Writing Courses
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| © Tali Khivrich |
Online and In Person Courses That Will Make You a Better Writer
There are many course available to help you with your writing. These are the courses that we or our writing friends have taken that we recommend.
Videos/podcasts
Coffee with the Authors (Youtube series of craft and industry videos by two traditionally published authors)
Workshops/Webinars
April 21, 8-9 p.m. ET Writing Spooky Mysteries (free webinar) Join a conversation between bestselling authors Matt McMann and Lindsay Currie. They’ll talk about how they write spooky mysteries and the journeys that led them to this genre. Learn how they map out their books, blend “scary” with “mysterious,” and construct zinger scenes. Matt and Lindsay will also weigh in on the current middle grade market and the trend of some authors expanding into other kinds of writing.
April 26, 10-11:30am PDT. Building a Novel with Touchstone Moments. A KidLit Craft Workshop taught by award-winning middle grade author Lindsay Lackey. Touchstone moments are meaningful story moments for the character, but equally important, they are meaningful story moments for you, the author. To build an effective emotional arc in your story, you must weave in moments that authentically give you “all the feels” while writing. In this workshop, middle grade author Lindsay will introduce you to the idea of touchstone moments and guide you through a series of exercises to discover how touchstones can be found in everything from character to setting to prose. $35. Recording available for 30 days after the event. Can be paired with our April 22 Ask the Author Book Club event, where Lindsay will discuss writing her most recent middle grade novel, Farther Than the Moon.
Sept. 14, Sept. 21, Sept. 28, Oct. 5, 3 p.m. EDT The Art of Children's Nonfiction with Katie Scott, Senior Editor, Kids Can Press Have you contemplated writing a children’s non-fiction book but are unsure of where to start? Or maybe you have a book idea and want to know how to make your pitch stand out to an editor. Perhaps you already write non-fiction, but you're stuck on an idea or looking for more industry insight. In this four-week workshop, we’ll explore what goes into making an outstanding children’s non-fiction book. Each class will include mentor texts, breakout room workshops, and a 30-minute Q&A discussion, where participants can get direct feedback from Katie, an acquiring editor, on their non-fiction book ideas.
Rhyme Made Easy(er) - join editor Lou Piccolo in a skills-based resource for authors of children’s rhyming picture books, poetry collections and standalone poems. The paid membership provides authors with a warm and welcoming community of ongoing support, personal feedback, and rhyming resources to assist in revising their work, and practice their rhyme and scansion. There are two Zoom workshops a month: one for practicing scansion and the other is a hot seat where subscribers can get community feedback on a particular issue they're having with their manuscript. There is an also a content vault of downloadable resources for writing and revising rhyme, a monthly poetry prompt to spark ideas and a warm and welcoming community of like-minded poets for children.
Lyrical Language Lab Peek & Critique- The Lyrical Language Lab Peek & Critique: YouTube video series by Renée LaTulippe providing free critiques of your kidlit writing as well as free lessons and mentor text discussions.
Laura Purdy Salas courses online courses on writing poetry and nonfiction for children and submissions
Lyrical Language Lab Peek & Critique- The Lyrical Language Lab Peek & Critique: YouTube video series by Renée LaTulippe providing free critiques of your kidlit writing as well as free lessons and mentor text discussions.
Laura Purdy Salas courses online courses on writing poetry and nonfiction for children and submissions
ONLINE WRITING CENTERS
Writing Barn - online classes for a variety of age groups, PB to YA
Much Ado About Writing offers online learning to build craft, community, and knowledge of the publishing industry. Each month a new topic is taught, workshopped, and allows members to get eyes on their pages. We meet weekly with all live webinars and workshops recorded for our members. Writers of all genres welcome!
