At NPL, we’re trying to revive reader-centered writing; writing that’s written for readers. But what does that mean? NPL editor Andrea Nolen explores this question in our latest addition to the Opinion page, How to Tell Stories to Children.

 

One of my favorite books on writing isn’t technically about writing at all, it’s titled How to Tell Stories to Children, by Sara Cone Bryant. Bryant was a storyteller– someone who told stories to live audiences. She would travel from school to school treating children to Aesop’s Fables, The Brothers Grimm and the like.

Sometimes the children weren’t well-behaved and many of Bryant’s insights came from figuring out how to get the kids’ attention despite themselves. Bryant was working in the early twentieth century, but today, when a reader’s attention is distracted by their iPhone, laptop and whatever else, authors face the same problem. How do we engage readers? How do we tell stories for readers?

 

Thank you to amazon.com for cover image.