Image ID: A group of five children face the camera as they appear to examine something on the ground. One looks through a magnifying glass.
The inimitable Maurice Sendak once said, “I do not believe that I have ever written a children’s book. I don’t write for children. I write—and somebody says, ‘That’s for children!’”
If we are to subscribe to this sentiment (and I agree that we should), where does that leave a writer who aspires to write for children?
Children’s brains are primed for stories and learning; imagination and wonder come naturally to them. Young people experience the world through a lens of curiosity. While robots, magical creatures, and faraway lands captivate some children, others are drawn to realistic stories about places they recognize. Regardless of their proclivities, every child moves through life constantly piecing together how everything works.
Our task as writers is to reconnect with our own sense of curiosity about the world. To ask “I wonder. . .” and let our imaginations answer the question without the constraints of adulthood. When we write for children, it is imperative we reopen our minds to that childlike sensibility.
From a craft standpoint, it may be argued there is no such thing as “writing for children,” but children’s books are most decidedly a thing. Children’s literature (across all age ranges, from picture books to Young Adult) remains one of the fastest growing categories in publishing. cores of agents and publishers are eager to declare “that’s for children!”
Therefore if we wish our books to be published and purchased as children’s literature, it’s vital to understand the norms and trends of the various age categories, and to know what agents and publishers hope for from the manuscripts that come across their desks.
Because authors play a key role in marketing their books, it’s also important to understand how children’s books find their ways into the hands of readers—the gatekeepers and avenues for discovery—and how connecting with children differs from connecting with adults.
If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of the Kidlit universe, I have a few resources to share with you.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is a fantastic organization that provides resources, professional networking, and community-building opportunities to writers of children’s books through all stages of their careers.
At Allegory Editing, we love working on books for children—Middle Grade and YA are two categories that we specialize in—and over the past few years we’ve held a few workshops on the topic. We don’t normally do this, but because you took the time to read this article, I would love to give you free access to the recordings of these events. Here’s more info and links to view:
KidLit 101: From Picture Books to YA
This is one of our mini-sessions, where we give you bite-sized information on a topic. These events are always free, so if you’d like to hear first when we hold our next one, be sure to sign up for our newsletter. (Bonus, by signing up for our monthly writing tips newsletter, you’ll get a promo code to attend one of our live online workshops for free!)
In this mini-session, I give an overview of all KidLit age categories from picture books to Young Adult and everything in between. It’s a great introduction to the topic.
Writing for Children
This is one of our paid workshops, so you’re getting a special freebie here! KidLit continues to be one of the fastest growing sectors of the publishing industry. It's also an area in which writers frequently make missteps with their manuscripts. In this workshop, I talk about what it takes to write for children from picture books through Middle Grade (touching on issues such as “to rhyme or not to rhyme” in picture books and “is this topic appropriate for middle grade?”), discuss practical tips on craft, and go over KitLit marketing strategies.
Click here to view Writing for Children
Exploring YA
Ever wonder what distinguishes YA from Adult Fiction and Middle Grade Fiction? Or how the norms and expectations of the category have shifted in recent years? What about sex, drugs, and swearing? What’s in and what’s out? In this workshop, I delve into the ins and outs of writing YA to help you catch the eye of agents, publishers, and readers. In addition to craft, I also touch on the business side of the category, including gatekeepers and ways for authors to attract YA readers.