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Writing for Children
Writing Skills

Writing for Children

Writing for young readers takes its own set of skills. This guide explains how picture books, early readers, chapter books and middle-grade novels differ, and how to choose words, themes and story lengths that suit each age group. You will also read about creating memorable young characters and writing dialogue that sounds natural to children.

Levels
4
Starting from
215 credits
Category
Writing Skills
Choose a level

About this study guide

Children are honest readers: if a story drags, they put it down. This material helps you understand what keeps them turning pages. It begins with the main age bands and formats, explaining typical word counts, reading levels and the way text and pictures share the storytelling in a picture book.

From there, the guide covers building child protagonists who solve their own problems, handling difficult subjects with care, using repetition and rhythm for reading aloud, and pacing chapters for newly independent readers. Moving through four levels, from Beginner to Expert, you will look more closely at voice, humour and series writing.

Every section is written to be read on your own, with suggestions for drafting and revising your own stories as you go. The aim is steady progress toward stories that respect young readers and delight them.
Each level is unlocked separately

Choose a level

Compare the levels below and add the one that suits you to your cart

01
Level 1

Beginner

215 credits

What this level includes

  • Covered in this level

    This level explains the main age bands and formats, from board books and picture books to early chapter books, with typical word counts and reading levels. It also covers how text and pictures share the storytelling, simple story shapes, and choosing a child protagonist readers can relate to.

  • Suited to

    Adults who would love to write for young readers but are not sure how children's books differ from other writing will find this level a clear starting point. It suits parents, carers and new writers curious about picture books and early readers.

  • What you will be able to apply

    After this stage you should be able to decide which age group and format suits your story idea, write a simple picture book text that leaves room for illustration, and give your young protagonist a clear problem to solve on their own.

02
Level 2

Intermediate

415 credits

What this level includes

  • Covered in this level

    Topics include writing child protagonists who solve their own problems, using repetition, rhythm and page turns for reading aloud, and pacing short chapters for newly independent readers. You will also read about dialogue that sounds natural to children and avoiding a preachy or moralising tone.

  • Suited to

    This level suits writers who understand the basic formats of children's writing and now want their stories to hold a young reader's attention. If your drafts feel a little flat or too adult in tone, it offers practical ways to fix them.

  • What you will be able to apply

    You will be able to draft a read-aloud text with satisfying rhythm, structure an early chapter book so each chapter ends with a reason to continue, and let your young characters drive the plot rather than the adults around them.

03
Level 3

Advanced

715 credits

What this level includes

  • Covered in this level

    The Advanced stage covers middle-grade novel structure, subplots involving friendship and family, and handling difficult subjects such as loss or fear honestly yet appropriately. It also looks at humour for different ages, developing a narrative voice that feels young without talking down, and revising for age-appropriate vocabulary.

  • Suited to

    Writers with several finished children's stories who want to write for older readers, or tackle more complex material, will benefit from this level. It suits those ready to handle middle-grade length, layered characters and sensitive subjects with care.

  • What you will be able to apply

    By the end of this level you will be able to plan a longer story for older children, approach a serious theme with sensitivity, and shape a narrative voice that respects young readers while still sounding natural to them.

04
Level 4

Expert

1,015 credits

What this level includes

  • Covered in this level

    This level draws together voice, humour and structure, and adds series writing: recurring characters, world consistency and growth across books. It also explores writing picture book texts with great economy, handling ambiguity for young readers, and revising a manuscript by reading it aloud repeatedly.

  • Suited to

    The Expert level is for dedicated children's writers who want to refine a distinctive voice and think about their work across several books. It suits those weighing the finer balances between entertainment, emotional truth and the expectations of different age groups.

  • What you will be able to apply

    You should feel ready to write children's stories with a voice that is recognisably your own, plan characters and settings that can sustain a series, and make careful revision choices that serve both the child reading and the adult reading aloud.

Levels are unlocked with credits from your balance. You can add more credits at any time.