Uploaded July 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
@LouigiVerona asked the following when commenting on my last video: youtu.be/XaRwoKwxdr0
A question: you are frequently saying that a story for one's child is not necessarily a story that would work for other children. Could you talk more about it? I'm not planning to write anything like that, but I'm just curious what a writer should pay attention to and what, in your experience, actually works?
I thought the easiest thing would be to make a video off the top of my head to start trying to explain this for you and for myself. I think there is a lot more to it and I will come back to this question - especially if the video makes you want to ask more questions - please do so in the comments box below the video.
Having made and edited the video the following thoughts occurred to me:
Simply put a story written for a child assumes the reader knows so much about that family - the the pet names - the culture - the in-jokes. There is often a lot that is written in a family story which actually excludes the reader.
To write a story that is universal, it must accessible for all children, or at least the target audience.
If you want to sell a lot of books, you want to make the story inclusive for as many children as possible. The themes should be those of all children's childhoods, not those of one particular child on one particular day in on particular culture.
It is good to share cultures and allow others in to understand, but that means finding the universality in the story.
Subscribe to this channel on YouTube for lots more drawing videos from award-winning illustrator, Shoo Rayner ➡️ bit.ly/Sub2Shoo
Twitter twitter.com/shoorayner
instagram.com/shoorayner
Website shoorayner.com
music by youtube.com/cleffernotes
Everyone asks about the tools I use when I'm out using my sketchbook. here's a video to show you what and how I use them. youtu.be/QJwjV1FKdyg
Rotring Tikky Graphic Pen
amzn.to/2hLNgQo in the UK
amzn.to/2zRyH4y in the USA
amzn.to/2E3qL08 in Canada
The Pentel Aquash Brush
amzn.to/2hL5MZe in the UK
amzn.to/2zQFD1H in the USA
amzn.to/2BpMRHg In Canada
Huion A4 Tracing Light Pad
amzn.to/2G8VglQ in the UK
amzn.to/2E4CStW in the USA
amzn.to/2DEDt7P in Canada
The Seawhite of Brighton a5 travel journal
amzn.to/2hLANfw in the UK
amzn.to/2zU9dkU in the USA
Seawhite 350gsm Watercolour paper
amzn.to/2PEdMf7 in the UK
(Try Canson in the US amzn.to/3qrZYBk )
Seawhite layout Pad
amzn.to/2Oyyw7u in the UK
(Try Strathmnore Layout Bond in the US
amzn.to/2Oyyw7u )
The Cotman sketching watercolour set
amzn.to/2hPgKgl in the UK
amzn.to/2yWquIV in the USA
amzn.to/2BpN0KO in Canada
Neutral Tint Half Pan Watercolour Paint
amzn.to/2ymFRJI in the UK
amzn.to/2Cbk5f5 in the USA
amzn.to/2E5E3t4 in Canada
Naples Yellow Half Pan Watercolour Paint
amzn.to/2z9o9gt in the UK
amzn.to/2z9nKdX in the USA
amzn.to/2E3HQHj in Canada
Sharpie White China Marker
amzn.to/2jEkSAg in the UK
amzn.to/2zU9UL2 in the USA
amzn.to/2E3EqnS in Canada
Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils
amzn.to/2GR7oIp in the UK
amzn.to/2qoExnP in the USA
amzn.to/2JA6XE4 in Canada
Sailor Fude Fountain Pen amzn.to/2DAbWTF in the UK
amzn.to/2IUPcS0 in the USA
amzn.to/2PCI2TTin the UK
Carbon Black ink amzn.to/2ZyO1gT in the UK
amzn.to/2GGWiYQ in the USA
amzn.to/2GGWmYA in Canada
Twitter twitter.com/shoorayner
instagram.com/shoorayner
Website shooraynerdrawing.com
music by youtube.com/cleffernotes
Shoo Rayner is an award-winning illustrator and author of over 200 books for children.
The Shoo Rayner Drawing Channel won the 2011 YouTube NextUp award.
