How To Write Children’s Stories

In no other area of publishing are there as many categories as there are in children’s publishing. By the end of Module Two, you will identify the type of book category that is suitable for you. You will also know the age group of children you will write for and you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of each different type of story. As well as all this, you’ll discover the market research techniques used by professional writers, and we’ll let you in on the mistakes that most amateur writers make, so that you can avoid the pitfalls.

In Module Three you will uncover expert techniques for choosing and developing your setting. You will also learn the correct way to use the senses in your writing (most beginners get this completely wrong). You’ll also discover the techniques successful children’s writers use for changing the pace of their stories. Finally, you’ll know how to efficiently research and arrange your material like a true pro, before you even put pen to paper. Throughout this module you’ll also be privy to lots of eloquent, hand-picked examples that clearly illustrate each key learning point.

More rejections result from weak characterization than from any other reason, but by the end of Module Four you will have learned the little-known, yet easily applicable techniques that best-selling children’s authors use to create and develop characters that are credible, and who can react in a believable way to any situation you put them in. It’s a vital module, packed full of golden nuggets of wisdom. Weak characterization will never again be a problem for you after this comprehensive module.

The ability to write good dialogue is central to producing readable fiction. It is one of the major elements by which a story can stand or fall. In Module Five you’ll discover everything you need to know about writing powerful dialogue in your children’s stories. You’ll uncover the key ingredients for writing dialogue, the difference between dialogue and real conversation, and you’ll discover professional techniques for expressing locality, delivering humor and much more. You’ll also be privy to lots of carefully chosen, real life examples of good and bad dialogue in children’s fiction today.

Plotting is the most important element of story telling, for without a plot you don’t have a story to tell. Many amateur children’s writers end up with weak or implausible plots that make their readers give up, with loath or frustration. By the end of Module Six you will know the secrets of crafting plots that suck your readers into your story and keep them turning the pages. In this module, we cover plot, theme and storyline in considerable depth, while providing lively examples throughout. You will also discover effective techniques for building climax and much more.

A common misconception among beginner writers is that writing picture books for children is an easy place to start. This is a big mistake! The simplicity of the text, which makes picture books so easy to read, is the result of careful writing and a deep understanding of the purpose of these books and the abilities of the children reading them. In Module Seven, we will immerse you in the world of writing for the Under 7’s. By the end of this extensive module, you will have gained vital industry knowledge, along with the skills and techniques you need to become a highly proficient picture book writer.

In this fascinating module, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the key success factors needed when writing for 7 – 12 year olds. We’ll reveal the 67-year-old formula still used by the world’s best children’s writers today, and we’ll reveal a myriad of essential tips and techniques. You’ll discover the words to use to dramatize your stories, how to inject action and emotion, how to get the pace of your story just right, how to apply sub-plots and how and when to include humor. Plus, we’ll cover a wide variety of themes from giants, witches and wizards, horror stories, to pet stories and much, much more.

Of all the divisions of writing for children, teenage fiction books are possibly the most difficult. In this comprehensive module, you will get a masterclass in writing young adult fiction. You’ll discover how to invoke powerful emotional experiences within your young adult reader and learn how to connect with them on a psychological level. We’ve also handpicked perfect fitting examples to show you how today’s biggest selling young adult fiction writers create cliffhangers, structure their writing, add specific techniques to create suspense, and use euphonic words to create the reaction they desire from their readers.

In Module Ten you will take off the shackles of realism and let your imagination run free, as we delve into the world of Science Fiction and Fantasy. As you progress through this captivating module, you will learn how to structure your science fiction and fantasy stories correctly. You will use practical techniques to build your own worlds, as well as name and populate entire planets with plants, alien creatures, and futuristic gadgetry. You’ll discover where and how to research your facts to ensure believability and attain extraordinary attention to detail. You’ll learn how to keep your reader hooked and how to create interesting and subtle twists on already well-used science fiction plots and much more.

