Creative Writing - Writing for Children - Newark Library - Community Learning

About this course

About this course

Do you want to write for children? This course is for anyone who wants to understand more about children’s books today.  It gives you the opportunity to try your hand at writing for all the different ages and reading stages children go through. Whether you are considering writing for publication, or you want to create stories for the family, this course will get you started.  

What will be covered on the course?   

• We will take a comprehensive look at the world of children’s books:  all the way from picture books to young adult fiction. Using a variety of exercises inspired by current children’s titles we will have a go at writing for different age groups. This will help you understand the key elements of a story, and which age group appeals to you most. We will share work in a supportive environment, so you can learn some skills of giving and receiving feedback on work.   

What will learners achieve by the end of the course? 

• You will be able to identify and name ages/stages in children’s books 
• You will be able to list key features of each age/stage in children’s books 
• You will be able to use age-appropriate language and story structure for different age groups 
• You will know which age group/type of children’s books you want to write.    
• You will know how to give and receive balanced feedback on creative work  

What skills or knowledge do learners already need to have to attend the course? 

• An interest in children and what interests them 

What should learners bring? 

• Pen and paper – preferably an A4 notebook

Suggested Reading for the course: 

• Look round the children’s section at your local library.

 7th July course will be online due to the Newark Book Festival taking place in the Library

• As this course is partially online, a suitable device such as laptop, smart phone, tablet or computer will be required to access the course.  Zoom will be used for the live sessions and the link will be sent to you once your enrolment has been completed.

Booking your place and fee information

If you are in receipt of certain benefits you will be offered the course for free, however if you have a financial barrier which may prevent you from enrolling on the course  please visit our webpage for further information  https://www.inspireculture.org.uk/skills-learning/funding-your-courses/

To secure your place on the course BOTH the following must be done:

• Complete the EVENTBRITE BOOKING.
• Complete our INSPIRE ONLINE ENROLMENT FORM for each person attending the course.

You should be redirected to the Inspire Online Enrolment Form after completing the Eventbrite booking.  If you are not redirected, please use the link supplied in the Eventbrite booking confirmation email.

To book and enrol on one of our courses, you must have been living in England and have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years.

Some exceptions may apply if you are living in England with evidence of the right to remain and are from an EEU/EEAU country (completion of a questionnaire will be required).

As we no longer receive funding for our ESFA-funded courses for learners living in the devolved areas listed below, full cost fees would apply to these courses if you live in these areas:

• Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield 
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
• Greater London
• Greater Manchester
• Liverpool City Region
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland
• Tees Valley
• West of England
• West Midlands
• West Yorkshire