Overview: Writing for children requires a clear understanding of your target audience, including their developmental level and interests. When self-editing your manuscript, it’s important to ensure that your language, themes, and ideas are appropriate for your readers. Whether you’re writing for toddlers or middle graders, your story should be simple enough to grasp but engaging enough to hold their attention. In this article, we’ll focus on how to self-edit your manuscript with your audience in mind, ensuring your story is suitable and captivating.
Why Editing for Your Audience Matters
Every story should resonate with its intended audience. A great manuscript doesn’t just tell a good story—it connects with readers in a way that’s appropriate for their age and level of understanding. Without proper attention to the needs of your target audience, you risk creating a story that is either too simplistic, too complex, or even inappropriate for your readers. Editing with your audience in mind ensures:
- Engagement: The language and themes are interesting and relatable for your readers.
- Suitability: The content is appropriate for the age group in terms of complexity, language, and tone.
- Clarity: Your ideas are easy to understand without sacrificing engagement or excitement.
Key Considerations When Editing for Your Audience
1. Language Suitability
The language in your manuscript should match the developmental level of your target readers. This doesn’t mean oversimplifying—children can understand a surprising amount—but your word choices should be accessible without being condescending.
- Keep sentences short and clear, especially for younger readers.
- Use vocabulary that your audience will understand while introducing a few new words to expand their language.
- Avoid complex sentence structures that could confuse young readers.
Questions to Ask:
- Is the language too advanced or too simplistic for my target audience?
- Are there any words or phrases that might be confusing for the age group?
- Is there enough repetition or variation in sentence structure to maintain engagement?
2. Theme and Idea Complexity
Picture books, in particular, should focus on themes that are easy to grasp. However, even simple ideas can be layered to create depth and engagement. Themes should be age-appropriate, while still encouraging imagination and thought.
- Keep themes relatable to the everyday experiences of your readers, whether it’s about friendship, emotions, or adventure.
- Avoid overly complex ideas that younger children might not fully understand, but offer room for curiosity and discovery.
Questions to Ask:
- Are the themes relatable to my audience’s life experience?
- Is the central idea easy to follow from start to finish?
- Are there opportunities to add layers of meaning without confusing the reader?
3. Appropriateness of Content
Children’s stories should be free of anything too intense or frightening for their developmental level. While some conflict is necessary to keep the story engaging, it should be resolved in a way that leaves readers feeling secure.
- Avoid content that might be too scary or emotionally overwhelming for your target age group.
- Ensure a positive resolution that wraps up the story in a way that feels safe and satisfying.
Questions to Ask:
- Is there anything in the story that could be too scary or inappropriate for my readers?
- Does the resolution leave a sense of closure and reassurance?
- Are the conflicts resolved in a way that is appropriate for the emotional maturity of the audience?
How to Self-Edit for Your Audience
Step 1: Define Your Audience
Before diving into your self-edit, make sure you have a clear picture of your target readers. Are they toddlers, preschoolers, or older children? Understanding their reading level, interests, and emotional maturity will guide your editing process.
Step 2: Review Language and Tone
Go through your manuscript with a focus on language. Simplify any overly complex sentences, while ensuring the tone remains engaging. Keep in mind that children enjoy stories with rhythm, repetition, and fun sounds, especially in picture books.
Step 3: Examine the Themes
Consider whether the themes and ideas are suited to your readers. Younger children may appreciate simple ideas like friendship or adventure, while older children may enjoy more complex themes like perseverance or emotional growth.
Step 4: Check for Age-Appropriate Content
Make sure that nothing in your story could be too intense or inappropriate for your readers. This includes evaluating conflicts, the emotional weight of the story, and the resolution.
Step 5: Read Aloud
Reading your manuscript aloud can help you get a feel for the flow of the language and whether it sounds natural for the intended age group. Pay attention to how the story would sound to a child and adjust the pacing or wording accordingly.
Self-editing for your audience is crucial to ensure your manuscript resonates with the readers it’s intended for. By tailoring your language, themes, and content to your target age group, you’ll create a story that is not only engaging but also age-appropriate and meaningful. Before moving on to further developmental edits or sending it to an editor, take the time to refine your manuscript with your audience in mind.