In Module 11, you’re going to learn everything you need to know about writing non-fiction for children. You’ll discover the little-known writing techniques that are very specific to children’s non-fiction books (ignore this at your peril). You’ll learn about the different types of non-fiction. You’ll discover how to identify a market to write for, and which non-fiction subjects attract the most interest from publishers. This module is packed full of vital tips, and inside knowledge, along with colorful examples of successful non-fiction books throughout.

Ever fancied yourself as a playwright? In this eye-opening module we’re going to reveal how you can convert your children’s stories or ideas into successful stage productions, TV shows, and radio plays. We’ll reveal the playwriting techniques and considerations that are specific to children, the hidden pitfalls you need to be aware of, and the common mistakes almost all beginners make. We’ll walk you through the entire process from start to finish, including the all-important step of presenting your final script for success. It’s packed with real-life examples throughout and much more.

How is it that some writers produce successful book after book, yet others take years to write their first manuscript? In this module we’ll deconstruct the writing secrets of some of the world’s most successful authors and uncover the strategies and productivity routines they use to achieve levels of success most children’s writers only dream about. You’ll learn how to finally overcome procrastination and avoid the distractions that stop you becoming the success you can be, and much more. Brimming with tips and golden nuggets of wisdom specific to writing for children.

So, you’ve finally written your first children’s story, now what? In Module Fourteen, we’ll walk you through the entire process of getting your book published, step-by-step. By the end of this module, you’ll know how to submit your manuscript correctly (so that it actually gets read by the publisher). We’ll guide you around the common pitfalls that most newbies fall into. We’ll show you how to work with editors and agents, how to negotiate the best deal for yourself and we’ll reveal the red flags to watch out for. We’ll also coach you through how to turn a sole-destroying rejection letter into a positive experience and much, much more. This is a vital module that will quickly convert you from rank amateur to respected author.

Module Overview

• The hybrid author
• Why become a hybrid author
• From one-man publisher to mainstream
• Your choices
• Getting published quickly
• The personal family book
• How a hybrid author self-publishes
• Creating a blockbuster book title
• The good and the bad
• Titles for the Early Years (pre-school)
• Sounds of words
• Titles for 5 – 7 years (first time read-alone)
• The tool of the trade
• Comfort and rhythm words
• Juxtaposition
• Slightly naughty words
• Titles for 7+ or 8-11 years
• The middle reader age group
• Making the genre evident
• The tone
• The top mistake to avoid
• A winning method for writing a title
• More sophisticated readers
• Titles for 12 years and teen reads
• Titles for young adults 14+
• Creating a blockbuster non-fiction title
• Self-assessment test
• Much more!

Module Overview

• Creating a blockbuster book cover
• A trick for designing a blockbuster book cover
• Cover designs for digital printing
• Short run book production
• Book cover design of fiction for the Early Years
• Book cover design of fiction for 5+ and 7+
• Book cover design of fiction for 8 – 11 years
• Book cover design of fiction for 11+ and young teens
• Book cover design of fiction for young adults 14+
• Book cover design of non-fiction titles
• A keen eye
• A good exercise
• Working with an illustrator
• Self-assessment test
• Much more!

Module Overview

• The hybrid author and on-the-target marketing
• The Inside Story
• The ISBN question in the new world of publishing
• Who is the publisher?
• A global look at ISBN’s
• Technical info
• Creating blockbuster interiors
• Special story design for children’s books
• Your book is complete
• Print on demand
• The exciting world of eBooks
• Publishing to Kindle
• Publishing to other devices
• How to create PDF files for printing and downloading
• Self-assessment test
• Much more!

Module Overview

• Marketing children’s books for worldwide sales
• Building a reader fan base
• Your blog
• Making it easy-peasy
• How to add personality
• Powerful links
• A strong hook can sell your book
• Extra tips for the adventurous
• Audio books
• Video books
• YouTube
• Making a video or book trailer
• YouTube and extra income
• Post Script
• Final self-assessment test
• Much more!