Children's Contemporary with Erika Mathews
I read a lot of contemporary as a kid. Mostly school fiction. And then the stuff that Rod and Staff put out.
Erika Mathews is here today to talk about writing children's contemporary. She has a lovely little story in the genre that she had hoped to have out by now, but, unfortunately, both her illustrator and editor fell through. Anywho, it's an adorable story that reminds me a lot of the Potters books by the Sarah Maxwell, and you guys are in for a treat when it does release.
Engaging, relatable, and
uplifting fiction fulfills the two-fold goal of capturing children’s imaginations
and nourishing their spirits. As in everything we write, let’s prayerfully look
to Jesus and abide in His word so that our writings may bring forth much fruit
for His glory.
Erika Mathews is here today to talk about writing children's contemporary. She has a lovely little story in the genre that she had hoped to have out by now, but, unfortunately, both her illustrator and editor fell through. Anywho, it's an adorable story that reminds me a lot of the Potters books by the Sarah Maxwell, and you guys are in for a treat when it does release.
Erika Mathews
Christian/Kingdom Fiction/Contemporary
Author of Promise's Prayer
All of us book-lovers
discovered our passion for reading somewhere in our lives. For some of us, it
was from the first moments of picking up books; for others, that love developed
later in our lives. Yet one element is crucial to fostering that love of
reading: excellent, captivating books: something that causes us to keep turning
the pages, something that grants excitement for reading another book, something
that engages the imagination, something that inspires us.
discovered our passion for reading somewhere in our lives. For some of us, it
was from the first moments of picking up books; for others, that love developed
later in our lives. Yet one element is crucial to fostering that love of
reading: excellent, captivating books: something that causes us to keep turning
the pages, something that grants excitement for reading another book, something
that engages the imagination, something that inspires us.
Writing children's fiction is a particularly special calling, as it allows us an opportunity to
connect with and influence the youngest readers. My goal in writing
contemporary children's fiction is simple:
connect with and influence the youngest readers. My goal in writing
contemporary children's fiction is simple:
Encouraging children to read and love reading by
supplying them with excellent, engaging fiction they can relate to
supplying them with excellent, engaging fiction they can relate to
To accomplish this,
children’s fiction should contain these essential characteristics:
children’s fiction should contain these essential characteristics:
Engaging
capturing their
imagination, drawing them in, being interesting
imagination, drawing them in, being interesting
Writing an engaging
story is key for any audience, but particularly for children; if we lose the
reader’s interest, an adult with an established love of reading will probably
try another book, but a child may quickly develop an aversion to reading, given
enough negative experiences.
story is key for any audience, but particularly for children; if we lose the
reader’s interest, an adult with an established love of reading will probably
try another book, but a child may quickly develop an aversion to reading, given
enough negative experiences.
Yet how do we write
fiction that’s truly engaging to a child with a potentially short attention
span?
fiction that’s truly engaging to a child with a potentially short attention
span?
1.
Create interesting, unique characters with
personality.
Create interesting, unique characters with
personality.
As people, we automatically gravitate towards identifying with other
people—with characters. A plot may grip us, but ultimately it’s the characters that
truly engage our minds and hearts.
people—with characters. A plot may grip us, but ultimately it’s the characters that
truly engage our minds and hearts.
2.
Don’t
patronize!
Don’t
patronize!
Children are
usually able to quickly identify a condescending tone. As an adult writer,
ensure that the tone of your story doesn’t look down on children. Be careful
not to make them sound younger than they are. If your reader feels that your character
is just a “baby,” your job of engaging them as a reader will be much more
difficult or even impossible.
usually able to quickly identify a condescending tone. As an adult writer,
ensure that the tone of your story doesn’t look down on children. Be careful
not to make them sound younger than they are. If your reader feels that your character
is just a “baby,” your job of engaging them as a reader will be much more
difficult or even impossible.
To avoid this,
spend time around children who are the same age as your character. Watch them and
how they behave carefully, but don’t just watch. Talk to them, if you can. Seek
earnestly to understand their motives, their perspective, how they view life
and the world. Once you can view the world through a child’s eyes, you’ll be
able to write it in a way that your young readers can identify with.
spend time around children who are the same age as your character. Watch them and
how they behave carefully, but don’t just watch. Talk to them, if you can. Seek
earnestly to understand their motives, their perspective, how they view life
and the world. Once you can view the world through a child’s eyes, you’ll be
able to write it in a way that your young readers can identify with.
3.
A plot that follows a prescribed structure
isn’t important.
A plot that follows a prescribed structure
isn’t important.
