Wednesday, February 04, 2009

A story is a story is a story - but more so

Setting out to write a children's story has been an interesting experience. What sets a story for children apart from a story written for adults? Nothing that I can see.

Readers still have to engage with the characters. There still needs to be a trigger, a quest, surprises and choices need to come along. There needs to be a climactic moment, possibly a last minute reversal of fortune. There needs to be a resolution.

Having said all that, there are obvious differences. But these are in degree rather than being absolutes. Events have to unfold rather faster. Narrative drive can't be allowed to let up. All good practice whatever age you are writing for. Perhaps writing for children is a purer form of story telling?

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