A famous children’s writer came to Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival to hold activities. What can youth who want to be a children’s writer learn from her?
“I am Virgo,” Maz Evans says with a flair, “constellation of the zodiac council and guardian of the stationary cupboard,” sending the audience into giggles. The theatre hums with excitement as children’s laughter echoes through the air, their eyes wide with curiosity. As Evans brings the ancient Maya civilization to life through her animated storytelling on stage.
“Put yourself in the mind of a child, write as a child thinks, and always remember that the child is the most important focus,” says Maz Evans, a beloved children’s writer.
She mentions that to be a children’s writer, it is very important to see the world from a child’s perspective. Because Children think very differently from adults, and their world is full of curiosity, imagination and innocence.
As a writer, understanding children’s feelings, interests and opinions is the foundation of his creation. Only by seeing the world through the eyes of children can we create works that can truly move children.
Due to her strong interest in Greek mythology from an early age and skillfully incorporated this love into her writing, she combines elements of Greek mythology with modern life. She created both humorous and touching stories, and successfully launched her children-loved masterpiece, Who Let the Gods Out? .
She says, “Write about what you know, what you love, what you have passion for.” The themes of the story should revolve around things the author is familiar with and passionate about. Only by truly investing in the passion will the aspiring author be able to draw endless inspiration, making the story full of life and resonance.
According to experts, for children’s literature, the author’s passion is crucial because it not only makes the work more attractive, but also helps children establish a connection with the story, stimulate their imagination and exploratory spirit.
Children are naturally curious and crave stories that can stimulate their imagination. When writers devote their passion to their creations, their works can become vivid and infectious, attracting children into the world of stories. The enthusiasm of a writer can quickly infect children, allowing them to feel every emotion and vitality in the story.
Maz also noted that humorous language plays an important role in the creation of children’s literature. As she said, “Life is funny, I can see funny in most situations. Try to find something funny for yourself.” Every detail of life may contain humor, and a writer should be good at capturing these moments and incorporating them into his work.
Humor can not only attract children’s attention but also stimulate their imagination and let them have fun in reading. A sense of humor can help children relax and make it easier for them to get into the story, thus deepening their understanding of the story.
However, writing is not always smooth sailing, and creative blocks are a challenge that many writers face. Maz says, “Keep going and write whatever comes to your mind, even if it seems like rubbish. Give yourself permission to write anything.”
Even when inspiration runs dry, do not give up; keep writing, even if the ideas seem meaningless. The key is to maintain the continuity of your writing and allow yourself to express freely, because writing is a process of constant revision and improvement.
Wanting to make changes to the story later is okay as long as you start first. Maz says: “Just write it, and then, even if you later try to go back and change it, don’t worry about making changes. The key is to keep going.” By continuing to write, inspiration will naturally flow through the process.
For young people who dream of becoming children’s writers, Maz’s advice is clear, write what you truly love, as only then can you create works that touch the heart. No matter how winding the path to writing may be, maintaining your passion for creation will be the key to success.
“Write something you love, write something you’re really passionate about, because if you’re passionate about it, others will be passionate about it too.” Maz Evans said.