Developing your writing for children

What is the course about?

This interactive course gives you the chance to try out the key techniques and skills involved in writing for children of all age groups. Some practical analysis of contemporary children's books and plenty of writing opportunities will help you begin to shape your own children's story.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

- The special requirements of picture books, as well as core elements of writing for younger and developing readers, middle grade readers, teens and young adults.
- Important aspects of writing craft, such as plot and characterisation, as they apply to writing fiction for children of all age groups.
- How the children's publishing market is set up.
- Analysis of a diverse selection of contemporary authors, with a view to applying key writing techniques to own texts.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- respond to, and assess, pieces of writing with sensitivity
- use various writing techniques through which your creativity can be expressed
- identify the variety of books available for children today and the way the children’s publishing market is structured.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

Entry is open to all potential writers who can write fluent English.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Talks, illustrated with contemporary children’s books
Class writing exercises
Group discussion and group work
Independent reading and writing projects outside class.

All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.

For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.

City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.

All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.

For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.

City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Bring a notebook, paper and writing materials, enthusiasm and loads of persistence. You will also need to share your work with peers on the Google Classroom platform in advance of the lesson.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Students who wish to continue actively to write for children may like to join the Writing for Children Workshop, most of whose members began as students on the Starting your children’s book, and of whom a significant number are now published authors.

All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.