How to plot your children’s novel

What is the course about?

This course is designed for students who have some experience of writing for children and an idea they would like to develop - but who need support to create a compelling plot that grips the reader from the first word to the final page. You'll be shown how to use a template for plotting your novels which will give you a structure to hang your ideas on.

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 importance of plot and structure within a story
- How to develop a character’s emotional story arc
- A variety of plotting techniques
- A template of key milestones that could be applied to any story.

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

- Produce a skeleton plot
- Produce a full plot outline which you will work from while writing and will form the basis of your one page selling
synopsis when your project is complete.
- Produce a chapter by chapter breakdown of your full story.

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

This course is aimed at writers with some experience of writing children’s fiction. You may have completed a first
draft and are now looking for support and objective feedback to help you work it into a stronger book. As a
minimum, you should have an idea and some initial notes for a novel you wish to write.

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

There will be a strong workshop element to the course. You will have the chance to apply the techniques you learn to your idea. We will then workshop each person’s outline in a supportive critique session, where all delegates give feedback enabling you to take your idea to the next level.
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.

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?

Paper and pen.

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

Advanced workshop courses will be offered in the following academic term, so students with a work-in-progress can continue to receive in-depth feedback on their work.

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.