The Muse Writers Center - online classes for writers, scriptwriters, songwriters, more
Gotham Writers - online craft classes in fiction and nonfiction, all age categories and genres
Kidlit Hive - The Kidlit Hive is committed to equipping creators with the resources necessary to not only survive but thrive in the publishing industry. Our carefully curated lineup of high quality, affordable events featuring top-tier industry guests merges craft with market knowledge so that our community gets first-hand intel on the business side of things. We welcome creators of all experience levels, formats, and genres, including both writers and illustrators. In a field otherwise riddled with rejection, we support those passionate about children’s literature. Let the Kidlit Hive take the sting out of your publishing journey!
PICTURE BOOKS
Crafting Your Nonfiction Picture Book: A Step-by-Step Beginner's Coursk: Learn the basics of writing a nonfiction picture book in just one month in this self-paced course from Kirsten Larson, author of Reimagining Your Nonfiction Picture Book.” You’ll learn how to: uncover fascinating story ideas, conduct thorough research and document your facts, approach experts, structure your book for maximum impact and page-turning excitement, infuse your writing with emotion, voice, personality, and kid-friendly hooks, analyze the market to make your book stands out from the competition. Includes 20 written lessons, Writers Workshop demo videos, a 42-page workbook, and more.
Storyteller Academy is founded by Arree Chung, a picture book author/illustrator who publishes with MacMillan, Harper Collins, Bloomsbury and Abrams. His NINJA! series has earned starred reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal. Arree shares his experience, insights, and creative process to help you grow as a storyteller. You'll receive practical advice on mindset, overcoming imposter syndrome, and how to grow your creativity. Arree also walks you through the creative process of making a picture book dummy from scratch. The course emphasizes developing your story. With bi-weekly critique groups, and a Storyteller Workshop, you'll have creative community to support you.
Susanna Leonard Hill's Making Picture Book Magic- Susanna Leonard Hill's course is one of the best online courses for picture book writing. Not only is the information chunked and wonderfully presented, at the end of the course you are invited to join a Facebook group with other MPBM Graduates, which are a phenomenal group of people. Well worth the nominal fee that she charges to improve your craft.
Just Write For Kids- Emma Walton Hamilton provides an 8 week online course dedicated to developing your picture book idea and learning how to break into the industry. She also features many classes and resources on her website.
Online Workshops with Anastasia Suen,
Just Write For Kids- Emma Walton Hamilton provides an 8 week online course dedicated to developing your picture book idea and learning how to break into the industry. She also features many classes and resources on her website.
The author of 169 books for children, teens and adults has been teaching adults how to write children's books since 1999. Currently offering three online writing workshops: Intensive Picture Book Workshop, Children's Novel Workshop, and Young Nonfiction Workshop
Writing Picture Books for Children - fiction and nonfiction author Patrice Sherman's course of writing books for children
Art of Arc: How to Analyze Your Picture Book Manuscript A master class in picture book writing by author Alayne Kay Christian, focusing on a deep study of the traditional story arc as well as other story structures.
Children's Book Insider's Picture Book Blueprint walks you through the process of writing a picture book step-by-step, including creating your characters, designing a plot, building excitement, and writing your draft.
Karla Valenti's Master Course in Picture Books A step-by-step, hands-on version of James Gardner's "The Art of Fiction," but specifically for PB writers. A great tool, especially for those starting out, since everything is laid out in bite-size pieces. It also encourages writers to engage with the current PB market, and to apply each principle learned to their own work-in-progress.
Writing Barn Online Courses - Intensive six-week online courses on picture book writing and other writing courses.
The Heart of Picture Books (course by Julie Hedlund) In this webinar, find out top 10 layers of great picture books; what the HEART layer is and why it is so important; pitfalls to avoid; more
Writing Picture Books for Children - fiction and nonfiction author Patrice Sherman's course of writing books for children
Art of Arc: How to Analyze Your Picture Book Manuscript A master class in picture book writing by author Alayne Kay Christian, focusing on a deep study of the traditional story arc as well as other story structures.
Children's Book Insider's Picture Book Blueprint walks you through the process of writing a picture book step-by-step, including creating your characters, designing a plot, building excitement, and writing your draft.
