Once a writer has developed a fabulous idea, he or she has
the challenging but rewarding task of putting that idea into words that will
delight and engage editors, parents, and children. Remembering the following
directives will help.
Picture books don't have to rhyme--Dr. Seuss and Shell
Silverstein could find a way to make cat rhyme with dog, and have it work. That
doesn't mean that every great work of children's literature is going to rhyme.
In fact, most don't. If you dream, talk, and think in rhyme, then you will
probably write a fine rhyming story. The rest of us should stick with prose.
Show, don't tell--This classic bit of writing advice is
critical for any genre, including children's literature. A six-year-old will be
bored reading about a party where kids have fun and play a lot of games. When
that same six-year-old gets to crack the piñata with his first swing of the
bat, then accidentally stick the donkey's tail to his sister's face, he'll have
more fun.
Use dialogue in your story--Stories come alive when the
characters talk. Dialogue adds interest, gives your story depth, and moves the
plot along effortlessly. Children's stories without dialogue won't hold the
interest of either a child or a potential publisher.
Don't preach to the reader--Children hate being patronized,
and have a remarkable ability to tune out when they're being lectured. The
purpose of school is to teach; the purpose of children's literature is to
entertain.