You Can Write for Children
with Chris Eboch
Remember the magic of bedtime stories? When you write for children, you have the most appreciative audience in the world. But to reach that audience, you need to understand the business of writing for children, including the requirements for different genres, age ranges, and markets. You also need to write fresh, dynamic stories, whether you’re writing rhymed picture books or middle grade mysteries or edgy teen novels.
In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore how to do all of that. Participants also have the option of getting personal feedback on their homework for an additional $49. This class is both for beginning and experienced writers looking to build skill and learn more about the publishing environment for children's book authors. Recordings will be available to class participants, both for review and for anyone who can’t attend a session live. Bootcamp Summary Image courtesy of Wikimedia
Pre-Class
To prepare for the class, brainstorm 5 to 10 possible ideas for stories, articles, or novels for young people. Get at least five copies of different children's magazines from the library or find sample issues online. Look up their writing guidelines online or in a market guide. Study the magazines, making a note of the type of content and target audience. A handout will provide guidance for each of these steps to help you get the most out of the assignments and the bootcamp. First Session We’ll start with an overview of the markets. These include both fiction and nonfiction, in books, magazines, and more. You'll learn the specific requirements when writing for different age ranges. This will help you decide where you feel comfortable – or give you new and exciting areas to explore! For homework, you'll review your list of ideas and choose your top three. Identify three possible markets for each. Then write up a paragraph explaining the idea and why it is suitable for your top market choice. People who have signed up for personal feedback will send their ideas by e-mail and get suggestions on which idea to pursue first or how to tweak their ideas for marketability. Second Session Writing for children has many things in common with any good writing, and some things that are special. We’ll explore the essential elements of appealing to children. Participants will learn how to develop their ideas, as well as:
Homework: draft a short story or article, or begin outlining a novel.  Image courtesy of Nic McPhee
Final Session
We’ll cover editing techniques and submitting your work, as well as answer your questions. Expect to leave this workshop with an article or story in progress, and a list of ideas for future development. For homework, revise your story/article, or revise your outline and write a first chapter of a novel. Participants who have signed up for personal feedback can send in up to ten pages of one piece, and receive an individual critique after the class. About the Instructor
Chris Eboch writes fiction and nonfiction for all ages, with 20 traditionally published books for children. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy, The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; and the Haunted series, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs. Her book Advanced Plotting helps writers fine-tune their plots. Chris teaches through the Institute of Children’s Literature and has led dozens of popular writing workshops around the world. She is a Regional Advisor emerita of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Learn more at www.chriseboch.com or her Amazon page. |
Three Wednesdays
July 9th, July 16th, July 23rd 1 pm - 2:30 pm EDT 12 pm - 1:30 pm CDT 11 am - 12:30 pm MDT 10 am - 11:30 am PDT Note: This class has started, but you can still join and receive all the recordings and handouts. You can also join us live for any future sessions and connect with Chris Eboch via email. Standard Price: $125 Discounted Price (Click Below to Register): $99 Full Bootcamp PLUS
Feedback Package (This includes email responses to all homework assignments, as well as a thorough critique of up to 10 pages of your story, novel, or article) Price: $148 ($99 + $49) |