Always wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will enable you to take the first steps in writing for younger readers with a focus on learning how and what to write for different age groups.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
A structured overview of the skills involved in writing for children of various ages. You will also gain an up-to-date knowledge of publishing for children.
Students say:"The course has been a fantastic experience for me, meeting enthusiastic and like minded people was just a bonus. We had an excellent, well versed teacher/author in children's writing to encourage, and give us great sound knowledge, that will no doubt help us in our writing futures. Thank you to the tutor, Would highly recommend!
This course will really give you a full understanding of how to write different kinds of children's books, from picture books to teens. It's worth the money as what you learn is priceless. Great teacher who has loads of energy, experience as an author herself and she gives helpful and truthful feedback. If you're looking to be a children's writer, this will be invaluable in giving you the confidence and tools to make it a reality. And it's fun!"
What will we cover?
The picture book format and picture book text, folk stories and fairy tales, animals in children’s fiction, early reader books, chapter books and books for middle grade readers. We will also look at aspects of writing craft, as they apply to writing fiction for children of all age groups, e.g. character, plot, dialogue etc
Please note, students often start the course intending to write for one particular age group, but find that, as the weeks progress, they are drawn to write for others too!
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
- devise your own original stories
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.
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. A reading list will available from City Lit or online by the start of the course.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Developing your writing for children (HW662) in January
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.
Neil Arksey has had a number of novels for children and young adults published by Penguin Random House. His writing has been shortlisted for and won a number of prizes. He was also part of the team that created the highly successful Little Robots TV pre-school TV series for the BBC as well as writing Kipper the Dog and other TV series for younger children. As screenwriter, story editor, consultant, head writer and series producer, Neil Arksey has been responsible for over a thousand episodes of TV drama. In the UK, he has worked on shows such as Crossroads, Family Affairs, Doctors, Mile High, and River City. And abroad, amongst other projects, he was head writer on Finnish TV drama Salatut Elämät, (Secret Lives) and series story producer on Jóban Rosszban, a hospital drama set and based in Budapest. Neil has also worked in script development for Freemantle and Global Drama Productions. He co-produced dark indie feature film, Run To Ground. In addition to working as a writer and producer, Neil has taught writing at several universities, colleges and film schools.
Josh LaceySee moreSee less
Josh Lacey is the author of many books for children including The Dragonsitter, A Dog Called Grk, and Hope Jones Saves the World. He has written for various age groups, and his books range from The Pet Potato, a picture book illustrated by Momoko Abe, to middle-grade novels like The Island of Thieves. His books have been translated into twenty languages.
Andrew WealeSee moreSee less
Andrew Weale is a poet and author of five picture books, including Nora: The Girl Who Ate and Ate and Ate, and the Red House Award winning Spooky Spooky House. He also lectures on picture book writing at Winchester University as part of the Children’s Writing MA, and mentors writers for the highly successful Golden Egg Academy.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/writing-for-children319029Writing for childrenhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_for_children-square.jpg279279GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Writing/Children's writing/Children's writing/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Children's writing228515921358113584122851358113584<p>Always wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will enable you to take the first steps in writing for younger readers with a focus on learning how and what to write for different age groups.</p>253035386Writing for children279279https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_for_children-square_36.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2026-09-29T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceSep 2026WritingHW022279279Writing for children279181279Neil Arkseywriting-for-children/hw022-2627<p>Always wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will enable you to take the first steps in writing for younger readers with a focus on learning how and what to write for different age groups.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-29 00:00:00<p>A structured overview of the skills involved in writing for children of various ages. You will also gain an up-to-date knowledge of publishing for children.</p><p><br><strong>Students say:</strong> <em>"The course has been a fantastic experience for me, meeting enthusiastic and like minded people was just a bonus. We had an excellent, well versed teacher/author in children's writing to encourage, and give us great sound knowledge, that will no doubt help us in our writing futures. Thank you to the tutor, Would highly recommend!