Fundamentals of Writing for Children

Writing for children can be both personally and professionally rewarding. It means returning to a child’s point of view, full of wonder when learning something new and letting your imagination run wild. Bright, curious young readers demand realistic compelling characters and exciting plots just as much – if not more – than their adult counterparts.

While the focus of this workshop is fiction, the basic fundamentals can be applied to children’s nonfiction as well. Work with a published children’s author to write a complete children’s story book or chapters (up to 2000 words), for ages anywhere from five to fifteen.

Course level:  Beginner / Intermediate

Required Book:  The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children by Nancy Lamb

Workshop Length:  12 weeks

Tuition:  $350.00 ($315 for VIP)

Start Date: View Fundamentals of Writing for Children Course Schedule

Course Structure
This workshop will consist of six two-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures (text based) and associated textbook reading assignments, along with writing assignments incorporating the techniques learned in the session, which you will submit to the instructor for private review at the end of the first week of the session. During the second week 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 and creativity exercises. (2.4 CEUs)

You will learn:

  • Fundamental techniques of writing stories for young readers that can be applied to fiction or nonfiction writing
  • How to create characters children can relate to, including dialogue basics
  • The elements of storytelling, including principles of a strong plot
  • The best way to begin your story, carrying through the middle, and fulfilling the story promise
  • How to find your voice and create your tone
  • The keys to successful rewriting and revision

Who should take this course:

  • Writers interested in exploring the world of Children’s writing
  • Beginning writers looking to further develop their skills under the guidance of a Published Children’s Author
  • Individuals who have always wanted to write Children’s stories but aren’t really sure how to start the process

Register for Fundamentals of Writing for Children Writing Workshop

Course Outline

Session One: Getting Started

  • Defining your reader
  • Sources of ideas
  • Narrative Authority
  • Setting and senses

Writing Assignment: A 500-word scene based on a personal experience in a special place from your childhood. This can be a nonfiction account, or a fictionalized version. Either way, try to evoke the voice and emotions of the child you were at the time.

Session Two: Characters and Dialogue

  • Creating characters children can relate to
  • Heroes and villains
  • Viewpoint
  • Dialogue basics

Writing Assignment: Brief narrative profiles describing your protagonist and antagonist (maximum 250 words each) and a short dialogue scene of confrontation between them (250-500 words).

Session Three: The Elements of Storytelling

  • Principles of a strong plot
  • Story problem and motivation
  • Obstacles and conflict
  • Scene and sequel
  • Outlines

Writing Assignment: A story outline (or narrative summary) that includes the conflicts and obstacles your hero confronts (500 words maximum) and a scene-sequel combination in which you use the sequel to set up the action for the following scene (250-500 words).

Session Four: Beginnings, Middles and Ends

  • The best way to begin your story
  • Propping up the middle of your story
  • Endings—fulfilling the story promise

Writing Assignment: First draft of the first 750 words of a story or book chapter(s).

Session Five: Fine-Tuning Your Story

  • Articulating your story’s premise
  • Finding your voice and creating your tone
  • Figurative language
  • The best word for the job

Writing Assignment: Complete (or continue) your first draft with the next 1,000 words of the story or book chapter(s) submitted for Session Four (or—if your story is less than 1,000 words—you can start from the beginning and incorporate suggestions from Session Four).

Session Six: Polishing Your Prose & Maintaining Momentum

  • Keys to successful revision
  • The care and feeding of the creative spirit
  • Final thoughts

Writing Assignment: A complete short story or book chapter(s) (maximum 2,000 words total). This can be a second/third draft of the work submitted for Sessions Four and Five, or a polished first draft of a new piece.