How to Write a Factional Story

WRITING IDEAS FOR KIDS

Combine Fact and Fiction to Boost Learning AND Creativity

Sloth Moths Eat What???

I was scrolling through social media one day when I came across an article about a creature called a Sloth Moth. These fascinating insects spend their entire lives living in a sloth’s fur. It’s a good deal. The moths get free room and board (btw, they eat sloth poop. Six year old boys love that little fun fact!) while the sloth gets excellent camouflage from the algae created by the moth. Sloths have an entire ecosystem living in their fur. You can find out more about it in this really interesting article.

Meld Science and Creativity

When I read the article, it immediately sparked an idea about a friendship between a sloth and the moth and the story MOTH & SLOTH: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER was born.

Factional Stories

I love creating fictional stories based on science facts. It’s one of my favorite ways of coming up with book ideas. I’ve dubbed them Factional Stories. (Turns out, I didn’t actually come up with that name, but I haven’t seen it used for picture books.)

Sparking Curiosity

Factional stories are a great way to spark curiosity and learning. My hope is that once kids read MOTH & SLOTH they’ll be inspired to learn more about sloths and moths, and symbiotic relationships, and cleaner fish, and coral reefs, and…and…and…

Kids Can Write their Own Factional Stories

For a little extra inspiration, they can try writing a Factional Story based on the creatures in this fun article.

I think my favorite story in the article is the relationship between the manta rays and remoras! Oooh…I’m going to go write that story right now!

Let me know if you and your kiddos are inspired to write a factional story Or if you have any favorite factional stories Or if you have any questions!