Learn to Be a Kid to Write for Kids with Jesse Florea at Upcoming Master Class

When I became the editor of Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines in 1997, I thought I knew what I was doing. I had written for teen boys at Breakaway magazine for three years, taken children’s literature classes in college, earned a master’s degree in print communication and written for newspapers for 10 years. But after I wrote my first nonfiction story on the history of books and sent it to the assistant editor of Clubhouse Jr. (who had worked for the magazine for a couple years), I discovered I had a lot to learn.

The article was only 250 words. I figured the assistant editor would make her edits and sent it back to me in less than an hour. Three hours later, she called me into her office. I walked over, figuring she wanted to compliment me or throw a small party. Instead my entire story was covered in red on her computer screen. “You’re not thinking like a child,” she said. “Your facts are right but you’re not communicating to the audience.” 

I had stated that children’s sections in libraries had started to pop up in the early 1900’s. But what’s 1922 to a 5-year-old? They don’t have that concept of time. So my assistant editor suggested a change: “When your great-grandma was a little girl, the first children’s sections started to show up in libraries.” It was as precise as 1922, but it actually communicated more to a child and created a fun picture.

From that first story to today, I’ve learned a lot about writing for children, especially in the magazine market. I’ve also read thousands of magazine submissions that can only be described as preachy, long-winded and unimaginative (sort of like my first nonfiction piece). Kids aren’t any of those things. They’re silly, fun and energetic. As you write for children, make sure your stories are more like the latter than the former. You’ll have more fun, and you’ll be more likely to get published in children’s magazines.

So be a kid when you write for kids. Use your imagination, be silly and utilize all of your God-given creativity. And if you’re going to be a child, you need to have a child’s mindset. What are their interests? What makes them tick? How are they developing? What are their fears and desires?

Being a kid is fun, and so is writing for them. But it also comes with responsibility. Kids are impressionable. Stories play a big part in how they develop. As I edit and help plan out issues of Clubhouse and Club Jr., I often think of a story from Matthew 18 (NLT) where Jesus calls over a child and says, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” 

Yikes! Talk about having a lot of responsibility. When you write for kids, you really need to pray for wisdom. You must have sound doctrine and write in a way that draws them in and communicates the truth in a way they understand.

In my upcoming Master Class, I’m hoping to pass down some tips that I’ve picked up during my 30 years of writing for kids. These do’s and don’ts will give you the confidence to make your writing more fun, while also communicating God’s truth more effectively to your audience. I hope you’ll register and join me. Our time together promises to be fresher than the funniest herb—silly-antro.

Jesse Florea co-hosts the NRB award-winning “Official Average Boy” podcast where he shares dad jokes and biblical wisdom along with Christian comedian Bob Smiley. He has worked at Focus on the Family for more than 30 years and currently serves as the editor-in-chief of all Focus publications, including Clubhouse Jr. (ages 3-7), Clubhouse (for kids 8-12), Brio (for teen girls) and the flagship Focus on the Family magazine. He also co-hosts the “Official Adventures in Odyssey” podcast where he interviews the actors, writers and producers of this award-winning audio drama. He has written or co-written more than 50 books, including three Bibles for teens and kids, the Defend Your Faith devotional, the Case for Christ Young Readers edition with Lee Strobel, Average Boy’s Above Average Year, and the Read Again and Again Old and New Testament Bible storybooks.