How to Write a Bedtime Story

A bedtime story should be whimsical and enchanting, filling a child's imagination with wonderful thoughts as they dose into slumber. As you prepare to write a children's bedtime story, curl up in your favorite sweats, grab a cup of joe and embrace your state of relaxation and comfort.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. In order for your story to capture the reader, you must gear your story and characters to the appropriate reader. If you are writing a bedtime story for an infant or toddler, your story should engage young minds and obtain fewer words and easy flow. If you are writing for children ages 3 to 5 years old or 5 to 7 years old, your story can have more interaction with the reader, more in-depth wording and greater expression of the characters and their actions.

2. Keep your story structure as simple as possible. For a picture story book, make sure you have enough scenes and pictures to clearly illustrate your whole story. For narration, use the best option for your story. You can write in "first person" narration or "third person" narration. In first person, the story is told by one of its characters, using "I". In third person, it's told by an observer, using "they". First person is popular with middle-grade and young-adult readers as it creates an immediate connection to the characters. Third person is appropriate for any age, and permits the writer more sophisticated language and observations.

3. Know your characters inside and out. Your characters should be easily likable and should be significant to the reader. Each character should be embraced and loved by the reader, so that they may connect with each character and their relevance in the story.

4. Create a setting that is relevant to the characters, their plot and their actions. It is important to help the reader associate the settings to the characters. This helps them become more familiar and keeps their attention.

5. Unfold your characters as you weave a beautiful tale of positive comfort. Your story's style and tone should influence the reader into a state of happy thoughts and peace. As you develop your plot, story line and settings, the audience should be delighted and enthralled with their thoughts, as they will soon be enriched in dreamland. Pictures and illustrations can help the reader become a part of the story and can bring your characters, settings and theme to life. A bedtime story can also include the use of poetic devices like rhythm, repetition, alliteration. Be sure to keep it appropriate to your audience. May your bedtime story come alive with enhancement in a whimsical tale and an exploration of happy thoughts.