<br><br>This course will really give you a full understanding of how to write different kinds of children's books, from picture books to teens. It's worth the money as what you learn is priceless. Great teacher who has loads of energy, experience as an author herself and she gives helpful and truthful feedback. If you're looking to be a children's writer, this will be invaluable in giving you the confidence and tools to make it a reality. And it's fun!"</em></p><p>Always wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will enable you to take the first steps in writing for younger readers with a focus on learning how and what to write for different age groups.</p><p>The picture book format and picture book text, folk stories and fairy tales, animals in children’s fiction, early reader books, chapter books and books for middle grade readers. We will also look at aspects of writing craft, as they apply to writing fiction for children of all age groups, e.g. character, plot, dialogue etc</p><p><br>Please note, students often start the course intending to write for one particular age group, but find that, as the weeks progress, they are drawn to write for others too!</p><p>- respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity</p><p>- use various writing techniques through which your creativity can be expressed</p><p>- identify the variety of books available for children today</p><p>- devise your own original stories</p>Entry is open to all potential writers who can write fluent English.Talks, illustrated with contemporary children’s books<br> Class writing exercises<br> Group discussion and group work<br> Independent reading and writing projects outside class. <br />
<br />
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 <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Bring a notebook, paper and writing materials, enthusiasm and loads of persistence. A reading list will available from City Lit or online by the start of the course.Developing your writing for children (HW662) in January<br><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href=" https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.Children's writingChildren's writingvirtual3035407Writing for children279279https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_for_children-square_37.jpgInStockEveningWedKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2026-09-30T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceSep 2026WritingHW231279279Writing for children279181279Josh Laceywriting-for-children/hw231-2627<p>Always wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will enable you to take the first steps in writing for younger readers with a focus on learning how and what to write for different age groups.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-30 00:00:00<p>A structured overview of the skills involved in writing for children of various ages. You will also gain an up-to-date knowledge of publishing for children.</p><p><br><strong>Students say:</strong> <em>"The course has been a fantastic experience for me, meeting enthusiastic and like minded people was just a bonus. We had an excellent, well versed teacher/author in children's writing to encourage, and give us great sound knowledge, that will no doubt help us in our writing futures. Thank you to the tutor, Would highly recommend!<br><br>This course will really give you a full understanding of how to write different kinds of children's books, from picture books to teens. It's worth the money as what you learn is priceless. Great teacher who has loads of energy, experience as an author herself and she gives helpful and truthful feedback. If you're looking to be a children's writer, this will be invaluable in giving you the confidence and tools to make it a reality. And it's fun!"</em></p><p>Always wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will enable you to take the first steps in writing for younger readers with a focus on learning how and what to write for different age groups.</p><p>The picture book format and picture book text, folk stories and fairy tales, animals in children’s fiction, early reader books, chapter books and books for middle grade readers. We will also look at aspects of writing craft, as they apply to writing fiction for children of all age groups, e.g. character, plot, dialogue etc.</p><p>Please note, students often start the course intending to write for one particular age group, but find that, as the weeks progress, they are drawn to write for others too!</p><p>- respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity</p><p>- use various writing techniques through which your creativity can be expressed</p><p>- identify the variety of books available for children today</p><p>- devise your own original stories</p><p></p>Entry is open to all potential writers who can write fluent English.Talks, illustrated with contemporary children’s books<br> Class writing exercises<br> Group discussion and group work<br> Independent reading and writing projects outside class. <br />
<br />
