Writing in general is a tough craft, although many may not think so. The writer has to take individual words and craft them into: interest, suspense, romance, humor, grief, fantasy, other worlds… the list goes on and on. And, it must be done with clarity.
While there is an abundance of information about writing and writing for children, it can easily become overwhelming and even confusing. But, getting down to the nitty-gritty, there are two basic elements or rules to writing fiction for children you need to be aware of: creating believable characters and having conflict.
So, what’s involved in creating character believability and conflict?
1. Your Characters Need Believability
Your characters, especially your protagonist, need to build a bond with the reader. In order to create that bond, you will need to care about your characters. If you don’t, you’ll never get a reader to care. Make your characters believable, relatable, and interesting.
In addition, you will need to know your characters and remember their traits, physical characteristics, temperament, and so on. I’m sure there are instances, if you’re writing by the seat-of-your-pants rather than from an outline, where your character may do something you didn’t plan, but usually it’s a good idea to know what makes your character tick.
Even the choices your protagonist makes will help define him and create a deeper bond with the reader. Does he take the high road to reach his goals, or does he sneak in under the wire? Does he create options to choose from, or is he swept along by the current of the story, grabbing at lifelines for survival? Are his choices a struggle?
You can keep track of your characters’ quirky telltale marks, expressions, behavior patterns, and physical features by noting them on a page as they become unveiled.
2. Conflict is a must
A story’s conflict is like a detour or obstacle in the road from point A to point B. The protagonist must figure out a way over, around, under, or through it.
Conflict will drive your story forward and give the reader a reason to stay involved. Conflict is basically an obstacle between your protagonist and what she wants or needs. It may be a crisis, a desire, a relationship, a move, or something else. These conflicts can be caused by internal or external factors. Does overcoming one obstacle/conflict lead to another? Does the character have help, or are others thwarting her efforts?
Along with this, there should be more than one conflict. For children’s writing, there may be two or three conflicts; as one is overcome, another takes its place. A good rule is to think in threes: three characters, three problems, and three solutions.
These basic tips should help you understand what’s involved in building character believability and conflict. There are many more tips that I’ll touch on in other articles.
MORE ON WRITING FOR CHILDREN
Rewriting a Folktale – Walking Through Walls
The Outline Method of Writing (Are You an Outliner?)
Submitting Manuscript Queries – Be Specific and Professional
I’m a working children’s ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach. I can help turn your story into a book you’ll be proud to be the author of, one that’s publishable and marketable.
OTHER HELP I OFFER:
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