Today we are pleased to share an article written by Amy Neftzger, author of The War of Words. Ms. Neftzger is currently on a virtual book tour for her new book from April 18th through May 13th. Do check out her tour page for a list of all her stops. You will find it here at the tour host: iRead Book Tours.
Now for Amy’s article…
3 Ways That Writing for Children is Different From Writing For Adults
1. Children have a more limited vocabulary
Depending upon the age of the audience, children tend to have a more limited vocabulary than adults. There are ways to measure the reading level of a work (called lexiles – teachers will know what I’m talking about), and you can use software to determine the lexile of your work to see if you’ve written at the right level for your audience.
2. Subject Matter
There are some subjects that children find boring, but I find that a lot of adults often find the same things boring. For example, instructional manuals and text books. However, adults have a desire for knowledge of these “boring’ subjects and will force themselves to read on topics that would put a child to sleep if the potential value of the information is high enough. Children don’t see some subjects as a good investment of their time. Therefore, the subject matter should be matched to the emotional maturity of the audience. That’s why I tend to leave subjects such as investment banking out of my children’s books.
3. Content
Again, this goes back to emotional maturity. Depending upon the age, the child may or may not understand a kiss between two adults. A child may not understand the concept of death, or other tough subjects. If you have a good understanding of the stages of child development, it can help you to write about subjects that are relevant to that age group and create a story that’s meaningful to those readers.
These are basic audience considerations – a good writer will always think about the reader when writing. Remember that a well-written book that’s appropriate for children will often also entertain adults. However, a well-written book for adults may bore children, or it could cause confusion if the child isn’t emotionally mature enough to handle the content. So, whether or not a book is written specifically for children, I like to see parents reading the same books and discussing them with their kids. After all, nothing brings people together like a good book.
The Tour
Book Description for The War of Words:
Sometimes there’s no better way to understand reality than through fantasy, and the best way to find truth may be in a book – if you can find the right one.
Battles against darkness, a quest for truth, and a search for the book that no one can read are all part of the fantasy adventure in The War of Words. As an evil sorcerer wages war by using mysterious shadows and seeks to gain control by confusing the residents as to what’s real and what isn’t, the fate of the kingdom rests in the hands of Kelsey and Nicholas.
As the youngest officer in the king’s army, Kelsey fights the evil sorcerer s shadows on the battlefield as she explores the kingdom searching for the key to winning the war. Nicholas, a young sorcerer in training who is mastering his craft, discovers how the right words can change the course of the future.
Explore an enchanted maze, uncover the power of words, and learn about friendship in this whimsical tale.
Buy the book: Amazon Barnes & Noble Book Depository
Author’s Bio:
Amy Neftzger is the author of fiction books for both adults and children. She has also been published in business and academic journals, as well as literary publications.
A few of her favorite things include traveling, books, movies, art, the Oxford comma, and gargoyles.
Connect with the author: Website Twitter Facebook
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