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 <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Bring a notebook, paper and writing materials, enthusiasm and loads of persistence. A reading list will available from City Lit or online by the start of the course.Developing Your Children’s Book (HW232)<br><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href=" https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.Children's writingChildren's writingvirtual3035416Writing for children279279https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_for_children-square_38.jpgInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2027-01-12T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceJan 2027WritingHW289279279Writing for children279181279Andrew Wealewriting-for-children/hw289-2627<p>Always wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will enable you to take the first steps in writing for younger readers with a focus on learning how and what to write for different age groups.</p>0000-Available|2027-01-12 00:00:00<p>A structured overview of the skills involved in writing for children of various ages. You will also gain an up-to-date knowledge of publishing for children.</p><p><br><strong>Students say:</strong> <em>"The course has been a fantastic experience for me, meeting enthusiastic and like minded people was just a bonus. We had an excellent, well versed teacher/author in children's writing to encourage, and give us great sound knowledge, that will no doubt help us in our writing futures. Thank you to the tutor, Would highly recommend!<br><br>This course will really give you a full understanding of how to write different kinds of children's books, from picture books to teens. It's worth the money as what you learn is priceless. Great teacher who has loads of energy, experience as an author herself and she gives helpful and truthful feedback. If you're looking to be a children's writer, this will be invaluable in giving you the confidence and tools to make it a reality. And it's fun!"</em></p><p>Always wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will enable you to take the first steps in writing for younger readers with a focus on learning how and what to write for different age groups.</p><p>The picture book format and picture book text, folk stories and fairy tales, animals in children’s fiction, early reader books, chapter books and books for middle grade readers. We will also look at aspects of writing craft, as they apply to writing fiction for children of all age groups, e.g. character, plot, dialogue etc.</p><p>Please note, students often start the course intending to write for one particular age group, but find that, as the weeks progress, they are drawn to write for others too!</p><p>- respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity</p><p>- use various writing techniques through which your creativity can be expressed</p><p>- identify the variety of books available for children today</p><p>- devise your own original stories</p>Entry is open to all potential writers who can write fluent English.<br />
<br />
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 <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Bring a notebook, paper and writing materials, enthusiasm and loads of persistence. A reading list will available from City Lit or online by the start of the course.Please ask your tutor for advice<br><br>All students are invited to join us at <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> and <a href=" https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>.Children's writingChildren's writingvirtual3035431Writing for children279279https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/writing_for_children-square_39.jpgInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2027-04-20T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceApr 2027WritingHW517279279Writing for children279181279Andrew Wealewriting-for-children/hw517-2627<p>Always wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will enable you to take the first steps in writing for younger readers with a focus on learning how and what to write for different age groups.</p>0000-Available|2027-04-20 00:00:00<p>A structured overview of the skills involved in writing for children of various ages. You will also gain an up-to-date knowledge of publishing for children.<br><br><strong>Students say:</strong> <em>"The course has been a fantastic experience for me, meeting enthusiastic and like minded people was just a bonus. We had an excellent, well versed teacher/author in children's writing to encourage, and give us great sound knowledge, that will no doubt help us in our writing futures. Thank you to the tutor, Would highly recommend!<br><br>This course will really give you a full understanding of how to write different kinds of children's books, from picture books to teens. It's worth the money as what you learn is priceless. Great teacher who has loads of energy, experience as an author herself and she gives helpful and truthful feedback. If you're looking to be a children's writer, this will be invaluable in giving you the confidence and tools to make it a reality. And it's fun!"</em></p><p>Always wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will enable you to take the first steps in writing for younger readers with a focus on learning how and what to write for different age groups.</p><p>The picture book format and picture book text, folk stories and fairy tales, animals in children’s fiction, early reader books, chapter books and books for middle grade readers. We will also look at aspects of writing craft, as they apply to writing fiction for children of all age groups, e.g. character, plot, dialogue etc.</p><p><br>Please note, students often start the course intending to write for one particular age group, but find that, as the weeks progress, they are drawn to write for others too!</p><p>- respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity</p><p>- use various writing techniques through which your creativity can be expressed</p><p>- identify the variety of books available for children today</p><p>- devise your own original stories</p>Entry is open to all potential writers who can write fluent English.Talks, illustrated with contemporary children’s books<br> Class writing exercises<br> Group discussion and group work<br> Independent reading and writing projects outside class. <br />
<br />
