WRITING FOR CHILDREN
The rules of magic
If you’re writing fantasy, it’s worth making an effort to create the logic that will ensure your magic enchants young readers. Amy Sparkes sets out a checklist for you to follow
Fantasy
is one of the most popular genres in children’s fiction. It offers pure escapism from a troubled world, boundless imagination, and a safer place than reality to explore dark and difficult issues. Although the genre is extremely competitive, it is also very much on the wishlists of publishers and agents because they know the potentially huge commercial value of books within this genre.
When you’re writing a fantastical or magical story, it is important to consider how you are going to use the magic, and how it is going to work. Even though it is something literally out of this world, it all needs to makes perfect sense. Anything which is confusing, half-baked or which the author doesn’t really quite understand will always stand out. To avoid putting yourself in that situation, here are some tips.
GIVE MAGIC STRUCTURE
• LIMITATIONS Giving your magic some kind of framework to work within can help keep it under control, and ensure it serves the story instead of overpowering it. Think about what the limitations are of the magic in your storyworld. It’s important that not every problem can be solved with magic, otherwise this can have a negative effect on story – conflicts can run the risk of becoming too easily resolved. As well as allowing story to breathe, giving magic limits can also help it feel more believable. If the magic begins to feel unrealistic and over the top, even within the context of its world, then the storytelling begins to fall apart.