Writing a children's book may seem easy. Authors don't have to worry about complex structure and language, and the length of a chapter book is much shorter than that of an adult book. Even so, authors spend a lot of time developing their craft to become great writers.
Instructions
Plan Your Children's Chapter Book
1. Choose the age category of your reader before you begin writing your children's chapter book. Typical categories include first chapter books for ages 6 to 8, and longer chapter books for ages 8 to 12.
2. Consider the genre of your book. Choose a story with a focus on mystery, school and friendship, science fiction or animals, and think about specific messages or lessons you want to include in your story.
3. Think about the way the story will unfold. If your book is character-driven, focus on and fully develop your characters as you write. If your book is plot-driven, focus more on what happens rather than who it happens to.
4. Write character sketches if you have highly developed characters or have multiple people to keep track of in your story. Consider ages, physical descriptions, feelings and relationships with the other characters.
5. Complete an outline of the children's chapter book. This is a rough picture of how the book will go, with room for improvement as you begin writing. Remember, you don't have to follow your outline exactly as you write--this just gets you started in the right direction.
Write Your Children's Chapter Book
6. Start your story with the beginning. Introduce the characters and the general plot. Set the mood for the type of story that will follow. Decide on a voice and whether the story is told in first person or by a narrator, and then dive right into the story.
7. Write the middle--the longest piece of your story. Focus on the challenges the characters face and the choices they make. Continue with the voice and tense established in the beginning, develop the plot and flesh out the characters as you write.
8. Introduce the climax of the story. Often, the most exciting point of the story, the climax, includes everything that has happened in the beginning and middle, leading up to this moment of truth and resolution.
9. End the book with a lesson or resolution. Children's chapter books, especially for the younger set, handle issues related to starting school, making friends, getting along with family and having fun with youth. Keep the ending clear and concise, finishing the story shortly after the climax.
10. Edit your children's chapter book yourself, looking not just for typographical and grammatical errors, but also errors in continuity, fluidity and voice. Keep the language in line with the children's age category and rewrite the copy as necessary.