Yes, I said
it. I gave you full permission to break all the rules you know about plots. For
a children’s story, the traditional sense of “plot” means much less. Instead,
your plot can be much subtler. You’re not writing for the adults that created
the idea of plot structure. Children aren’t going to be judging your story by
its adherence to every high and low of textbook structure. The key is that the
story is interesting and the reader wants to find out what’s next. Many
children simply enjoy reading about the lives of other children—drama-free and
what an adult might term boring or odd for a book. Yes, growth and development
should still be present, but don’t worry about crafting perfectly-prescribed adult-modeled
plot.
it. I gave you full permission to break all the rules you know about plots. For
a children’s story, the traditional sense of “plot” means much less. Instead,
your plot can be much subtler. You’re not writing for the adults that created
the idea of plot structure. Children aren’t going to be judging your story by
its adherence to every high and low of textbook structure. The key is that the
story is interesting and the reader wants to find out what’s next. Many
children simply enjoy reading about the lives of other children—drama-free and
what an adult might term boring or odd for a book. Yes, growth and development
should still be present, but don’t worry about crafting perfectly-prescribed adult-modeled
plot.
Relatable
stories
of other children “just like them,” exposing them to a wide variety of
situations, settings, and choices under the point of view of someone they can
identify with
of other children “just like them,” exposing them to a wide variety of
situations, settings, and choices under the point of view of someone they can
identify with
This point is tied directly to the first, for a
relatable story will be engaging. Without a relatable story, it’s difficult to
capture the imagination effectively. Even more strongly that adults do,
children will latch on to a character—one nearest their own age, interests, life
situation, or all of the above—and picture themselves as that character
throughout the story. As writers, creating this level of identification is
crucial.
relatable story will be engaging. Without a relatable story, it’s difficult to
capture the imagination effectively. Even more strongly that adults do,
children will latch on to a character—one nearest their own age, interests, life
situation, or all of the above—and picture themselves as that character
throughout the story. As writers, creating this level of identification is
crucial.
1.
Get
into characters’ heads.
Get
into characters’ heads.
Show the readers what it’s like to be the characters. If you’re an
author, you probably already know the importance of showing the story from the characters’
perspective. It’s the same in children’s fiction—only again, be careful that
you truly do understand your character at the age you’re portraying. To get the
readers into the characters’ heads, you first must be there yourself.
author, you probably already know the importance of showing the story from the characters’
perspective. It’s the same in children’s fiction—only again, be careful that
you truly do understand your character at the age you’re portraying. To get the
readers into the characters’ heads, you first must be there yourself.
2.
Be
realistic.
Be
realistic.
Again, this should be self-evident: make your characters
believable. Let them speak and act age-appropriately.
believable. Let them speak and act age-appropriately.
3.
Keep the focus.
Keep the focus.
No matter what the setting is (it can be totally foreign to your
readers), keep the focus on the characters. Show through vivid words how a
young Indian boy encountering a monsoon feels and reacts similarly to how your
reader might react to a thunderstorm. Demonstrate with picturesque description a
girl’s tiredness or boredom after travelling by bus all day long, her
nervousness in meeting a new friend, her excitement upon discovering a piece of
candy in her Christmas stocking, her difficulties and joys in adjusting to big
city or urban farm life.
readers), keep the focus on the characters. Show through vivid words how a
young Indian boy encountering a monsoon feels and reacts similarly to how your
reader might react to a thunderstorm. Demonstrate with picturesque description a
girl’s tiredness or boredom after travelling by bus all day long, her
nervousness in meeting a new friend, her excitement upon discovering a piece of
candy in her Christmas stocking, her difficulties and joys in adjusting to big
city or urban farm life.
4.
Use
specific personality quirks, hobbies, or interests
Use
specific personality quirks, hobbies, or interests
Children love to
identify with characters who have relatable hobbies, so be sure to develop your
characters with a realistic variety of interests: a specific toy, cooking,
building, horses, drawing, music, neatness, gardening, snakes, a leaf
collection, a birdwatching journal, a secret fort or hideaway, a favorite
climbing tree, or a favorite color.
identify with characters who have relatable hobbies, so be sure to develop your
characters with a realistic variety of interests: a specific toy, cooking,
building, horses, drawing, music, neatness, gardening, snakes, a leaf
collection, a birdwatching journal, a secret fort or hideaway, a favorite
climbing tree, or a favorite color.
Uplifting
setting a godly example
for impressionable minds, choosing to fill their minds with the best (not just
good), drawing them closer to Jesus, encouraging good character
for impressionable minds, choosing to fill their minds with the best (not just
good), drawing them closer to Jesus, encouraging good character
To me, this is unquestionably the most important
element of my books for children. It’s easy to reason normal or popular
children’s literature away with “Nothing’s wrong with that book”—but truly, do
we desire to fill our children’s minds with what is okay or what is best? More
importantly, what sort of books does God want children reading? What would
advance His kingdom in their lives? What prepares them for godly, useful,
mature adulthood? As adults, it’s easy to forget just how impressionable and moldable
children are. What enters into their minds quickly becomes their belief system,
and belief system directly shapes behavior. Repeated behaviors, in turn, form
lifelong habits.
element of my books for children. It’s easy to reason normal or popular
children’s literature away with “Nothing’s wrong with that book”—but truly, do
we desire to fill our children’s minds with what is okay or what is best? More
importantly, what sort of books does God want children reading? What would
advance His kingdom in their lives? What prepares them for godly, useful,
mature adulthood? As adults, it’s easy to forget just how impressionable and moldable
children are. What enters into their minds quickly becomes their belief system,
and belief system directly shapes behavior. Repeated behaviors, in turn, form
lifelong habits.
