Elements of Writing Children's Stories

• Whether you are working on a fantasy series or capturing your family's history in story form, you can write a memorable children's story that both engages and delights your audience. Writing a compelling story for children, though, involves much more than rhyming lines and talking animals. Instead, take time to develop the narrative, character and structural elements of your story. As you do, these elements will help to invite your reading and listening audience into the action of your story and to encourage them to care about and cheer for your central character.
  
  

Central Question

• As you write your children's story, take time to define a central question that your story will seek to answer. Try to capture your question in one sentence. If you cannot, your story may still not be focused enough. Central questions might be "What happens when we listen to others?" or "How can we bring about change?" To better understand the function of a central question, look at popular children's stories, such as "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak, and seek to identify the central question of each story.
  
  Once you know your central question, seek to answer it in one sentence and in a way that is relevant to your story. Ann Whitford Paul, in "Writing Picture Books," recommends "carefully formulating" your central question and answer, because when you do, "the writing of your [story] will be infinitely easier."
  
  

Character Study

• Write out an in-depth, multi-page character study for the central character of your children's story. Even though it may sound counter-intuitive, particularly if your character study is longer than your final story, a thorough character study will help you to know your central character intimately. This intimate knowledge will help you to then create a memorable, compelling and consistent portrait of your character.
  
  In your character study, cover basics such as name, birth date, age and family. Also take time to explore your character's appearance, personality and relationships with others. Paul explains that, even though a character study may "on first glance...appear complicated," it can actually be both "easy and fun."
  
  

Story Segments

• Develop strong story segments or scenes throughout your narrative. As much as possible, allow your readers to experience the unfolding action of the story along with the central character. Each segment or scene of your story should either reveal something more about your character or the plot of the narrative.
  
  To write an effective scene, try putting yourself in the place of the central character. Ask yourself what you see and what you feel, and capture that as concretely and actively as possible. Barbara Seuling, in "How to Write a Children's Book and Get It Published," recommends interweaving descriptive information about the characters and the setting into the action of each scene.