A Mindful Approach to Writing for Children

When it comes to writing for children, writers – whether prospective or seasoned – can sometimes find themselves stuck when trying to tap into the "child mind." They often wonder what to write to engage a young audience and how to effectively adopt their perspective. However, the truth is that if you are writing for children, you have never truly forgotten the child experience, and you already view the world through a similar lens—just with the added wisdom that comes with age (i.e., grownup survival skills). Nonetheless, as writers, we often hinder our own progress, leading to what is commonly known as writer's block.

From my experience, there are two approaches to overcome this:

• Write like there’s no tomorrow, pouring your thoughts onto the page without restraint until a tiny spark of an idea emerges from the chaotic labyrinth of your mind.

OR

• Practice that trepidatious thing known as ‘patience’—a quality we often encourage our children to practice but hesitate to cultivate ourselves as seasoned and somewhat eccentric adults (no wonder kids think grownups are weird).

Writer's block is merely a sophisticated term for not knowing what to write. It stems from self-judgment and the fear that our ideas may be perceived as silly or, even worse, unworthy of the writing community. Yet, this fear is useless, as the world is teeming with billions of people, each with their own unique ideas. So why should we dwell on what others may think? That path only leads to madness.

Here's a fact: if you fear criticism, you will never find the courage to share your words. And, quite frankly, your words are needed in this wild and crazy world we live in. You need to believe that you contribute value and you must learn to disregard the self-inflicted inner critic or the anonymous critics that arise from the digital age.

Personally, I don’t believe in writer's block, and for good reason. It’s a waste of time and makes no sense. Whenever I find myself unable to conjure words, it serves as a reminder to step away from my writing desk and embrace life outside. It’s akin to the myth of stage fright, and why psych yourself out? No one else lives inside your head, so crafting your international bestselling novel based on what others ‘might’ want to read is a surefire way to prevent it from ever reaching a publisher.

Now, let's explore a few mindful approaches to overcome writer's block:

1. Take a page from the actor's guidebook: discover your intention or ask yourself why you are writing. When I find myself truly stuck, I return to the basics and distill the plot into a one-sentence intention. This simple sentence is worth its weight in gold, as it provides a fundamental framework. It sharpens the roadmap for where you intend to take your story, ultimately helping you make progress.

2. Outline your ideas. Creating an outline can provide structure and clarity, giving you a roadmap to follow as you write. It helps you organize your thoughts and ensure a coherent narrative.

3. Take a break. Sometimes, the best way to overcome writer's block is to step away from your writing and engage in unrelated activities. Explore new hobbies or pursue endeavors that are completely different from writing. Engaging in diverse experiences can spark inspiration and bring fresh ideas to your work.

4. Read more books. (This is pretty self-explanatory.)

5. Get out of the house and gain life experience: Go out and explore the world around you, engage with different people, and try new things. This will not only give you fresh ideas for your writing, but it will also enrich your life and help you grow as a person.

6. Meditate: Meditation is a powerful tool for training the mind to focus and cultivating a sense of inner peace. By practicing meditation regularly, you can learn to quiet your inner critic and tap into your creativity with ease. There are many different types of meditation, so explore what works best for you.

Writing for children requires a mindful approach that involves cultivating patience, belief in oneself, and a commitment to personal growth. By practicing these techniques and staying open to new ideas, you can create stories that resonate with young readers and make a positive impact on the world.