Karla Valenti's Master Course in Picture Books A step-by-step, hands-on version of James Gardner's "The Art of Fiction," but specifically for PB writers. A great tool, especially for those starting out, since everything is laid out in bite-size pieces. It also encourages writers to engage with the current PB market, and to apply each principle learned to their own work-in-progress.
Writing Barn Online Courses - Intensive six-week online courses on picture book writing and other writing courses.
The Heart of Picture Books (course by Julie Hedlund) In this webinar, find out top 10 layers of great picture books; what the HEART layer is and why it is so important; pitfalls to avoid; more
Rosie Pova Writing Workshops (includes Writing for Children: Ideas to Submission; Picture Book Mastery Mentorship)
Picture Book Study Hall Join a month-long online critique group for writers of picture books, which provides manuscript critiques, weekly talks, and daily motivation and accountability under the guidance of Marcie Colleen, a professional, multi-published author.
Profitable Picture Books - This affordable monthly membership program provides step-by-step guidance for both traditional and self-publishing authors - and those who just aren’t sure yet! Created by Vicky Weber, a former teacher turned children’s book author and literary agent, Profitable Picture Books includes easy-to-follow video courses, live coaching sessions, exclusive webinars with industry experts, and a community of fellow authors to support you. From choosing the right story idea to writing and revising, to choosing the right publishing path, and following it - this course will teach you how to become a children’s book author without the stress & overwhelm. Vicky and her team also offer other resources for kidlit writers at athomeauthor.com.
CHAPTER BOOKS, MIDDLE GRADE & YA
Editor in a Box: Emma Walton Hamilton's Editor in a Box contains everything you need to get your picture book, chapter book or middle grade or YA novel into the best possible shape for submission to agents, editors and publishers.
Just Write for Middle Grade! Emma Walton Hamilton's 14 week course on writing chapter books and middle grade
Just Write for Young Adults! Emma Walton Hamilton's 14 week course on writing YA
Children's Book Insider's Chapter Book Blueprint walks you through the process of writing a chapter book, with author Alice Kuipers.
GENERAL WRITING COURSES
Inked Voices (small critique groups led by editor, agent, or professional author)
List of Online Writing Courses
Editor in a Box
Gotham Writer's Workshop
Art of Storytelling (free course from Pixar/Khan Academy)
OTHER
Julie Hedlund's- How To Make Money As a Writer- What if you could spend all day, every day, thinking about writing, using your skills to make money, and have MORE time to write?
Now you can. This course is designed to benefit ALL writers, from newbie to multi-published. For ANYONE who wants to make more money from writing and writing-related activities.
Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund's comprehensive course on Picture Book Submissions
How to Sell Your Children's Nonfiction with a Brilliant Book Proposal is hands-on workshop by award-winning author Patricia Newman that will take you step-by-step through her nonfiction book proposal creation process - and show you how to start building your book from the proposal
Graduate Programs
If you are ready to commit to graduate-level education in creative writing for children and teens, here are some programs:
Southampton Graduate Arts Program - Children's Lit Fellow -- a year long low-residency certificate program for PB, MG, or YA authors. Two semesters of mentorship and two conferences, one focused on writing craft and another on the publication process.
Children's Lit Fellows The Children's Lit Fellows is a year-long certificate program that provides up to 12 serious children's or YA writers a year-long course of advanced instruction primarily in distance-learning format that is customized, affordable, comprehensive, and professionally useful. Fellows work from home, mentored on-on-one by award-winning, best-selling children's and young adult authors and editors. Twice a year, they come together as a cohort - once in July during the Southampton Children's Lit Conference and a second time in January for a special Publishing and Editing Conference.
Hamlin MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults - earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in two years. Work from home and travel to Hamlin twice a year for five 11-day writing residencies. Learn all about the craft of writing for children and teens, as well as the history of children's literature and the industry.
The MFA Cheat Sheet - a review of 5 low-residency MFA programs, including Hollins University, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Hamlin University, Simmons College, and Spaulding University.
Sierra Nevada College in Lake Tahoe- A low residency MFA in Writing has added a new MFA track in Writing for Children and Young Adults.