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This is the second page of a letter that begins two pages back, 992006198805867_midwest_ms_conroy_box_00026_fl_01339_000024.jpg

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  Human interest is a necessary ingredient, too, and humor, oh, lots of humor.  Lots of "talking", too.  Descriptions, yes, if one makes them short and colorful - full of "picture words", as my children would tell you.  and, of course, everything in the story must have a name since children live in a concrete world.
   The group I like best to write for are the 8-9 yr. olds.   They have a tremendous sense of fun, and live in the world of imagination.   The more fantastic a story is the better they like it.
    After that age children become more practical and read biography, history, stories of foreign lands, inventions, adventure.  Mystery, hobbies, etc.  About 13 girls begin to read romantic stories; boys much later.  After 13 children go in for specialized reading.