The Writing Elements Mix – Is There a Right Balance? | Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi

Writing can be thought of as a recipe, a handful of plot, a quarter cup of setting, a half cup of dialogue, and a half cup of action and forward movement. Then you also need to add just the right amount of theme, character, setting, and style. Stir it all together, bake for several months (it might take longer, depending on your oven), and that’s it.

Ah, if it were only that simple.

Today, there are a number of writing rules that didn’t plague writers years ago, when the world was slower, and people actually had time to sit and read at a leisurely pace. Writers had the luxury of setting scenes in detail and didn’t have to worry about ‘telling’ too much.

Now, publishers want your story to begin with a BAM. Grab the reader right away or you’ll lose her. And it’s important that setting and telling are limited. In addition, don’t forget to seamlessly weave your characters’ backstory into the mix.

This especially true for children’s stories.

So, what is the right balance of writing elements that will create a successful story?

Well, there really isn’t a pat formula. Each story will call for its own particular amount of elements, and each publisher will have her own set of rules that the author must adhere to. But there are certain basics that all stories must contain.

The five basic elements of a story are:

Plot: The arrangement of circumstances and/or events in the story, including conflicts and resolution.

Character: Without the main character and supporting characters, the plot is useless. It is the character’s struggle to overcome the conflicts or obstacles in his path that gives the plot life.

Setting: This element includes the story’s physical backdrop, time period, and location.

Atmosphere or Tone: The mood, including the setting, characters, their clothing, weather, and other elements within the story, determines the tone of the story.

Style: The author’s way of expressing herself. Sentence structure, diction, choice of words, point of view, imagery, and symbols are all means of conveying a story that is unique to the author.

Regarding the amount or balance of each element, the objective is to create a story that continually moves forward toward a satisfying conclusion while holding the reader’s attention. You can have a plot-driven story or a character-driven story. You can also have a story with a lot of dialogue, but it must be focused, coherent, and engaging.

Often, as you self-edit your own work, you won’t be able to see if the elements are just right. To remedy this, have it critiqued and have an editor review it to see if you’re on the mark. Then, after all that, it will be up to the publisher’s acquisition editor to give the final say on whether you have just the right balance of writing elements for a successful story.

Or, after all that, you will need to determine if it’s self-publishing ready.

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:

HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S FICTION BOOK
A DIY book to help you write your own children’s book.

FICTION WRITING FOR CHILDREN eCOURSE
4-Weeks / 8 Sections Guided Self-Study Program

WRITERS ON THE MOVE SELF-PUBLISHING SERVICE
Self-publishing help for children’s authors
(Picture books and chapter books)

You can contact me at kcioffiventrice@gmail.com.