Write for Children

This short guide to creative writing for children is based on the author's own successful MA course "Writing for Children". Andrew Melrose provides guidance on every aspect of the process of writing for children. He stresses the importance of "writing for" the child and not "writing to or at" them. Literacy and learning depend on writing and reading and it is therefore the responsibility of the writer to understand who they are writing for. The book is divided into four sections which cover various topics including: identifying age groups and their varying viewpoints; plot structure, characters, dialogue and storyline; writing fiction, non-fiction, poetry, film and new media, for children of all ages; and do's and don'ts including tips on language, controversial subjects and Websites.

'This is a handbook for those who aspire to write for children, for experienced writers who wish to understand the different requirements of different readerships, and for those who simply wish to learn more about the books they, their chilren or young library members are reading ... This practical up-to-date guide for writing for children, illustrated by a wealth of published and tailor-made examples, should find a place on library shelves and those of many a writer and reader.' - Orana, Australian Library and Information Association'The book is full of good advice ... Each topic is dealt with constructively and this leads to a very useful handbook for students of creative writing and for the student who wishes to pursue any topic in depth, a bibliography is provided at the end.' - Writing in Education, 'This is a handbook for those who aspire to write for children, for experienced writers who wish to understand the different requirements of different readerships, and for those who simply wish to learn more about the books they, their chilren or young library members are reading ... This practical up-to-date guide for writing for children, illustrated by a wealth of published and tailor-made examples, should find a place on library shelves and those of many a writer and reader.' - Orana, Australian Library and Information Association'The book is full of good advice ... Each topic is dealt with constructively and this leads to a very useful handbook for students of creative writing and for the student who wishes to pursue any topic in depth, a bibliography is provided at the end.' - Writing in Education

Andrew Melrose is Senior Lecturer at King Alfred's College, Winchester, where he runs the MA course Writing for Children. He is also a successful children's author and well known for his animation and film work.