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In left-branching sentences the information comes before the verb
or main noun and in right branching it comes after.22 For example,
above I wrote, Tommy pulled the duvet over himself, although he was
already warm. This is right branching, which is generally thought to be
easier for children to understand. Left-branched, this would have read,
Although he was already warm, Tommy pulled the duvet over himself.
This is useful to know if you ever write for educational publishers at
this lower age range.
Further, while this story is not a picture book, as such, there will be
some illustrations mostly black-and-white line illustrations, as they
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are called. These are there to help the child understand the text and
make the transition from picture books. However, unlike those in
picture books, the pictures are no substitute for narrative.
Once again, do not assume you know what children need and want.
I recently read a set of publisher s guidelines for would-be writers for
children. They were quite explicit when they said: We are unlikely to
be interested in characters based on familiar objects or settings . . .
Sandra the Squirrel, Molly the Mop, Dusty the Bin . . . the Supermarket
Trolly Family always go back. For some reason, the notion that
these ideas sit well with this age group still persists. Try not to think of
children s literature as childish. We are all capable of being represented
as childish, that is a different matter, but the literature itself is mature
writing for children.
On the subject of guidance , the most telling note is still this one
which came from an international publisher: Please be critical of your
work is it really good enough? Research it and research it and research
it. Every author I talk to (regardless of who they are writing for) is a
skilled researcher.
Longer fiction
Longer Fiction Racing Read alone
Age 6 9 Short Stories 2000+ words
Short Novels 12,000 20,000
words
Series Fiction
Collected Stories
Television Tie-in
Dodging Read alone
Age 8 11 Novels 20,000 30,000 words
Series Fiction
Trekking Read alone
Age 10 12 Pre-teen Novels 30,000 40,000
words
Series Fiction
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Flying
Age 12+ Teenage Fiction 40,000 words and
counting
The biggest problem you are likely to come across here is in under-
standing the needs of each experiential grouping. Once again the
buzzword is research. The only difference is the complexity of story,
language and topic, which you will have to gauge for yourself, through
your research. As you can see from the word counts and so on, the
boundaries are almost limitless. The same goes for the writing. Fresh and
exciting ideas are called for here. The problem is in getting the idea
developed. Having already decided to write in this almost limitless field
(bearing mind what I said in the critical introduction to this fiction
section), perhaps it is time we began to look at some of the important
storytelling processes.
The biggest things to avoid in writing for this age are the everyday
commonplace aspects of life. Yet, even the smallest spark can light up
a story. It doesn t have to be a grand design, just don t make it plain old
ordinary. Take this show-and-tell example. What I have constructed
here is a very simple story about a boy who loves sport but isn t very good
at it, using tell first, then show .
Tom, age fourteen and nearing six feet tall, with an athletic build,
was very interested in sport. Not being good at it, though, was a bit
of a problem. Now he never gets the chance to improve.
What age are you, Tom? Thirteen? Fourteen?
Fourteen, sir, said Tom, shyly.
The gym teacher looked him up and down again. You re built
like an athlete. So why aren t you one?
Tom had heard that question before and the answer was always
one he didn t want to give. He said nothing.
Do you want to be an athlete? asked the gym teacher.
Tom did, more than anything in the world. Yeah! he said. This
was the first time anyone had asked that question. Most people just
despaired.
Then my job is to help you.
Tom was smiling so much he felt light-headed.
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If Tom has been treated like a sickly dullard with two left feet all his life
he (and the reader) is now about to see a change. His life is about to
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