Children's Book Writing Courses Online & in London
Be inspired to write novels and short stories at the college where Andrea Levy, Malorie Blackman, Anna Burns, and other celebrated authors studied.
From picture books to teen thrillers: learn the art of writing for children and young adults on our range of weekday, evening and weekend courses. Our tutors are all successful children's authors who can provide guidance and constructive feedback as you get to grips with the genre and begin to write your story. All our writing courses are taught by practicing writers.
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- Picture book writing
Course start date: Sat 17 May 2025 (and 7 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lou KuenzlerWould you like to write a picture book text for young children? This course is designed for children's writers and for illustrators wishing to write their own stories; a starter course to develop both your ideas and your technique.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £60.00 - Writing children's poetry Course start date: Sat 31 May 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeIn this interactive workshop you will be exploring a range of poetic styles for the different age groups. There will be plenty of practical activities, and a chance to perform a poem in a final ‘slam’. - Writing middle grade fiction: a taster Course start date: Sat 31 May 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil ArkseyMiddle grade fiction now has a profile higher than ever before. Find out more about this rich and exciting category of fiction for young people and develop your own ideas for middle grade stories.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Writing for children: getting started Course start date: Tue 22 Jul 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeDevelop your ideas for children's stories in this practical and interactive short course. Topics will include plot, characterisation and viewpoint, and how to approach the children's publishing industry today.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Picture book writing: getting started Course start date: Sat 16 Aug 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeWould you like to write a picture book text for young children? This taster course is designed for children's writers and for illustrators wishing to write their own stories; a starter course to develop both your ideas and your technique.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Writing for children Course start date: Tue 23 Sep 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Neil ArkseyAlways wanted to write a children's book? This practical course will develop your ability to write for different age groups and genres of contemporary children's fiction.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £130.00 - Advanced writing for children: finishing your novel Course start date: Thu 25 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Penny JoelsonDo you start lots of stories but never finish them? Do you have a novel in progress or nearly finished? This course is for you! You can take this term independently or you can continue with ‘Advanced Writing for Children’ all year and learn to edit your novel too.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00 - Writing for children: workshop Course start date: Thu 25 Sep 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Penny JoelsonOn this ongoing workshop you will develop your work-in-progress with constructive feedback from tutor and classmates. You need to have completed a ‘Writing for children’ course before joining this class.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00 - Picture book writing: advanced Course start date: Mon 13 Oct 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeWould you like to workshop, edit and polish your picture book texts for young children? This course is designed for advanced picture book writers wishing to hone and improve their own stories.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00 - Writing great child characters Course start date: Sat 29 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sophie McKenzieWrite your way to compelling and convincing child characters that truly connect with your readers, in this fun, interactive course.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Children's writing: a taster Course start date: Tue 2 Dec 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeFind out more about writing children's stories in this practical and interactive, short taster session.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Picture book writing: a taster Course start date: Mon 8 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeFind out more about writing a picture book text in this practical and interactive, short taster session. - Developing your writing for children Course start date: Tue 13 Jan 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Neil ArkseyDevelop your children's story with support from classmates and tutor. This course follows on from 'Writing for children'.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £130.00 - Advanced writing for children: editing your novel - part 1 Course start date: Thu 15 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Penny JoelsonLearn how to edit a children’s/YA novel as a whole and chapter by chapter, looking at the ‘bigger picture’ and using the skills you learn to edit your own novel during the course.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00 - Advanced writing for children: editing your novel - part 2Course start date: Thu 23 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Penny JoelsonLearn how to edit the finer details of a children’s/YA novel, using the skills you learn to line-edit your own novel during the course.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00
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