Kid appeal is a must in writing
articles for children’s magazines.
If you include a kid in an article,
you’re much more likely to sell it. For example, when writing an article about
football training, the text will be more appealing if you write about a
specific kid in training, rather than an article about football training, in
general. The same is true for an article on all subjects, such as the
importance of recycling. Writing about a kid who is involved with a recycling
project will resonate more with the reader than an article about the need to
recycle plastic.
To catch and hold a reader’s
attention, write about kids who are near the reader’s age. Most teen magazine
articles approach all subjects with specific kids sharing their own stories and experiences.
Visuals are a necessity, too. Some
magazines may require you to provide photos, and others may use stock photos,
which are provided by the magazine. Photos are important to the story because
they place the reader directly in the subject area. Visuals and text are
equally important. Not only do kids want to read information, they want to see
the pictures, too.
The common denominator in writing that all kids enjoy is
humor. Add humor to lessen the didactic prose. If you’re writing a quiz for the
readers, try spicing it up with a touch of fun and funny. Kids enjoy puns and
other forms of wordplay (I was told I had Type A blood, but it was a typo.)
Write about subjects that are of high importance to the
reader: boy/girl relationships, parent guidelines, friendships…
Will kids want to read the article? Check it out with some
kids before you ship it out to a publisher. Ask for feedback from those readers.
Up your chances of getting a contract by adding kid
appeal. Your editor will thank you for it.
Call for Submissions
for Adult Writers:
FUN FOR KIDZ: Ages 6-13, with emphasis on ages 8-10. Each
issue has a specific theme. See guidelines for theme list. Fiction and
Nonfiction: 500 words or fewer. Focus is on activities and promoting positive
values. Articles with photos are more likely to be accepted.
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