Online Children's Book Writing Courses
Bring your ideas to life and inspire young imaginations with City Lit’s online children's book writing courses. Whether you’re dreaming of writing picture books, chapter books, or middle-grade fiction, our expert tutors will help you shape your story and reach your audience.
Our courses cover the key elements of writing for children, from developing characters and plotting age-appropriate narratives to understanding language, tone and visual storytelling. You’ll receive constructive feedback in a supportive online environment, with live sessions and opportunities to share your work with fellow writers.
Designed for writers of all levels, these flexible online courses offer the tools, techniques and encouragement you need to begin — or continue — your journey as a children’s author. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining a work in progress, we’re here to help you craft stories that matter.
Explore our online children’s book writing courses today and start creating stories young readers will love.
12 courses available
Writing for children: getting startedDevelop 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 £51.00- Writing for children: workshop
This workshop is for you if you are writing children’s books. During the workshop you will take turns to share work and 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 £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £181.00 - Writing for children
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.
Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £181.00 - Picture book writing: advancedWould 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 £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £149.00
- Picture book writingWould 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 £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00
- Writing great child charactersWrite your way to compelling and convincing child characters that truly connect with your readers, in this fun, interactive course.
Online
Sat 28 Nov 2026Sophie McKenzieFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - Writing for children: a tasterFind 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 tasterFind out more about writing a picture book text in this practical and interactive, short taster session.
Online
Mon 7 Dec 2026Andrew WealeFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Developing your writing for children
Made a start with writing a children's book? For those who have learned the basics and understand the age bands into which fiction is structured by contemporary children’s publishing, this practical course will deepen your understanding and develop your ability to create stories appropriate to the age bands and genres of contemporary children's fiction.
Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £181.00 - Writing children's poetryIn 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’.
Online
Sat 22 May 2027Andrew WealeFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - How to plot your children’s novel
You’re a writer with some experience and a great idea for a children’s novel, but plotting is the thing that lets you down. On this one-day interactive course you’ll explore ways of structuring your book, finding fresh ways to build your story.
Online
Sun 13 Jun 2027Sophie McKenzieFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - Editing your children’s novel
This course is for you if you have a complete (or near-complete) draft of a novel for children and want to learn how to edit it. Covering all aspects of editing in brief, you will come away with techniques to use and an understanding of the editing process.
Online
Sat 3 Jul 2027Penny JoelsonFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00
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