Your story must appeal to the young reader from the beginning. It should be clear from the start what the situation, or story problem, is. Show the reader as quickly as possible who your main character is and why he must take action.

A good way to begin is with interesting action or dialogue. This action should show something about the character and his situation. You can do this through dialogue. Description is not necessary. Later, you can fill in any background that you feel is necessary to your story.

All actions should then move your story along. Young readers want plenty of action. The middle of your story is where your character is developed. All scenes and actions should show what he does to solve the story problem. Each scene should have a major action.

From your outline, you should know the steps your character must take with anyone who opposes his efforts. Keep your story dramatic and interesting.

Show your reader what is happening, through action and dialogue instead of description. This will make the reader feel involved. Here is an example of the difference between showing and telling.

TELLING:

Michael went out in the snow to play. His mother told him to be sure not to lose his mittens, because his grandmother had made those mittens especially for his birthday.

Michael played in the snow, building snow castles and forts, making snowmen. When he got cold he went into the house to get warm. He took off his boots, his hat and his scarf. His mother asked him where his mittens were. He did not know.

He must have lost them playing in the snow.

SHOWING:

Snow! Beautiful white snow, everywhere. Michael could not wait to go out and play in it. He put on his boots and his scarf. He put on his hat.

"Don't forget these," said his mother, handing him a brand new pair of red mittens. "Your grandmother made these for you, for your birthday. See? They have birds stitched on the back."

Peter loved his new mittens. He put them on and went out in the snow.

All morning long, Peter built snow castles and snow forts. He built tall snowmen and small snow children. He made a snow dog. Brrrrrr! It was cold. He could hardly feel his fingers and his nose. He went into the house to get warm.

Michael took off his boots. He unwrapped his scarf from around his neck. He took off his hat.

"Michael, where are your red mittens?" asked his mother.

Peter looked in his pockets. They weren't there.

Where could they be? He must have lost them in the snow.

A good ending is as important as a good beginning. The reader should feel that your hero has resolved the story problem to his satisfaction.

Your ending should come right after the story problem is solved. You don't need to explain it to be sure the reader understands what happened. That should be clear from the actions of the main character and his solution.

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