One of the things my young readers love about Vlad, the
eponymous hero of my children’s novel, is that he starts off helpless and
bullied, but ends by discovering he can succeed against his enemies. He doesn’t
just save the day for himself, but rescues his old nurse and her husband, as
well as the entire village in the process. Children love Vlad because he shows
them even the most downtrodden of children can find a way to outwit their
tormentors.
Tip 5 – Empowering the
Reader
Children’s lives are controlled by adults, both at home and
at school. Most young people dream of one day being masters of their own
destinies and, through reading, they are able to live out, albeit vicariously,
their fantasies.
In their favourite books, if the main character is under the control of mean adults, or older bullies, he or she always outsmarts them and wins the day. Children want to read about other children who have achieved things that are not possible for the average child, except in their dreams.
Try to make your readers feel as though they are being
chatted to by another child.
Create characters who make their own decisions and are able
to act alone.
Your young protagonists must solve their own problems, outwit
the villain or bully, find the treasure, rescue the kidnapped dog, or whatever
task it is that brings your novel to a successful conclusion.
You can have several characters within the plot who are
working together, either a group of friends, or even an adult who is on the
protagonist’s side. But the adult must not be the person who solves the
mystery, or frees the captive, or any other important aspect in your story. The
hero must always be one of the children in the book.
Through your characters, your readers will dream of what
they could achieve if their parents were not around to protect them. Just think
of the success of Harry Potter and such
films as the Home Alone series and
you’ll be on the right track.
Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions
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