WRITING FOR CHILDREN
Spring cleaning
Amy Sparkes offers ways to polish your story and make it shine in the first of a mini-series
Amy Sparkes
Sometimes it is the little things which can make the biggest difference. Well-constructed plot, character, concept, voice and theme are all essential for a good children’s story. However, that may not be enough in itself to make your manuscript jump out at readers, whether that is children reading the story, or gatekeepers at an agency or publishing house. The good news, though, is that relatively small changes can help transform a story and elevate your writing. In this mini-series we look at ten areas you can develop to make your story shine. Here are the first five.
1 HOOK
Hooks entice your reader to read on in anticipation. You can use them in various ways to draw your reader into the story. A hook in the opening paragraphs or even the opening few lines can be very effective, raising questions which your reader wants to find out the answers to. If your reader starts with that ‘hooked’ feeling, it creates a very positive first impression.
A prologue can also work well as a hook, for example to explain – but also tease – something particularly intriguing or central to the story’s concept. This can be especially effective with fantasy or magical stories. (Bear in mind that not everyone is a fan of prologues, so it might be worth saving them for when they really add something to the story.)
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May 2021
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