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Writing a Children's Picture Book
Write a Chidren's Picture Book for 3-to-7 year-olds
Tell great stories for children in the formats that publishers require
Work at your own pace
Take things as quickly or slowly as you like, fitting your writing around your own busy work-life balance
Courses from only £99
With flexible upgrade options Video tutorials, downloadable notes and other resources to keep.
Writers Course Overview
Do you want to write picture book stories for children?
To create the magical worlds and characters that captivated you as a child? Would you like to pass-on the same magic that will entertain and stimulate young imaginations in way that will stay with them for the rest of their lives?
Or perhaps you’re hoping to make a career out of being a children’s author?
What happens in this online course?
Through a series of videos and downloadable notes, bestselling and award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Christyan Fox will teach you the inside secrets, tips and tricks of the trade that will enable you to capture that magic and put stories and characters on the page in ways that will captivate young minds and the attention of publishers and literary agents. Teaching you…
How to choose the best ideas that will be popular and resonate with children and publishers.
How to compose and construct those stories in the formats that publishers require.
How to develop your characters and their worlds in simple, concise ways.
How to use playful language that will be convincing to a child reader.
How to write in the best visual ways that will be appealing for an illustrator to bring to life.
Advice on the current market and what publishers are looking for.
Revealing some great inside secrets, tips and tricks of the trade.
How to present your work professionally and develop a career in children’s publishing.
And much more…
Who is this course for?
This particular course is for those who would like to write picture books for children but who have little or no interest in illustrating them (see our other options). Christyan works with all kinds of students, from complete beginners who don’t know how to make a start, all the way up to MA students and professional writers in other areas who would like to understand how to translate their work into the world of children’s publishing. We even have students who’ve already had one or more children’s books published and who would now like to reappraise their work. The courses have been designed to work for all levels, presented in a straightforward conversational manner.
If you’re an illustrator with little or no interest in writing, take a look at our Illustrating a Children’s Picture Book Course.
*Please note that these courses are focussed on picture books for the 3-7-year-old market. If your interest is in writing Middle Ground (roughly 8-12 years) or teen fiction, these courses will not cover those areas.
Course Tutors
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Christyan Fox
Author-Illustrator
A freelance illustrator, author and lecturer living in Thames Ditton, UK, Christyan has been creating children's books, cartoons, packaging design, graphics, branding, magazines and advertising for over 35 years and has more than 50 books in print. He also teaches children's book writing, illustration and character design at UAL Chelsea, the London V&A Museum and other London Universities as well as one-to-one workshop and mentoring sessions - from complete beginners all the way up to M.A. level and beyond.
Diane Fox-Jones
Author-Designer
Diane was a senior graphic designer with London design consultants Minale Tattersfield for 12 years, working with clients such as Hertz, NatWest, Canary Wharf and Northern Foods. She now collaborates with Christyan in writing children's book texts, as well as designing the paper-engineering elements for their novelty books. Their first book written together was Goodnight PiggyWiggy in 1999, and they have now collaborated on 28 books. Diane does not appear in the videos but was involved with designing the content for this course.
Writers Course Schedule
The 6-part Writers Course consists of a series of video lectures, downloadable transcript notes and supplementary resources. Each step will take you through practical picture book writing examples and exercises, arranged in a clear structure that’s easy to follow. You need to complete the parts in the correct order for the course to make sense, as each subsequent part will refer back to lessons and techniques learned in previous stages.
1
Exploration & Inspiration
Learn to look at children’s books as a writer, taking inspiration from classic books, and those being published now.
4
Development & Style
In rhyme, rhythm or prose, finding the most effective words is an important part of being a children’s writer.
2
Finding & Developing Ideas
How to develop story ideas that will resonate with young readers - and be popular with publishers!
5
Planning & Structure
Editing, working to the correct lengths and format and considering how to write for an illustrator.
Characters & Settings
Creating written characters with lasting appeal, and considering the settings in which to place them.
3
6
Presentation & Careers
Beyond the writing: how to present your work, approach publishers and agents and develop a writing career.
WRITERS COURSE
115£Write a Children's Picture Book- Write a Children's Picture Book for 3-to-7 year olds
- Work at your own pace
- Advice on the market and what publishers are looking for
- Revealing great inside secrets, tips and tricks of the trade
ILLUSTRATORS COURSE
115£Illustrate a Children's Picture Book- Illustrate a Children's Picture Book for 3-to-7 year olds
- Work at your own pace
- Present your work professionally and develop a career
- Revealing great inside secrets, tips and tricks of the trade
BUY BOTH COURSES
195£Buy both courses with a 15% discount- Write and Illustrate a Children's Picture Book
- Access to all the content in the separate courses
- Advice on the current market
- Revealing great inside secrets, tips and tricks of the trade
