Writing Fiction for Children Course

This is where we say ‘Hello!’ You’ll learn how to proceed with your course, including ideas on the best ways to study, what equipment you’ll need and how to get organised. And, we’ll look at the qualities you’ll need to succeed as a writer, including how to cope with rejection.

This module focuses on market research, a recommended reading list and getting to know your reader. You’ll also learn about writing responsibly, and the requirements of different age groups. Plus, there’ll be tips on using the three ‘I’s imagination, inspiration and ideas – and you’ll finish off with a look at useful books and magazines.

Next you’ll move onto creating characters. In this module you’ll examine the different kinds of characters that you can use in your stories, including naming them, looking at the world through their viewpoint and developing them as the story moves along. You’ll look at titles, plotting and conflict. The module then moves on to dialogue and how you can make it convincing, and finishes off with a lesson on story structure.

This module covers author led-v-series led books, the need for factual accuracy and how to ‘retell’ traditional stories. It then considers what’s acceptable when writing for children, based on their age and experience, and ends by looking at house styles and the educational markets.

Now you’ll look at picture books, what they are, how to research the market, how to write them, including books for babies, novelty books and story books. You’ll then move onto picture book language, which means making every word count! You‘ll focus on letting the pictures do the talking, moving the story along, the final draft, artwork and picture book formats. You’ll finish with a quick look at the world of picture strip stories and comic strips.

Next, we’ll move on to writing poetry for children. You’ll cover how to choose your subject, creating funny poems, finding the right rhyme and the different forms of poems you can use. Then we’ll show you how to present and submit your poems.

This module will introduce the three Rs (rereading, revising and rewriting), presentation techniques, paragraphs and creating cover sheets. Then you’ll learn how to send your work off to publishers, including multiple submissions and dealing with rejection. Finally, we’ll look at what to do once your work is accepted, we’ll examine contracts and your rights and look at the important legal factors you need to take into account, such as libel and plagiarism.

Here we’ll show you how to use the self-publishing path, including the advantages and disadvantages, what format to choose, e-books or both; the best ways to get your story printed, if you go down this route and e-book formatting. Then you’ll look at the value of external editors, how to create a great book cover, writing the ‘blurb’ and getting your print copies, if you have them, into bookstores.

The final module covers one of the most important aspects of being a writer – marketing yourself and your work. So, you’ll learn how to generate interest in your work using press releases, radio, TV and press interviews, social media, an online author presence, blogs, YouTube clips, reviews, podcasts and blogging. And, finally, we’ll show you the benefits of creating your own website.

Your assignment will give you the chance to practise everything you have learnt in the course. Your tutor will give you invaluable feedback that will help you to produce professional work that you can send off to editors with confidence.