Yesterday I started writing the manuscript for my Master's degree thesis project. It's something I've been postponing for awhile. I've had an idea of the story but not confident in my ability until recently. I suddenly had an epiphany yesterday to change up the perspective to the dog's perspective--something I enjoy in books I read now like The Art of Racing in the Rain. So I've been doing lots of googling "how to write a children's book"! Here are some of the best tips I've found:
1: identify the age range and learn how to tailor the writing style for them. This is very similar to illustrating but instead of color theory and shapes, I have to think about vocab, sentance and story length and complexity.
2: eliminate unnecessary words.
3: don't talk down to kids. This includes overt "lessons" and morals. I just finished reading the book "how to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk"' and the bottom line of the books is that kids (everybody for that matter) only want to be respected and not dismissed. So have the kids in the book solve their own problems. Kids can even solve adult's problems.
4: related to the above, keep parental involvement minimal. Kids in the books should have greater independence than what may be realistic.
5: the protagonist should make some bad decisions or get in trouble. Then get in more trouble. Then overcome it all!
I can't wait to see where this new journey will lead!