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 <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Children's writingChildren's writingvirtual279279181HW022,HW231,HW289,HW517NONETue,Wed29/09/26 - 08/12/2610:15 - 12:1510:1512:1511 sessions (over 11 weeks)1111 weeks or longerDaytime,EveningWeekdayKSKeeley Street,OnlineNeil Arksey,Josh Lacey,Andrew WealeBeginners, Some experienceAvailable courses2026-09-29T00:00:00+00:00,2026-09-30T00:00:00+00:00,2027-01-12T00:00:00+00:00,2027-04-20T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026,Jan 2027,Apr 2027Writing279279Writing for childrenwriting-for-children/hw022-2627,writing-for-children/hw231-2627,writing-for-children/hw289-2627,writing-for-children/hw517-2627<p>Always wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will enable you to take the first steps in writing for younger readers with a focus on learning how and what to write for different age groups.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-29 00:00:00<p>A structured overview of the skills involved in writing for children of various ages. You will also gain an up-to-date knowledge of publishing for children.</p><p><br><strong>Students say:</strong> <em>"The course has been a fantastic experience for me, meeting enthusiastic and like minded people was just a bonus. We had an excellent, well versed teacher/author in children's writing to encourage, and give us great sound knowledge, that will no doubt help us in our writing futures. Thank you to the tutor, Would highly recommend!<br><br>This course will really give you a full understanding of how to write different kinds of children's books, from picture books to teens. It's worth the money as what you learn is priceless. Great teacher who has loads of energy, experience as an author herself and she gives helpful and truthful feedback. If you're looking to be a children's writer, this will be invaluable in giving you the confidence and tools to make it a reality. And it's fun!"</em></p>,<p>A structured overview of the skills involved in writing for children of various ages. You will also gain an up-to-date knowledge of publishing for children.<br><br><strong>Students say:</strong> <em>"The course has been a fantastic experience for me, meeting enthusiastic and like minded people was just a bonus. We had an excellent, well versed teacher/author in children's writing to encourage, and give us great sound knowledge, that will no doubt help us in our writing futures. Thank you to the tutor, Would highly recommend!<br><br>This course will really give you a full understanding of how to write different kinds of children's books, from picture books to teens. It's worth the money as what you learn is priceless. Great teacher who has loads of energy, experience as an author herself and she gives helpful and truthful feedback. If you're looking to be a children's writer, this will be invaluable in giving you the confidence and tools to make it a reality. And it's fun!"</em></p><p>Always wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will enable you to take the first steps in writing for younger readers with a focus on learning how and what to write for different age groups.</p><p>The picture book format and picture book text, folk stories and fairy tales, animals in children’s fiction, early reader books, chapter books and books for middle grade readers. We will also look at aspects of writing craft, as they apply to writing fiction for children of all age groups, e.g. character, plot, dialogue etc</p><p><br>Please note, students often start the course intending to write for one particular age group, but find that, as the weeks progress, they are drawn to write for others too!</p>,<p>The picture book format and picture book text, folk stories and fairy tales, animals in children’s fiction, early reader books, chapter books and books for middle grade readers. We will also look at aspects of writing craft, as they apply to writing fiction for children of all age groups, e.g. character, plot, dialogue etc.</p><p>Please note, students often start the course intending to write for one particular age group, but find that, as the weeks progress, they are drawn to write for others too!</p>,<p>The picture book format and picture book text, folk stories and fairy tales, animals in children’s fiction, early reader books, chapter books and books for middle grade readers. We will also look at aspects of writing craft, as they apply to writing fiction for children of all age groups, e.g. character, plot, dialogue etc.</p><p><br>Please note, students often start the course intending to write for one particular age group, but find that, as the weeks progress, they are drawn to write for others too!</p><p>- respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity</p><p>- use various writing techniques through which your creativity can be expressed</p><p>- identify the variety of books available for children today</p><p>- devise your own original stories</p>,<p>- respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity</p><p>- use various writing techniques through which your creativity can be expressed</p><p>- identify the variety of books available for children today</p><p>- devise your own original stories</p><p></p>Entry is open to all potential writers who can write fluent English.Talks, illustrated with contemporary children’s books<br> Class writing exercises<br> Group discussion and group work<br> Independent reading and writing projects outside class. <br />
<br />
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 <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.,<br />
<br />
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 <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.Children's writingChildren's writingconfigurable
