LTUE 32 - Writing Children - Thursday, 13th, 1:00pm

Welcome to the Peppermint House!

After my 3 day break, I'm presenting here a class called "Writing Children Characters" which gave a lot of insight, and help. I hope you're able to find it as helpful as I have.
If you ever have any questions, or would like anything explained in more depth, I'll be happy to oblige, just comment below!

The Panel included:
Patricia K. Castelli: (Couldn't Find Information)

Aaron Johnston: https://twitter.com/AaronWJohnston

Lehua Parker: https://twitter.com/LehuaParker

Tristi Pinkston: https://twitter.com/TristiPinkston

J. Scott Savage: https://twitter.com/jscottsavage

Sandra Tayler: https://twitter.com/SandraTayler

A lot of well known authors were on this panel, be sure to check them and their works out!

Writing Children Characters

When writing a child character, you have to keep in mind age sensitivity. Who is your audience?  Are you writing for other children, or are you writing for teenagers?  Remember to do your research, look up the developmental ages of the children you're writing for, and the child character that you're creating, and match them up.

If you're writing a picture book think about this: Picture books don't always only contain children, they

actually have a lot of adults! This is because young children look up to adults, they trust them and typically want to grow up to be like them.

Remember, write your child character for two ages older than you target audience so that they have something to look up to. A 12 year old isn't going to want to read about the problems of a 10 year old, and the so goes for the older teens as well.

You can write a book for adults through the eyes of a child, however, because once adults hit a certain age, we don't really have something we're looking “up” to, just whatever it is we're looking “forward” to.

*How do you write a child character in a 3^rd person point-of-view?

In a child's point of view, things around them are new. They find something new, learn something new every day. The things the learn and find are scary, different, and fresh. When writing in a 3^rd person point of view, remember that a child has a unique perspective. Almost as if they are unaware of what's really around them, because they learn from the permission of their parents, and peers.

With an adult it's different. We've learned so much we automatically thing, “I remember when this happened to/when...” As adults, we know how to problem solve, know where to go for solutions, etc. Children haven't learned that skill yet.

But 1^st person is most powerful when the child you're using has a unique view of the world. They see things differently, learn things differently.

It's incredibly difficult to write from the eyes of a child because they don't know what things are, or how to explain them.

*What's the difference between telling a story “to” kids, vs. telling a story “about” kids?

The greatest danger anyone can do, fictional or otherwise, is to underestimate a child. Children still think and strategize to the best of their ability, just like adults. And, if you have children of you're own, or watch children, you know just how well they do it.

They shouldn't be made to look like they can only do this, or that they can't/don't speak like that, etc. The solutions that they come up with may be silly, but they children do problems solve effectively.

*How do you write a child villain?

Unfortunately, Pre-School bullies, and middle school mean girls do exist.

When you have a child villain, remember that an emotional need of that child's isn't being met. The author needs to know why it's happening, what is happening, but depending on your audience, and your story, your audience may or may not need to know that child's situation.

The younger the child is, the more the world is about them:

Young Children: Talk in my's “My dog,” “I had to move.” etc.

Middle Grade Children: Talk in me and my's. “My friends and me.” Their answers are also more clear and precise.

Older: Doesn't matter. When older teens grow into adulthood, many problems become gray, sometimes there isn't a clear right, or wrong.

*Write a book that multiple audiences can enjoy!

“Sophisticated Child's Book” or “Smart-Middle Grade”

Just because they're children, doesn't mean they're stupid. Make them as smart as you are. Make sure that your secondary child characters don't become accessories to the main character, make sure they have something to do, make them help with the plot

*WHAT NOT TO DO!

DON'T make a child the “perfect little, sweet angel”!

• Children have personalities! 3 year old's are prone to argument, they like to push the boundaries. They can be sweet at times, but don't make them perfect!
• And make sure, in every book with a child in it, that you have consequences for their bad behavior. Make it real, don't water down your story. Parents get frustrated, children get frustrated, it's a fact of life.

DO make them unique!

• Not all children are all the same. THEY AREN'T THE SAME!
• Think about what drives your children characters, primary and secondary characters. Do you have jokers, smarts, adventurous, quiet? Just like adults, kids have motives, they have history, and they have PERSONALITY
• Give them some element of strength, whether it's emotional strength, physical, psychological, or strategical strength, give them something that they are good at!

Children that are grouped together create their own rules, their own language. Make them different, make them funny, make them smart.

*How do you write a child who's been taken from society?

Simply study Maslow's Pyramid of Needs, everything you'll ever need to know is right there!

Referenced Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs 

(All photo's belong to their respective owners, and are only being used for teaching purposes!)