Alongside my series of posts on how authors get ideas I've decided to write up my own, slightly anarchic take on writing for children. This series of tips and thoughts on the subject will be entirely random. It's intended for both wannabe and more established authors and I hope that it will spark both ideas and debate. I don't pretend to be any kind of guru on the subject but what I do know may just give you the kick you need on a bad day. With that in mind, let's begin with attitude. It takes a lot of it to make it as a writer but what really separates the published from the slush pile is the ability to adopt someone else's - in this case, a child's. And I don't mean stroppy adolescent stomping (although that has a place when used judiciously). I'm referring to that sense of possibility that all children are born with and some sadly lose too early. To write successfully for children, you need to look at the world with those same fresh eyes. Note I haven't used the word 'wonder' - that's because it's ...