Writing Stories for Children

Course details

Stratford's writing stories for children course can help you fine tune your writing skills and develop the qualities needed to write a good children's book or story. 

This in-depth course covers the entire process of writing a children's story from idea generation to publishing. Students can learn how to write for varying age levels and gain a valid understanding of how to work toward a career as a children's author.

Writing Stories for Children Career Forecast

Picture Yourself as a Published Children's Author

• Imagine the joy you would feel at seeing your stories or other writings appear in magazines or books! Imagine perfecting your literary craft to the point where you are able to impress children, parents, and teachers, and gain recognition for your efforts. 
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the medial annual salary for writers and authors in 2012 was $55,940.*
• No training course can guarantee you publication success, but a comprehensive course of studies such as Stratford's Writing Stories for Children program can greatly enhance your chances of literary success.

Careers in Writing Stories for Children Require: 

• General knowledge of markets for children's writing, contracts, and selling what you write
• Detailed knowledge of how to conduct research and select themes and styles; how to write fiction, nonfiction or verse; how to prepare or plan illustrations; and how to edit your work 
• Stratford's course will provide you with the skills you need to get started on the right course toward a rewarding and potentially moneymaking new career as a children's author. Enroll now!

Writing Stories for Children Course Outline

Writing Stories for Children Module 1

The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children

• Foundation and Format
• Structural Designs
• How to Make Your Book a Page-Turner
• Ending Your Story Effectively
• Scenes, Story and Quest
• Plot and Subplot
• Cast of Characters
• Point of View
• Inner and Outer Dialogue
• Promise, Premise, Theme and Moral
• Voice and Tone
• Setting and Senses

Writing Stories for Children Module 2

Writing and Selling the Young Adult Novel

• History of Young Adult Literature
• Developing Story Ideas
• Writing Convincing Characters
• Creating Suspense through Conflict
• Structure, Plots and Subplots
• Using Setting to Create Tone
• Developing the Appropriate Narrative Voice
• Grammatical and Stylistic Errors
• The Process of Self-Editing
• Methods of Publishing and Marketing Your Book

Writing Stories for Children Module 3

Writing Picture Books

• Target Audience
• Various Formats
• Story Questions and Answers
• Points of View that Work Best for Picture Books
• Use of Correspondence between Characters
• Effect of Changing Tense, Time Period and Location of a Story
• Creating Compelling and Consistent Characters
• Writing a Strong Title, Opening and Attention-Getting First Line
• Three-Act Structure
• Rhyme and Rhythm
• Poetic Tools
• Figures of Speech
• Writing Scenes and a Strong Ending
• Selling Your Manuscript

Writing Stories for Children Module 4

Illustrating Children's Picture Books

• Picture-Book Timeline, Form and Format
• Style Genre and Audience
• Balancing Words and Pictures
• Working with Color, Distance and Perspective
• Developing a Narrative
• Character Design and Emotion
• Pen and Ink, Watercolor Painting and 3-D Cut-Paper Collage
• Vectors and Bitmaps
• Photographic Picture Books
• Corel Painter
• Board Books for Babies and Toddlers
• Illustrating Books for Older Readers
• Comics for Kids

Writing Stories for Children Module 5

Write Great Fiction: Revision and Self-Editing

• Self-Editing
• Revision