Program Overview
This introductory course on Writing for Children provides aspiring authors with the skills and knowledge to write for children aged 3-16. Led by an award-winning children's author, the course covers topics such as characterization, plot development, and industry expectations. Participants receive personalized feedback and have the opportunity to submit their work to publishing professionals for review. The course is accessible to individuals of all experience levels and is offered as both a 10-week evening course and a one-week intensive summer school.
Program Outline
Outline:
This introductory course on Writing for Children is designed for individuals who aspire to write books for children aged 3-16 years old. The curriculum covers a range of topics, including:
- Week 1: Introduction to children's literature and the market for different age groups.
- Week 2: Characterisation and creating strong, memorable characters.
- Week 3: Building believable settings and vivid descriptions.
- Week 4: Crafting engaging dialogue and bringing your characters to life.
- Week 5: Building plots and pacing your story for maximum impact.
- Week 6: Writing for different age groups: picture books, middle grade, and young adult.
- Week 7: Editing and revising your work for clarity, flow, and impact.
- Week 8: Understanding publisher and agent expectations for publishable manuscripts.
- Week 9: Exploring the practicalities of submitting your work to publishers and agents.
- Week 10: Writing like a professional and navigating the publishing industry.
Teaching:
The course is delivered by an award-winning children's author and is taught in small groups, facilitating individual attention and personalized feedback. Participants are encouraged to actively participate in discussions, share their work, and receive constructive critiques.
Careers:
This course equips aspiring children's authors with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the challenging yet rewarding world of writing for young readers. Graduates may pursue careers as:
- Published authors of children's books
- Ghostwriters for children's books
- Freelance writers for children's magazines and websites
- Content creators for educational materials
- Creative writing instructors
Other:
- The course is offered as both a 10-week evening course and a one-week intensive summer school.
- The course provides participants with the opportunity to submit their work to publishing professionals for feedback.
- The course is designed to be accessible to individuals of all levels of experience.
Testimonials:
- "I have thoroughly enjoyed the course. Bryony was an excellent tutor. She is incredibly supportive and knows her stuff! It has been a highlight of my work to attend the sessions via the Zoom. As a group, we have bonded and we have supported one another throughout. Bryony has helped me develop as a writer, and I will be forever grateful for that."
- Emma Lomas
- "Bryony was an excellent tutor - clear materials delivered via slides. Excellent delivery via zoom and full and thorough feedback for all assignments. Really motivating and confidence building and a very enjoyable experience."
- Susan Callum
- "I am very grateful to Bryony for going the extra mile to equip us with the tools we need to become writers. Her approach and materials were second to none."
- Jonathan Kalemera
