Story Writing for Different Audiences: Kids, Adults, and Beyond
Tailor your story writing by adjusting vocabulary, themes, and complexity for your target audience: children (ages 5-12) need simple language, clear morals, and relatable conflicts; young adults (13-18) want identity exploration, romance, and coming-of-age themes; while adults appreciate complex characters, nuanced themes, and sophisticated plot structures. The key to successful audience-specific writing is understanding what each age group values, fears, and dreams about, then crafting stories that speak directly to those experiences.
Understanding Your Target Audience
Children (5-12)
- Attention span: 15-30 minutes
- Word count: 500-3,000 words
- Reading level: Elementary to middle grade
- Interests: Adventure, friendship, animals, magic
Young Adults (13-18)
- Attention span: 1-3 hours
- Word count: 50,000-80,000 words
- Reading level: High school+
- Interests: Identity, romance, rebellion, dystopia
Adults (18+)
- Attention span: Variable
- Word count: 70,000-120,000 words
- Reading level: College+
- Interests: Complex relationships, moral ambiguity, career, family
Writing for Children (Ages 5-12)
Language and Style Guidelines
Writing Techniques for Kids
- Simple vocabulary: Use words kids know or can easily learn from context
- Short sentences: Keep most sentences under 15 words
- Active voice: "Sarah ran to the tree" instead of "The tree was run to by Sarah"
- Show emotions clearly: Kids need obvious emotional cues
- Dialogue-heavy: Children love conversations between characters
Popular Themes for Children
Core Themes
- Friendship and loyalty
- Overcoming fears
- Being different is okay
- Helping others
- Learning new skills
- Family relationships
Popular Settings
- School adventures
- Magical worlds
- Animal kingdoms
- Neighborhood mysteries
- Time travel
- Space exploration
Children's Story Example
Opening for "Mia's Magic Paintbrush"
"Mia found the paintbrush in her grandmother's attic. It looked ordinary, but when she painted a butterfly, it flew right off the paper!
'Grandma!' Mia called, running downstairs with the butterfly dancing around her head. 'Your paintbrush is magic!'
Grandma smiled. 'I wondered when you'd find that old thing.'"
Writing for Young Adults (Ages 13-18)
YA Writing Characteristics
Essential YA Elements
- Teen protagonist: Main character is typically 15-18 years old
- First-person narrative: Creates intimacy and immediacy
- Contemporary voice: Use current slang and references (but don't overdo it)
- High stakes: Everything feels like the most important thing ever
- Authentic emotions: Intense feelings without condescension
Popular YA Themes and Genres
Core Themes
- Identity and self-discovery
- First love and heartbreak
- Rebellion against authority
- Friendship dynamics
- Future anxiety and choices
- Social justice and activism
Popular Genres
- Contemporary romance
- Fantasy and urban fantasy
- Dystopian fiction
- Mental health stories
- LGBTQ+ coming-of-age
- Historical fiction
YA Story Example
Opening for "The Art of Disappearing"
"I perfected the art of disappearing in tenth grade. Not literally—though God knows I've tried—but the kind where you blend into lockers and slip through crowds like smoke. It's a survival skill when your mom's the town's biggest scandal and your dad's response was to vanish for real.
But invisibility gets complicated when someone actually sees you."
Writing for Adults (18+)
Adult Fiction Characteristics
Sophisticated Storytelling
- Complex characters: Flawed, multidimensional people with realistic motivations
- Moral ambiguity: No clear heroes or villains, nuanced ethical dilemmas
- Layered themes: Multiple interpretations and deeper meanings
- Varied POV: Third person, multiple perspectives, unreliable narrators
- Rich prose: More sophisticated vocabulary and sentence structure
Adult Fiction Themes
Life Themes
- Marriage and long-term relationships
- Parenting challenges
- Career and purpose
- Aging and mortality
- Financial stress
- Loss and grief
Societal Themes
- Political and social issues
- Class and economic inequality
- Cultural identity
- Technology's impact on society
- Environmental concerns
- Historical contexts
Adult Fiction Example
Opening for "The Weight of Decisions"
"Margaret found the letter while cleaning out her mother's effects, tucked between recipes and grocery lists in a shoebox that smelled of lavender and regret. The envelope was addressed to a name she didn't recognize, in her mother's careful script, dated three days before the accident.
Forty-seven years of thinking she knew her mother, and here was evidence that she'd known nothing at all."
Cross-Audience Considerations
Writing for Multiple Ages
Crossover Appeal Strategies
- Universal themes: Love, loss, friendship, and growth resonate across ages
- Layered storytelling: Simple surface story with deeper meanings for older readers
- Strong characters: Compelling protagonists appeal to all ages
- Appropriate content: Avoid age-inappropriate material for younger readers
Special Audience Considerations
Diverse Readers
- Include diverse characters and perspectives
- Research cultural contexts carefully
- Avoid stereotypes and tokenism
- Consider sensitivity readers
Reluctant Readers
- Fast-paced opening chapters
- Short chapters and paragraphs
- High-interest topics
- Relatable protagonists
Publishing Strategies by Audience
Platform Recommendations
Children's Stories
Picture book publishers, educational platforms, family-friendly websites, local libraries
Young Adult Fiction
Wattpad, BookTok promotion, YA literary agents, teen-focused magazines
Adult Fiction
Literary magazines, Amazon KDP, Medium publications, book clubs, adult-oriented platforms
Testing Your Audience Knowledge
Audience Checklist Questions
- What problems does my target audience face daily?
- What are their dreams and fears?
- How do they typically speak and think?
- What media do they consume?
- What values are important to them?
- How much time do they have for reading?
Start Writing for Your Audience
Understanding your audience is the foundation of compelling storytelling. Whether you're writing for curious children, passionate teens, or thoughtful adults, the key is respecting your readers and giving them stories that speak to their experiences and aspirations.