Writing for Children

Name: Writing for Children
Rating: 4.3 (22 reviews)

Write wonderful stories for children and unlock your inner author with this course!

Created byAnne-Lene Bleken

Last updated 1/2023

English

What you'll learn

Tools on how to get started with a writing process
How to create a filmic first scene
How to structure a story
How to move a story forward
How to create identification with a main character
How to use dialogue
How to use 'show, don't tell'
Imagination and how to create a story universe
How to use contrast in a story
How to see the world through the eyes of a child
Practise writing techniques with writing exercises
Some advice on publishing
Some advice on working with an artist

Course content

3 sections • 13 lectures • 1h 20m total length

Introduction3:38
In this introduction I make a short presentation of myself, I say a few words about the structure of the course, and I also present the main topics of the course.
Advice3:40
In this part, I share some advice in regard to the writing process, mostly based on my own experience as an author. This includes what, in my opinion, is the best advice you will ever get as well as some more general advice.
Getting started8:37
In this lecture, I share some practical advice on how to get started. This includes the following points: creating a brainstorm, the first sentence of your story, moving the story forward and creating a filmic first scene. Finally, there is a writing exercise in connection with this topic.
Writing exercise 1 - Getting started

How to structure your story10:31
In this lecture, I talk about how to structure your story. This includes a presentation of the following models: home-out-home, order-disorder-order, and the Hollywood model where I use Little Red Riding Hood as an example. I also talk about how to work with a Timeline.
Identification with the main character8:19
In this lecture, I talk about why it is important that the reader identify with the main character (and other characters). I also present various ways on how to do this as well as some examples. There will also be a writing exercise in connection with this topic.
Writing exercise 2 - Identify with the main character
Dialogue8:23
In this lecture, I talk about dialogue and how to use dialogue in various ways. There will be several examples to underline the points as well as a writing exercise in connection with this topic.
Writing exercise 3 - Dialogue
Show, don't tell8:14
In this lecture, I talk about a writing technique called ‘Show, don’t tell.’ I also present various ways on how to do this together with several examples. There will also be a writing exercise in connection with this topic.
Writing exercise 4 - Show, don't tell
Imagination and the story universe2:37
In this lecture, I talk about imagination and how to create the story universe. There will be a writing exercise in connection with this topic.
Writing exercise 5 - Imagination and the story universe
Contrast4:24
In this lecture, I talk about using contrast and why it is important to a story. I present various ways on how to do this together with several examples. There will be a writing exercise in connection with this topic.
Writing exercise 6 - Contrast
See the world through the eyes of a child4:18
In this lecture, I talk about seeing the world through the eyes of a child. There will be a writing exercise in connection with this topic.
Writing exercise 7 - See the world through the eyes of a child

Publishing your work10:56
In this lecture, I share some information about what to expect when it comes to publishing your work and how you can go about it, whether you contact a literary agent/publishing company or choose to self-publish. I also talk about how to pitch your story.
Working with an artist6:05
In this lecture, I share some advice based on my own experience on how to work with an artist/illustrator of your book.
Thank you and good luck!0:28

Requirements

No writing experience is needed

Description

This online course helps aspiring authors learn the fundamentals of writing books for children. The carefully-crafted lessons provide an in-depth look at the various aspects needed to write a story for young readers. This course is aimed at anyone who wants to know more about writing for children and to be inspired to begin or continue their own writing journey. The course covers 12 different topics, all related to writing for children, including writing techniques, examples, 7 writing exercises and practical information on how to publish your book and working with an artist. In addition, I will be sharing some of my own experiences as a self-published author. Let's get started writing engaging stories.

Anne-Lene Bleken (b. 1966) is a former high school teacher and an author of children’s books, novels, and short stories. She teaches courses in Writing for Children and is the owner of two publishing companies, where she publishes stories in English, Danish and Norwegian. She comes from Lillehammer in Norway, with strong roots in the Western part of the country where her mother's family comes from. Bleken has lived in Aarhus in Denmark since 1989, where she has an MA in English and Media. She worked as a high school teacher before she published her first novel, Olava, in 2012, and the sequel, Anna Veronica, in 2020. Bleken is also the author of Tulle, Trulle, Mulle and the Humans, The Mollimi People from Deep Space, The Donkey, Two Short Stories, Wild and Wondrous Stories from the Waterfront, Stories for Sillyheads and other people and the series about Miss Susie with the Magical Sunglasses.

Who this course is for:

This course is for anyone with none or some writing experience

Writing for Children

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction3 lectures • 16min

Writing techniques7 lectures • 47min

Publishing and working with an artist3 lectures • 17min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: