Coulisse

The main points in writing a children’s book.

• Theme
  • Keep your theme positive, and offer constructive ways to deal with the main conflict.
  • Don’t immediately spit out your theme. Emerge into it, but don’t make it take forever.
• Plot
  • The conflict often takes form and the main character must resolve it. They should put in effort, and either succeed or fail.
  • Basic sequence of plot stages: arrival of conflict, initial success of the main character, reversals, final victory, and outcome.
• Story Structure
  • In your narration, make a choice between using first person or third person voice. In first, the story’s told by one of the characters. Third person is usually the story described as an invisible force.
  • In the beginning, jump right into the action, and end the story promptly.
• Characters
  • Know your characters well enough before you start writing.
  • Your main character should be one that the reader can relate with. He/she should be around the age of the group of your audience.
• Setting
  • Set your story in a place and time that will be interesting or familiar.
• Style and Tone
  • Write simply and directly, in short words, short sentence, short paragraphs.
  • Use language that creates an atmosphere or “tone” suited to your story.