Make sure you are subscribed for new videos every week delivered to your inbox. ➡️ bit.ly/Sub2Shoo
@LouigiVerona asked the following when commenting on my last video: youtu.be/XaRwoKwxdr0
A question: you are frequently saying that a story for one's child is not necessarily a story that would work for other children. Could you talk more about it? I'm not planning to write anything like that, but I'm just curious what a writer should pay attention to and what, in your experience, actually works?
I thought the easiest thing would be to make a video off the top of my head to start trying to explain this for you and for myself. I think there is a lot more to it and I will come back to this question - especially if the video makes you want to ask more questions - please do so in the comments box below the video.
Having made and edited the video the following thoughts occurred to me:
Simply put a story written for a child assumes the reader knows so much about that family - the the pet names - the culture - the in-jokes. There is often a lot that is written in a family story which actually excludes the reader.
To write a story that is universal, it must accessible for all children, or at least the target audience.
If you want to sell a lot of books, you want to make the story inclusive for as many children as possible. The themes should be those of all children's childhoods, not those of one particular child on one particular day in on particular culture.
It is good to share cultures and allow others in to understand, but that means finding the universality in the story.
Subscribe to this channel on YouTube for lots more drawing videos from award-winning illustrator, Shoo Rayner ➡️ bit.ly/Sub2Shoo
Twitter twitter.com/shoorayner
instagram.com/shoorayner
Website shoorayner.com
music by youtube.com/cleffernotes
Everyone asks about the tools I use when I'm out using my sketchbook. here's a video to show you what and how I use them. youtu.be/QJwjV1FKdyg
Rotring Tikky Graphic Pen
amzn.to/2hLNgQo in the UK
amzn.to/2zRyH4y in the USA
amzn.to/2E3qL08 in Canada
The Pentel Aquash Brush
amzn.to/2hL5MZe in the UK
amzn.to/2zQFD1H in the USA
amzn.to/2BpMRHg In Canada
Huion A4 Tracing Light Pad
amzn.to/2G8VglQ in the UK
amzn.to/2E4CStW in the USA
amzn.to/2DEDt7P in Canada
The Seawhite of Brighton a5 travel journal
amzn.to/2hLANfw in the UK
amzn.to/2zU9dkU in the USA
Seawhite 350gsm Watercolour paper
amzn.to/2PEdMf7 in the UK
(Try Canson in the US amzn.to/3qrZYBk )
Seawhite layout Pad
amzn.to/2Oyyw7u in the UK
(Try Strathmnore Layout Bond in the US
amzn.to/2Oyyw7u )
The Cotman sketching watercolour set
amzn.to/2hPgKgl in the UK
amzn.to/2yWquIV in the USA
amzn.to/2BpN0KO in Canada
Neutral Tint Half Pan Watercolour Paint
amzn.to/2ymFRJI in the UK
amzn.to/2Cbk5f5 in the USA
amzn.to/2E5E3t4 in Canada
Naples Yellow Half Pan Watercolour Paint
amzn.to/2z9o9gt in the UK
amzn.to/2z9nKdX in the USA
amzn.to/2E3HQHj in Canada
Sharpie White China Marker
amzn.to/2jEkSAg in the UK
amzn.to/2zU9UL2 in the USA
amzn.to/2E3EqnS in Canada
Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils
amzn.to/2GR7oIp in the UK
amzn.to/2qoExnP in the USA
amzn.to/2JA6XE4 in Canada
Sailor Fude Fountain Pen amzn.to/2DAbWTF in the UK
amzn.to/2IUPcS0 in the USA
amzn.to/2PCI2TTin the UK
Carbon Black ink amzn.to/2ZyO1gT in the UK
amzn.to/2GGWiYQ in the USA
amzn.to/2GGWmYA in Canada
Twitter twitter.com/shoorayner
instagram.com/shoorayner
Website shooraynerdrawing.com
music by youtube.com/cleffernotes
Shoo Rayner is an award-winning illustrator and author of over 200 books for children.
The Shoo Rayner Drawing Channel won the 2011 YouTube NextUp award.
Make sure you are subscribed for new videos every week delivered to your inbox. ➡️ bit.ly/Sub2Shoo
