Focus On Writing Nonfiction For Children

Are you looking to break into children’s writing, but have a growing collection of rejections from your fiction submissions? Try writing nonfiction for children! Like the nonfiction market for adults, the nonfiction children’s market is easier to break into. Covering topics from biographies to history to science to sports, you will be able to find something to write either books or articles about. Editors are always looking for writers who can deliver well-researched, interesting nonfiction written specifically for children and teens.

Work with a published writer of nonfiction to develop, research and write two pieces of nonfiction suitable for publication.

Course level:  Intermediate

Required Book:  None required

Workshop Length:  7 weeks

Tuition:  $325.00 ($292.50 for VIP)

Start Date: View Focus On Writing Nonfiction For Children Course Schedule

Course Structure
This workshop will consist of seven one-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures (text based) along with a writing assignment that will be submitted to the instructor for private review midway through each session. You will receive feedback from your instructor on your assignments. During the second half of each session, work will be posted for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing exercises. The course will help you develop a writing process that will lead to creating nonfiction that children want to read. (1.4 CEUs)

You will learn:

  • How to match your topic and audience
  • How to develop a research plan, including the use of interviews
  • How to hook your audience with a strong lead
  • How to deliver what you promised with the conclusion
  • How to market yourself and your work

Who should take this course:

Focus On Writing Nonfiction For Children Writing Workshop

Course Outline

Session One: The World of Nonfiction for Children

  • Studying the markets
  • The growing field of Creative Nonfiction
  • Who is your audience?
  • Finding ideas

Writing Assignment: Narrative summaries of two article or book ideas you want to develop in this workshop (maximum 250 words each). Indicate the audience each would appeal to.

Session Two: Getting the Facts

  • Introduction to interviewing
  • When to use quotes and when to paraphrase
  • Other research materials
  • Making a research plan

Writing Assignment: This assignment has two parts. For the first part, write a brief article or profile up to 500 words based on an interview you did. In the second part, write a research plan. Include a minimum of three sources in your plan (500 word maximum)

Session Three: Structure and Organization

  • Structuring a nonfiction piece and organizing your ideas
  • The importance of outlines
  • Beginnings
  • What is your lead?
  • How to hook your audience

Writing Assignment: Write an outline up to 250 words each for both your ideas. Write the beginning of one article or first chapter, up to 750 words.

Session Four: The Body of Your Work

  • Develop a central theme
  • Coming up with an appropriate angle or slant
  • The body of an article or chapter

Writing Assignment: First draft of the article that you started in the last session (up to 1,500 words)

Session Five: Happily Ever After

  • Delivering what you promised with the conclusion
  • Importance of consistency in voice and tone

Writing Assignment: Complete second draft (up to 1,500 words) with emphasis on the conclusion.

Session Six: Fine-Tuning Your Work

  • Revision checklist
  • Word choices
  • How to market yourself and your work

Writing Assignment: This assignment has two parts. For the first part, write a one-page query letter (250 words maximum) to an editor of an appropriate market for one of your ideas. The second part is to submit up to the first 1,000 words of your second article idea.

Session Seven: Keep Writing

  • Workshop Wrap-up

Writing Assignment: Submit a revised article or chapter (up to 1,500 words) in its entirety. This can be either of the two ideas you have worked on in this class.