Welcome to the Write a Childrens' Course at SA Writers' College.
If writing books for children has always been your dream, then this course will help you achieve it. Get the guidance, skills and support you need to write a book for 8-to12-year-olds, and find out how and where to get it published.
Course Details:
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Modules: 10 Modules
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Duration: Course can be completed at own pace: within twelve months
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Start date: At any time; applications all year round via our website
Student will produce:
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A book of 10 000 - 20 000 words,
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A book synopsis
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A book proposal
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Numerous writing exercises of varying length
Admission Requirements:
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Basic writing skills are essential
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Students must be proficient in the English Language
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Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required
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No previous tertiary qualification required
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Access to a library or book shop
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There is a skype session option available for this course the end of the course. More... |
Tutor for this course :
Helen Brain
- This course is also available in Afrikaans
Course Curriculum
Module 1 - An Introduction
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Some myths about writing for children
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Writing Assignments
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Module 2 - Knowing Your Readers
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Developmental and reading age
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Current culture and fashion
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Writing Assignments
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Module 3 - How To Plot
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How to tell a story with a beginning, middle and end.
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What can children this age understand in terms of structure?
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Point of view: Through whose eyes are you telling the story?
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Writing Assignments
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Module 4 - Writing Technique
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The difference between formal or business writing and story telling
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The basic elements of creative writing: Action
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The basic elements of creative writing: Description
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The basic elements of creative writing: Dialogue
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Writing Assignments
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Module 5 - Voice, Mood
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Choosing a voice
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Building mood
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Writing Assignments
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Module 6 - Characterisation
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How to choose characters, develop and sustain them
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Writing Assignments
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Module 7- Dialogue
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Writing strong dialogue that promotes character
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Vocabulary and word patterns in children of this age
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Reading ages and target readership
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Writing Assignments
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Module 8- Beginnings And Endings
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Beginnings and endings
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How to hook your readers
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Writing elegant or punchy endings
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Analyzing how successful children’s writers begin and end their books
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Writing Assignments
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Module 9 - Using The Most Important Test, And Editing
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Looking at editing techniques
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How to edit your own work
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Common errors
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Tightening the text. Anything that does not build character or move the plot forward must go
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Writing Assignments
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Module 10 - Submitting To A Publisher
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Finding the right publisher for your story
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Choosing a title
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How to write a covering letter, and a synopsis of your story
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Writing Assignments
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How does the course work?
The course consists of ten modules. Detailed class notes covering the content of each module are e-mailed to students. At the end of each module, students will be required to complete several writing exercises.
Once the writing assignment has been completed, and e-mailed to the tutor, an assessment and feedback will be sent to the student, and the module will be considered complete. The next module will then be e-mailed to the student.
Conditions of Certification:
Students will receive an SA Writers' College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided they meet the following conditions:
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Students must have completed all of the writing assignments
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The course must have been completed within one year of registration.
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Students are expected to attain a minimum average of 50% for the course
Minimum Estimated Time Commitment:
The speed at which you work is entirely up to you. After studying the modules, the exercises at the end of each module should take about two to four hours to complete. A completed chapter could take much longer, depending on the speed at which you write.
