Writing for Children

The rewards of writing for children of every age are as plentiful as they are gratifying, and there are special joys to be found in crafting stories for children and teenagers that no other category of writing can offer. Seeing your stories take shape and winning praise from your tutor, may be your first steps in this exciting new direction. But the turning point will be your success in creating characters that children will identify with and return to time and time again.

If you would like to become a professional children's author, then this course can give you the know-how to help you to achieve your goals.

The Course Synopsis

Getting Started – The first Blueprint begins with an overview of the field of children's literature. It defines the various age groups along with assisting you to identify which kind of children's writing you are most interested in pursuing. You will be introduced to the basic techniques of writing children's stories. This Blueprint will help you identify the techniques and styles used to develop successful writing in this genre.

Seeing with New Perspective – The ability to perceive your surroundings from the younger reader's point of view is an essential requirement for the juvenile writer. This Blueprint will open your eyes and ears to enable you to get in touch with your target audience. You will learn how to collect ideas, how to develop your story line and create a believable plot. You will learn to develop strong themes and credible characters. You will use all of your sharpened skills to invest a realistic scene or setting. The ability to create the appearance of reality is essential in writing Children's Fiction.

Writing for Pre-Teenagers – In this section of the course you will learn the fundamentals of writing for nine through to twelve year olds. Children of this age are gaining in confidence, beginning to push boundaries and getting into scrapes. This behaviour is reflected in the stores they like to read. While this age group feels they are capable of handling anything, they are reassured by the idea of good winning over evil in the end. We look into more detail at the Mystery genre from a young person's perspective, taking you step by step through character and chapter planning. Your third assignment puts your newly learned skills to practical use as you outline your own children's mystery story and start the first chapter.

Writing for the Teenage Market – In this Blueprint you will explore the world of teens and learn the difference with this market compared to the other age groups. You will learn varied types of writing for this market, from Science Fiction, Teenage Romance, Historical Romance to Horror. This will include where to start and the vital component of how to end your story. You will develop an understanding of word length, number characters and how to portray characters' thoughts, emotions and feelings.

Getting Your Writing Published – Sooner or later most writers come to recognize that publication is the paramount goal of writing. Having written your book, it is all ready to send to the publisher, yes? No! We advise how you can turn your first draft into a polished and professional piece of material. Prepare your manuscript for submission to a publisher and develop the skills to edit and proofread your final draft. Lastly you will learn how to market your work and approach publishers. We also give you an idea of what to expect in the wonderful event of your book being accepted for publication.