in the October 2010 issue of the Writer titled “Where can you find the seeds of a good story?” It was interesting to read that Herman Melville, author of Moby-Dick, had his own whaling adventures, which he used to create a wonderful and everlasting story. Steele advises, “Probably the most fertile place to look for ideas is right inside the backyard of your own life.”
You might be thinking you don’t have close contact with children and your childhood was boring, so you don’t have any experiences to draw on. Or you may be so busy living your life and raising your children that you don’t have time to stop and see all the amazing story opportunities right in your backyard. Well, even if these scenarios fit, you can take steps to rectify the situation.
Finding Story Ideas if You Don’t Have Close Contact with Children:
1. Turn on the TV. Yes, this is an excellent source for story ideas and for watching children’s behavior. While it may be within the confines of a scripted show, the writers try to keep it as authentic as possible. Take note of the situations, the actors’ attitudes, mannerisms, and dialogue, the scenes, and everything else. Even children’s cartoons have engaging storylines. It may be just the spark you need.
2. Go to a playground with a notebook in hand. Watch the children play and listen to them talk. If you’re a professional writer (ghostwriter) or have already published, consider asking your local age-appropriate school if you could sit in the lunchroom during lunch periods.
A helpful way to get a positive answer would be to ask if you could give the students an author presentation or writing workshop. The principal would need to be sure you are a legitimate writer.
Note: If you go to a playground or other area where children are present, be sure to inform parents/guardians of what you’re doing. If you’re a published author, it’d be a good idea to bring a copy of one of your books with you, so they feel comfortable that you are indeed a writer.
It can be a dangerous world; always take precautions and keep children’s safety at the forefront.
3. Read newly published children’s books and reread ones you enjoyed as a child, then reinvent a story. I took advantage of this tip with my own children’s fantasy chapter book. I read an old Chinese tale and reinvented it for a children’s book. Multi-published children’s author Margot Finke reminded me of this ‘story idea source’ during a teleclass she presented.
Finke advised to study books you like, paying attention to why they work, and then crafting an entirely new story. She explained that “quirky and fresh” wins publishing contracts today.
Finding Story Ideas if You Do Have Close Contact with Children
1. Study the children you have contact with, whether your children, grandchildren, or other relatives. Children are an amazing source of inspiration and ideas. They have an innate ability to make you feel: just looking at a picture of children may make you smile; hearing a baby laugh can actually make you laugh.
Watch the children. Notice their mannerisms, body language, movements, attitudes, emotions, speech, and interactions with other children and adults. Notice everything. You’ll not only get story ideas but also dialogue and ‘showing’ descriptions.
2. If you regularly interact with children, you really shouldn’t need any other steps; just listen, observe, and take notes. But if the characters’ ages in your new story differ from those of the children you see, use the steps noted above for writers who don’t have contact with children.
If you have any suggestions for finding children’s writing ideas, please let us know in the comments.
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Writing Children’s Books – Genre Differences
Writing a Fiction Story – Walking Through Walls Backstory
I’m a working children’s ghostwriter, book doctor, editor, and self-publisher. I help turn your idea, outline, or manuscript into a book you’ll be proud to call your own—and provide hands-on guidance through every step of the self-publishing process.
OTHER HELP I OFFER:
HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S FICTION BOOK
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