Developing your writing for children

What is the course about?

An opportunity to focus on your ideas for children’s stories, to discuss your writing and learn about the current state of children’s book publishing.

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?

- Contemporary children’s writing
- Guidance in writing for children.

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

- Analyse pieces of writing effectively and sensitively
- Use various writing techniques for children’s writing
- Use appropriate style for desired age group.

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

You need to have completed the first two terms of Writing for Children or an equivalent writing for children course as this term’s course is intended to give students the opportunity to put into practice some of the topics covered in the first two terms. If you’ve been writing for children on your own without attending a course you will need to submit your work to the Creative Writing dept before being accepted onto the course.

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

- Group discussion and feedback on writing
- Independent reading and writing projects
- Tutor input.

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 access to email – students whose work is due to be shared will be expected to email their work to the other members of the class 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 Writing for Children course, 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.