The Writing Children's Book Course is comprised of 19 comprehensive lessons. They are easy to follow, yet challenging and stimulating at the same time. Each lesson begins with a subject matter preview and objectives, an introductory note from your instructor and a vocabulary builder of new words and terms.
Next comes the reading assignment. Practice exercises help you check and review what you've learned. At the end of the lesson is an open-book exam, which you may take online. And you'll have your manuscript evaluated by our professional instructor-writer.
Lesson 1: The World of Children's Literature
Trends in children's literature; why people write for children; traits of a children's writer; what makes a best seller; the life cycle of a work of children's literature; avoiding common pitfalls.
Lesson 2: Assessing Your Writing Skills
Fundamental grammar, punctuation, and other important elements; assessing your strengths and weaknesses; figures of speech; stylized expression; voice.
Lesson 3: Beginning the Writing Process
Using personal computers, word processing software, and typewriters; planning and researching your writing project; setting a timetable and goals; proven writing techniques; overcoming writer's block; ways to generate ideas; drafting, revising, proofreading, and editing your work; exercises for building your writing skills.
Lesson 4: Analyzing Your Audience
The reading abilities and personalities of children in various age groups; fiction versus non-fiction; timeless appeals; appropriate and inappropriate material.
Lesson 5: Picture Books
An analysis of good and poor examples of concept books, picture books, and story books; how to use pictures effectively with words.
Lesson 6: Easy Readers
An analysis of good and poor examples of books in the easy reader category; how to appeal to first- and second-graders; establishing a more "grown-up" approach with fewer illustrations; bridging the gap between picture books and full-fledged chapter books.
Lesson 7: Chapters Books
An analysis of good and bad examples of chapter books; characteristics of chapter books; what appeals to children ages 7 to 10; understanding and writing for the pre-young adult category.
Supplement: Time Management Guide
How to be more productive and work more efficiently.
Lesson 8: Specialty Books
An analysis of good and poor examples of specialty books; an examination of today's most popular specialty book categories, including pop-up books, puzzle and game books, poetry and verse, and plays.
Lesson 9: Writing Non-Fiction and Writing for Magazines
Non-fiction categories; doing research; non-fiction writing techniques; quoting, paraphrasing, and documenting sources; writing and submitting to magazines.
Lesson 10: Developing a Writing Project Proposal
Choosing the subject and target audience; selecting an age-appropriate genre; organizing your ideas; summarizing your story. You'll submit a writing project idea for evaluation by your instructor.
Lesson 11: Writing Skills I – Creating Characters
Practical procedures and special techniques for developing believable characters; making your characters memorable through description and dialogue; establishing a unique point of view.
Lesson 12: Writing Skills II – Developing Plot
Practical exercises for developing the theme, setting, plot, and other vital story components; sequencing descriptive action; developing conflict and suspense; keeping the action going.
Lesson 13: Writing Skills III – Saying It With Style
Techniques for improving your literary exposition skills; choosing the right words; using dialogue effectively; adding sensory language; developing your own voice and style; using humor.
Lesson 14: Writing the First Draft
Getting motivated; avoiding procrastination; pacing yourself. Using the techniques you learn in Lessons 11, 12, and 13, you'll produce and submit a rough draft of your selected writing project.
Lesson 15: Revising and Rewriting: Part 1
Organizing your ideas; maintaining focus; development; style; unity; coherence; practical revision exercises and techniques. You'll revise your initial draft using the skills you learn in this lesson.
Lesson 16: Revising and Rewriting: Part 2
How the revision process works; analyzing material as you go; revision exercises; checklists. You'll use your instructor's evaluation and suggestions from your first draft to improve and strengthen your writing project.
Lesson 17: Editing and Proofreading
Grammar review; exercises to improve your editing skills; using editing and proofreading checklists. You'll apply the skills you learn in this lesson to edit and proofread the latest draft of your writing project.
Lesson 18: Submitting Your Manuscript
What editors want; finding your niche; identifying potential publishers; proper submission format; preparing query and cover letters; dealing with rejection. To accompany your final manuscript draft, you'll write a cover letter to be evaluated by your instructor.
Lesson 19: Preparing the Manuscript for Publication
What to expect if a manuscript is accepted; understanding publishing contracts; copy editing; looking at and revising galley proofs; expected earnings; subsidiary rights.
