Friends, I’m honored to have Fleur Bradley on my blog today. I’ve said repeatedly that authors who say they’ll begin their careers writing short stories because it’ll be easier should rethink that misconception. Author Fleur Bradley brings to light yet another misguided thought. When Fleur says she loves writing for children, that’s no exaggeration either. This award-winning author’s passion comes through loud and clear. Please welcome Fleur Bradley to Help From My Friends Friday. ~ Donnell
Misconceptions about Writing Children’s Books
By: Fleur Bradley
It never fails: I go to a writer’s conference or signing, and someone asks: when are you going to write a book for adults? As in: have you graduated from writing books for kids yet…?
Author Fleur Bradley
Don’t get me wrong, I know this is not meant as an insult, at least not on purpose. And I certainly enjoy writing all different kinds of mysteries, including (my lesser known) short stories for adults. But the message is clear: writing for kids is somehow less, or easier. So I thought I would clear up some misconceptions people may have about children’s books and what it’s like to write them.
- Myth: writing for kids is easier.
Fact: you have to be a much better writer when you’re writing for younger readers—and that includes picture books and chapter books. Short story writers will agree with me. Just because you have fewer words doesn’t mean it’s easy to write them. Your words have to work harder in a way. You have to write tighter and make your point with fewer words.
Kids are smart, too, and the children’s book market is full of very good writers. So you’d better bring you’re A-game when writing for the younger reader. Never mind if you’re writing YA—you need to be completely in tune with what teens are up to and into these days. Writing for kids is a lot harder. Try writing a picture book sometime and you’ll see what I mean.
- Myth: selling books to kids is easier. I hear that market is hot!
Fact: reaching your reader is a lot harder. With YA being the exception, you’re largely marketing to the gatekeepers, so parents, teachers, librarians—the adults who you hope will hand your book to kids. That means that not only do you have to write a book that kids will like, but you also have to think about how you’re going to convince the gatekeepers to buy your books. Marketing is hard, and it can take years to get traction for your books.
Case in point: my latest book, Daybreak on Raven Island just came out, but Midnight at the Barclay Hotel (which is two years old by now) is still being discovered by readers. Marketing books for young readers means lots of author school visits, and time spent talking to gatekeepers too. The work never stops.
- Myth: people love mysteries. They must be buying your book!
Fact: Although mystery is the favorite genre for adults, selling mysteries for kids is hard work. I have to bring all my passion for the genre, and am constantly talking about the benefits of reading mysteries: how mysteries are desired by reluctant readers, how they encourage problem solving and critical thinking… You get the idea. I’m constantly persuading people that mysteries are good for kids.
I’ll close with this: if we get kids to read mysteries as kids, guess what they’ll want to read as adults…?
Exactly. I’m growing the future mystery fans.
And I love writing for kids… In case you couldn’t tell.
About Daybreak on Raven Island:
From the critically acclaimed author of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel comes a thrilling new middle grade mystery novel inspired by Alcatraz Prison.
Tori, Marvin, and Noah would rather be anywhere else than on the seventh-grade class field trip to Raven Island prison. Tori would rather be on the soccer field, but her bad grades have benched her until further notice; Marvin would rather be at the first day of a film festival with his best friend, Kevin; and Noah isn’t looking forward to having to make small talk with his classmates at this new school.
But when the three of them stumble upon a dead body in the woods, miss the last ferry back home, and then have to spend the night on Raven Island, they find that they need each other now more than ever. They must work together to uncover a killer, outrun a motley ghost-hunting crew, and expose the age-old secrets of the island all before daybreak.
About Author Fleur Bradley: Fleur Bradley has loved puzzles and (scary) mysteries ever since she first discovered Agatha Christie novels. She’s the author of numerous mysteries for kids, including Midnight at the Barclay Hotel, which was on many award lists, including the Reading the West, Agatha and Anthony Awards, Sasquatch Award, and won the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, Sunshine State Young Readers Award, and the Colorado Book Award.
A reluctant reader herself, Fleur regularly does librarian and educator conference talks on ways to reach reluctant readers. Originally from the Netherlands, she now lives in Colorado with her family and entirely too many rescue animals. Find out more about Fleur at http://www.ftbradley.com and follow her on Twitter @FTBradleyAuthor.
Fleur,
I was first published as an author of books for kids so I know of what you speak. But though a few friends got that question, no one ever asked me when I was going to write books for grown ups. And now that I’ve a children’s series coming out, I have to learn about marketing for that genre. It was so very different years ago when my last MG book came out.
I think some of the best books for grown-ups are children’s books!
Love your books, Fleur! I recommend them for all ages!
Fleur,
Thanks for giving us (me) a clearer picture of writing for children.
Great points!
Thank you all for stopping by! The support for mysteries for kids means a lot.
FLeur, obviously I love this topic. I cannot wait to share your books with my grandkids. They are getting to an age where they’ll be able to appreciate them. Thanks for being my guest this week!
You hit the absolute right note on writing for children.
I’ve published several novels of romantic suspense, but my children’s picture storybook, Sleigh Magic, soon to be published, is the hardest writing I’ve ever done.
Terrific post! Writing for young people is both a privilege and a challenge! Lynn Slaughter
Thanks for these insights Fleur. I attempted to write for a younger audience. It is a very difficult task to write for young readers…I kept finding myself writing too much toward the adults. I gave in to the inevitable and write for an older age group. Loved reading Daybreak on Raven Island!