Writing With Kids

Photo by MI PHAM on Unsplash

How do you answer a request from a young author-want-to-be when they ask, "Will you help me write a book?" Do you go into the million and one obstacles that face writers who have an innate desire to see their book in print? Do you talk about the long process most writers go through--idea, plot outline, character outline, tons of research, and the formidable beginning, middle, and end? Do you remind her that the key to writing is reading? Or, do you look into those discerning eyes filled with creative brightness and say, "Of course, I will!"

In my case, I answered with an emphatic, "Yes,"  when my granddaughter asked me that question. But then the doubts started flowing in along with the words of Steven Wright, "I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done." I had to ask myself, can I really write with a twelve year-old who can tell a story at lightning speed, change characters in a flash, and instantly weave in new ideas while my mind is still trying follow the bread crumbs she left for me along the way. How could I not? So our journey is beginning and this is how.

• Decide on a topic. This isn't as easy as it sounds. My beautiful granddaughter was blessed at birth with a mind overflowing with ideas, and she doesn't just want to write one book--but hundreds of books. We narrowed it down to her top ten topics, put each idea into a bowl, and then drew out the winner. Topic acquired!
• Choose a subject. Her topic is endangered animals which is where her heart is and what she blogs about each month. Now, we had to narrow down the subject. Would it be black rhinos, African elephants, wild camels, Siberian Tigers, Northern Right Whale, or the Mountain Gorilla? 
• Research the chosen subject. Keep this light to begin with. She chose basic facts about the animal, why it is endangered, and what is being done to save it.
  
• Create a storyboard. We divided this into three sections--beginning or introduction, the middle is where the facts, history, region of the world, and why it is endangered went here, and conclusion for what is or is not being done and what can be done.
  
• Final reading research. This is a rundown of what books are out there on her chosen subject, do they have the same material, and how are they different from the book she is writing.
  

I am proud to say that we are on the third bullet point, and I am learning right along with her. Since she has decided on a non-fiction picture book for 5 to 8 years old, she has added another bullet point to our journey. She has developed a questionnaire for schoolmates in Kindergarten through third grade so, "I can learn what they want to see in a book about my endangered animal."

I think this venture is going to be awesome! Who wouldn't want to write with a kid? 

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