Just as writing children’s books has a unique set of rules to follow (you know that the good guy or gal always wins), there are some things you should never do – never! Don’t even consider doing any of the following in a book for children:
- Write books that preach or lecture.
- Talk down to children as if they’re small, idiotic adults.
- Write books that have no real story (nor a plot with beginning, middle, end).
- Use art that is totally inappropriate for the story or vice versa.
- Pack picture books with lots of text.
- Pack nonfiction books with too much text and too few visuals.
- Create characters who are boring or unnecessary to the development of the story.
- Create main characters who have a problem they don’t solve themselves or who don’t change throughout the course of the story.
- Tell instead of showing by using narrative as a soapbox.
- Anthropomorphize animals or use alliterative names (Squishy Squirrel, Morty Mole – Wretched Writer)
in 1998 Ayla Myrick founded Book Editing Associates, a one-stop shop for writers who need professional book editors, tested proofreaders, published ghostwriters, and publishing consultants.
Latest posts by Ayla Myrick (see all)
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