Many of you are in the same position I am. You are growing older, well, not just older, growing OLD. Not only am I an empty nester and grandmother, this Fall I will become a great grandmother. Now, if that isn't cause for pause, I don't know what is.
Every year since 2016, I have endeavored to write up one of our "famous" family stories in picture book form. In some respects to bypass having to come up with individual Christmas gifts for my 30 grandchildren, but more for the idea of recording our funny family stories for posterity.
Every year since 2016, I have endeavored to write up one of our "famous" family stories in picture book form. In some respects to bypass having to come up with individual Christmas gifts for my 30 grandchildren, but more for the idea of recording our funny family stories for posterity.
The first picture book story was "Is This Cowboy Food?" It was about our middle son who (when he was 3) would always approach meals (and life) with a scowl. He is now a father of four with the oldest daughter already a teenager. The other stories have been about our other children, most of whom are old enough to have kids in High School and College now.
When I took some workshop classes about how to write good children's books, they always said to write for your target audience. They also said to gage your story about a character who is basically the same age as your target audience. Well, this has worked out pretty well for me, since the stories I have chosen have been about my own children when they were little. Their kids were the target audience and they have thought it was fun to learn about their parents (or aunts and uncles) as kids.
When I took some workshop classes about how to write good children's books, they always said to write for your target audience. They also said to gage your story about a character who is basically the same age as your target audience. Well, this has worked out pretty well for me, since the stories I have chosen have been about my own children when they were little. Their kids were the target audience and they have thought it was fun to learn about their parents (or aunts and uncles) as kids.
Well, 13 picture books later, dredging up good stories about my grown-up children is getting harder for me now. So, for Christmas this year, I have decided to write up a story told to me by my youngest daughter about her kids. By extension, they are my kids, too, because they lived with me during the time of this story's setting. That makes it more familiar for me. (Now, if I was only a better artist...)
Anyway, writing for a TARGET AUDIENCE works the same for Children's Theater shows. If the audience (and the cast members) are ages 5-12, you'd better have matching appropriate material for that age group. The story and characters should be engaging enough to be interesting for elementary school-age children. The songs should be in ranges that fit young children's voices. Dances, costumes, props, sets, and everything having to do with the show should fit what kids these ages can work with.
Anyway, writing for a TARGET AUDIENCE works the same for Children's Theater shows. If the audience (and the cast members) are ages 5-12, you'd better have matching appropriate material for that age group. The story and characters should be engaging enough to be interesting for elementary school-age children. The songs should be in ranges that fit young children's voices. Dances, costumes, props, sets, and everything having to do with the show should fit what kids these ages can work with.
Thank goodness families go on and on forever.
Perhaps, I will always have a ready TARGET AUDIENCE for my family picture books and Children's Musicals.
"Stone Soup" was heavily influenced by experiences I had raising Matthew, our little cowboy.
Enjoy this Opener "Over Yonder" sung by the entire cast.
Perhaps, I will always have a ready TARGET AUDIENCE for my family picture books and Children's Musicals.
"Stone Soup" was heavily influenced by experiences I had raising Matthew, our little cowboy.
Enjoy this Opener "Over Yonder" sung by the entire cast.
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