“A fantasy story set in a fascinating world that draws you in - I finished the book in one day! Can't wait for the next one” (Amazon 5 star review)
“You must write for children in the same way as
you do for adults, only better” Maxim Gorky
It took several days to decide
what to write for this guest piece. Why
is writing for children different to writing for adults? Does one set off with the intention of
writing for children – or is it determined another way?
Children see easily through
weak plot lines or poor characterisation.
They have no time for stories that preach or talk down to them. It is essential that children’s stories are
well-written. But that is equally true
about stories written for adults, so what makes someone decide to write a children’s
book instead?
“Adults are only obsolete children” Dr Seuss, One fish, two fish
Many great writers became
children’s writers because of close relationships with their own children. Lord of
the Rings writer J R R Tolkein started his writing career by penning
illustrated letters to his children in the guise of Santa Claus. His great novel The Hobbit developed when he found an empty space in an exam paper
he was marking and felt compelled to fill it.
He wrote, “In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit.” He used this
sentence as the basis of a story which he re-told to his children, growing the
story as he went along.
Both Kenneth Grahame and A A
Milne had sons who inspired their writing.
Grahame’s son Alistair, otherwise known as ‘mouse’ was born with a visual
impairment. Grahame made up stories throughout Alistair’s childhood, developing
the characters in Wind in the Willows
we know and love today. It is believed
he created Mr Toad to teach young ‘mouse’ the difference between right and
wrong.
A A Milne’s son Christopher Robin Milne was
the inspiration behind Winnie the Pooh
and the House at Pooh Corner. Piglet, Eyeore and many of the other animal
characters were imagined from young Christopher’s stuffed toys.
As Madeleine L’Engle, author of A
Wrinkle in Time says,
“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for
grown-ups, then you write it for children.”
Beau Garnie & the Invisimin Mine evolved during a walk on the
local common with my young son Alex. We
imagined racing hares, moving mushrooms, intellectual rats and a tiny race of
people trying to survive in a magical world low on resources. The idea was conceived with Alex’s help; he
was crucial to the plot development, gave endless critiques, boosted my
flagging morale and would not let me give up.
The book could not have existed without him. It is a children’s book written by someone
who was once a child in cahoots with someone who is still a child (although
steaming rapidly towards teenager-hood).
Like the writers above, I
didn’t specifically set out to write for children. It just happened by being around them.
“I don’t write for children. I
write. And somebody says, that’s for
children.” Maurice Sendak, Where the
Wild things are.
Jacqueline Beard
# # #
About the Author
Jacqueline Beard is an English writer and
genealogist living in Gloucestershirem, UK, with her husband, son and Border terrier
where she spends much of her time dog walking through the glorious
Cotswolds. When not writing or
researching her extensive family tree, Jacqui can be found gardening, or
reading. Jacqui loves dogs, computers
and good quality chocolate but is a lousy cook. Visit Jacqueline's blog at http://jacquelinebeardwriter.wordpress.com/ and find her on Twitter @Jacquibwriter
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting