Richard Radcliff Trice on How to Start on Contemporary Children’s Books

Although passion is a big chunk of successful writing, author Richard Radcliff Trice believes that being familiar with the field, doing its best practices, and discussing handy tips and tricks with other authors are also important. This is particularly true with writing niches, like contemporary children’s books. Mixing classic styles with a modern-day focus to come out with contemporary works is a combination of passion and skills.

Meanwhile, although the entire process in itself is not easy, starting on a contemporary piece is one of the hardest parts to do, from looking for inspiration to writing outlines, and starting the first sentence. The noted author shares some of his best practices when coming out with contemporary literature.

Don’t force a moral. “Sure, children should learn a thing or two when reading, but that doesn’t mean that they should be reading those right from the get-go,” Richard Radcliff Trice says. “Be subtle and convey your message naturally.” Keep it short and simple. You have to always picture your reading audience. Since children usually have shorter attention spans, book length is one of the more important factors to consider. Write in as simple a way as possible, and keep chapters and words short while getting your message across.

Choose a fresh topic. There is a myriad of topics to choose from when writing children’s books, from mundane things in everyday life to the full-blown sci-fi world. Make sure that your topic, even when presented with other “inspirations,” can stand on itself and offer new ideas and focus. Know the field. The simplest idea, yet most make the mistake of taking it easy with the niche since they think that writing for children can be a breeze. Noted authors like Richard Radcliff Trice say that before getting in the field, they’ve researched and read books from other notable writers in the same field so they can get at least a general idea on what the niche is all about.