Scribblers Retreat

This year I'm trying to learn to write fiction. I have written it for fun and even published some short stories (very bad ones, I confess.) But now, I'm trying to actually learn how to do it. I picked a project and to ease the stress, I'm calling it a practice project. It may or may not go out into the world when it's done.

Having started out trying to be a fiction writer, before I figured out I wasn't very good at it, I actually know a fair amount about writing fiction. I've read lots of books, and know a lot of rules. It's the application of them that throws me off. But I'm working away at it, reading more books, trying new techniques and trying not to be overly critical with myself just yet.

I think some of my problem is that while I love reading children's books, the books I love best were written long, long ago, and my writing reflects that. Today's children's books are different--faster, slicker, less respectful. That's not my style. The question will be: Can I write a book for children that I feel comfortable with and that is still readable by today's sophisticated children? Or is there a publisher who thinks the unsophisticated children still need books to read? What am I willing to compromise here?

Tell us about your efforts to learn a new type of writing.