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Writing
Children's Fiction
With Karen
King
Course is currently closed-- please check
back soon for new course dates.
Course Description:
Have you always wanted to write for children? This
ten-week course introduces you to the basic skills of writing children’s fiction, dealing with such topics as how to create characters, write strong stories, and present your work to publishers. Includes writing exercises
and brain-storming tips.
Course Type:
Reading and writing exercises, set assignments,
instructor critique. This course has a 3 student minimum.
Objective: After taking this
course you should have an understanding of the fundamental skills of writing
children's fiction, the importance of character, story structure, and language. You
will work on your own story and know how to set it out ready to
send off to a publisher or agent.
Duration:
8 lessons to be completed in a
ten-week period.
Registration Deadline: Course
is closed.
Learner Prerequisites:
None
Limit:
3 student minimum
Cost:
$200.00
Class Materials:
Instructor will provide lessons and assignments by
e-mail attachment. Feedback will be given on all assignments.
Curriculum:
I will take you through the techniques for children's fiction writing by giving you a
lesson to read each week and sending you an assignment to do.
Lesson 1: Know your market, know your reader: What genre and age
group are you writing for? Are there any vocabulary/word length/subject
restrictions? Publishers’ guidelines.
Assignment: Write a brief study of a modern children’s’ book.
Lesson 2: Imagination and Inspiration: How
to get ideas for your stories, beating ‘writer’s block’, brainstorming tips.
Assignment: Write about an argument/conflict you had with someone as a child, or
with one of your own children but write about it from the other child’s point of
view.
Lesson 3: Getting to know your characters.
Writing a character profile. Ways to get to know your character. Consistent
characterisation.
Assignment: Create a character and write up a character profile for it.
Lesson 4: Planning the story: Working out
the story plot, the importance of conflict, which viewpoint to use, setting and
atmosphere.
Assignment: Write up your story plot, identifying the main conflict and how it
is overcome.
Lesson 5: Story Structure. Making sure the
story has a beginning, middle and end. Which viewpoint to use.
Assignment: Write the first page of your story in third person, then first
person viewpoint.
Lesson 6: Getting the story down. Writing
the first draft. Writing in chapters. Using Flashbacks. First page checklist.
Assignment: Write EITHER: A story of not more than 2,000 words for children age
5-7 OR the story outline and first 2,000 words of a story for an older age
group. State the age group you are aiming at. You have 2 weeks to do this
assignment.
Lesson 7: Making your characters talk. The
functions of dialogue, how to use it effectively. When to use ‘said’.
Assignment: Submit any part of your story that includes dialogue.
Lesson 8: Rewriting and revising. What to
check for. How to know that your work is good enough to send out. The submission
procedure. Cover and query letters. Dealing with rejections. What happens once
your book is accepted for publication.
Assignment: Submit the final revision of your story. You have two weeks to do
this.
Instructor Bio:
Karen King has been a freelance writer for more
than 20 years, with more than 100 children’s books published. Her published titles include
Space
Chase On Planet Zog (Walker), Cosmic Whizz Kid (Macdonald), The Gold Badge (HarperCollins),
and Christmas Fun (Scholastic). She
has written picture books, storybooks, activity books, joke and puzzle books, and
is often commissioned to write about licensed characters such as Winnie
the Pooh and Rosie and Jim.
In addition, she writes short stories
for women’s magazines and is currently working on a TV script. She teaches
writing both online and in college settings.
Paypal:
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