Prayerfully consider each of the following as
you seek to write uplifting children’s fiction.
you seek to write uplifting children’s fiction.
1.
Creating
main characters that we would be proud for young readers to emulate.
Creating
main characters that we would be proud for young readers to emulate.
If you wouldn’t want your child—or hypothetical future child—acting
like your main character, strongly consider changing the character. This isn’t
at all to say that your characters must be perfect, but rather, when your
character sins or makes a wrong choice, show the natural consequences. Children
are natural imitators, and as authors, respecting that characteristic pays off.
This leads directly to the next point.
like your main character, strongly consider changing the character. This isn’t
at all to say that your characters must be perfect, but rather, when your
character sins or makes a wrong choice, show the natural consequences. Children
are natural imitators, and as authors, respecting that characteristic pays off.
This leads directly to the next point.
2.
Clearly
portraying right as right and wrong as wrong.
Clearly
portraying right as right and wrong as wrong.
When your character has major defects in his attitudes, behavior,
and habits, let the story show how it brings trouble, or let the story show his
growth in overcoming these issues. This doesn’t mean your story needs to be “preachy”
or even overly blatant about this—simply that it should demonstrate God’s standards
of right and wrong (whether subtly or not) for young readers. Creating
confusion in children is condemned by God (Matthew 18:6).
and habits, let the story show how it brings trouble, or let the story show his
growth in overcoming these issues. This doesn’t mean your story needs to be “preachy”
or even overly blatant about this—simply that it should demonstrate God’s standards
of right and wrong (whether subtly or not) for young readers. Creating
confusion in children is condemned by God (Matthew 18:6).
3.
Avoiding details of ungodly words and
behaviors that could be easily copied
Avoiding details of ungodly words and
behaviors that could be easily copied
Young minds are especially impressionable. If your story contains
a bully, don’t detail the ugly names and insults the bully calls the other
children—it’s just begging for some young reader to copy those unkind words. Just
as in writing for adults, don’t engage the imagination when it comes to sin and
its details. As an author, I desire my children’s books to inspire godly behavior
and kind words in my readers and would be grieved to learn that any child sinned
or mistreated another because of the influence of my story. This may seem like an
impossibly high standard, and certainly each person is responsible for his own
sin, but as authors we have a voice and influence that God wants us to take
seriously.
a bully, don’t detail the ugly names and insults the bully calls the other
children—it’s just begging for some young reader to copy those unkind words. Just
as in writing for adults, don’t engage the imagination when it comes to sin and
its details. As an author, I desire my children’s books to inspire godly behavior
and kind words in my readers and would be grieved to learn that any child sinned
or mistreated another because of the influence of my story. This may seem like an
impossibly high standard, and certainly each person is responsible for his own
sin, but as authors we have a voice and influence that God wants us to take
seriously.
4.
Choosing
language that we would be happy to hear on the tongue of a child
Choosing
language that we would be happy to hear on the tongue of a child
If a term is questionable and possibly unkind or disrespectful, do
I truly want to be the one to teach it to a child through a story?
I truly want to be the one to teach it to a child through a story?
5.
Showing
Jesus and His kingdom subtly through the characters’ lives
Showing
Jesus and His kingdom subtly through the characters’ lives
Once again: this doesn’t at all mean you must be preachy (though many
children won’t even notice if you are). Through small aspects such as a
whisperedprayer,
a Scripture coming to mind, characters thinking about what’s right, the way
parents phrase instruction and direction, or perhaps even a family devotional
time, we can convey a godly lifestyle that only adds to the story. If explicitly
writing faith into the story isn’t your thing, just pick one tiny aspect to appear
and reappear throughout the book that will leave a positive godly impression on
your young readers.
children won’t even notice if you are). Through small aspects such as a
whisperedprayer,
a Scripture coming to mind, characters thinking about what’s right, the way
parents phrase instruction and direction, or perhaps even a family devotional
time, we can convey a godly lifestyle that only adds to the story. If explicitly
writing faith into the story isn’t your thing, just pick one tiny aspect to appear
and reappear throughout the book that will leave a positive godly impression on
your young readers.
Engaging, relatable, anduplifting fiction fulfills the two-fold goal of capturing children’s imaginations
and nourishing their spirits. As in everything we write, let’s prayerfully look
to Jesus and abide in His word so that our writings may bring forth much fruit
for His glory.
Leave a comment! Did I
miss anything? What steps do you believe are most important in writing children’s
contemporary fiction?
miss anything? What steps do you believe are most important in writing children’s
contemporary fiction?
Great advice! I found your comment about children's books not having to follow a strict plot structure particularly interesting. Thinking back, though, to some of the books I read as a kid, I suppose that is true.
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