THE ICE PICK

Writing for Children and Teenagers, by Lee Wyndham. Rev. by Arnold Madison. 3rd ed. Cincinnati : Writer’s Digest Books, 1989. ISBN 0-89879-347-5. $12.95.

Although aimed at those who write for children and young adults, this book has practical instruction and information for all writers. It covers the basics of characterization, description, dialogue, mood, plot, revision, viewpoint, etc., plus the business end of writing (marketing; manuscript format; record keeping; modern trends) in a very clear and easily understood manner. In addition, the seven main divisions that publishers separate juvenile books into--picture books (ages 1-6), picture stories (ages 7-10), easy-to-reads (grades 1-3), readers (ages 8-12), teens (ages 10-15), teenage romances, and hi/los (high interest/low reading level for children with reading problems)--are described with their respective word-lengths, etc. Picture books, easy-to-reads, and hi/lo books are further discussed in individual chapters, with details on how those manuscripts should be prepared. Plays and non-fiction are also included, as well as a chapter on writing mysteries.

Lee Wyndham died in 1978, but Arnold Madison has continued her efforts to offer good, solid information, giving an honest, up-front assessment of editorial and publishing realities for us.

For example, you may have seen the "no fantasy" signs posted in writers’ guidelines, and asked why these same markets are still publishing fantasy. Well, "the editors," says Wyndham, "admit that what they really mean is that they don’t want to see rehashed old classics." Okay. This book gives an updated list of fantasy and sf books that should be read by anyone writing for children in these genres, so we’ll know what it is they do want.

Also included is a twelve-point recipe for plotting, tips on how to plan your novel or get it started, hints on revisions, guidelines on creating characters for different age levels, techniques for naming characters, and explanations of the kinds of characters that appeal to kids today--e.g. heroes and heroines that look before they leap or who are over-helpful or overactive. The discussion on basic human needs and emotions rings true in writing for any age level, as do the techniques for organizing ideas and research.

Pay rates for magazines in general have not gone up since 1970 according to the National Writers Association. The one exception is children’s magazines. If you’ve ever thought about writing for children or teens, take a look at this classic book, now in its third edition. And even if you’re sure you’d never write for kids, you still might want to take a peek at it in the library. It is one of the best how-to-write books, not just for children, but for any age group.

{Published in GPIC, the Oklahoma Science Fiction Writers Newsletter. Aug. 1998. Reprinted in SF & Fantasy Workshop Newsletter, Nov. 1999; and in AuthorShowcase, July 2001.}