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Course Information Sheet

Writing & Illustrating Children's Books   

Fees:

full £124

conc £46

non EU £224

Day

Time

Weeks

Centre

Start

End

Code

Tue

13:00-15:00

10

MAC

24/04/12

03/07/12

HW3025

Tutor:  Alison Sage

What will the course cover?

Have you ever wanted to write or illustrate a children's book? By the end of this course, you will have finished at least one text, and/or several illustrations. We will look at writing for different ages from earliest concept books to teenage fiction. We will look at how to submit work to a publisher, as well as the publishing process from beginning to end, focusing on how to pace the text and how to best illustrate it, and the importance of a strong title and appealing cover image. We will be looking, too, at books already published, both classic and contemporary.

Who is the course for?

This is a practical course designed for people who want to write for children, and who need some guidelines. It is also intended for anyone who wants to improve their writing and/or illustrating skills. It is for anyone interested in developing their ideas for putting stories and illustrations together. No age restriction!

What skills, knowledge or experience do I need to start this course?

No specific qualifications except: a real interest in writing and/or illustrating for children. Although illustration will be discussed in detail, THIS IS NOT AN ART COURSE. It is primarily aimed at writers - or illustrators who want to learn more about writing. YOU NEED FLUENT ORAL AND WRITTEN ENGLISH to benefit from this course.

What should I be able to do by the end of the course?

• You will have explored your own ideas and will know how to start stories with more confidence. • You’ll have more understanding of how to make your stories 'work'. • You will have more understanding of how pictures and story fit together, particularly in picture books. You’ll have explored different types of children's books and appreciated the age ranges they appeal to. • You will get more pleasure out of writing.

How is the course organised?

Mixture of short lecture, discussion, working during the class and listening to individual work. Also visits by children's author/illustrators to describe their own work. Writing hurdles – and triumphs - discussed.

What extra study or practice is expected outside of the class?

It is a practical course and the more work a student can manage outside the class, the more s/he will get from the class. This work will be read and discussed with the student as far as time allows.

How will my progress be assessed?

The aim of the course is to produce a portfolio of work which the student can continue after the course has finished. This will include ideas and fragments as well as finished work. Record of your work will be kept in your Individual Learning Plan to help chart the steps taken towards achieving your goals.

What can I expect to go on to after this course?

There are several courses on writing for children - including diploma/degree courses. However most children's writers have some other sort of occupation as well as writing. There are also various support groups for writers. Occasionally, course members manage to set this up for themselves to encourage each other to keep writing.

Are there any other costs and what do I need to bring?

Bring writing materials and a folder so that you can keep your work together. Although we will be writing longhand in class, ideally, you need access to a computer to type your texts and work on them at home. You may also want to buy art materials to illustrate your work, as well as certain children’s books. Your tutor will advise.

What support is available?

"Help with literacy or numeracy is available through the basic education programme and the ESOL programme offers help for speakers of other languages. Additional support can be provided for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Details are available in the Prospectus or from teaching or Reception staff. "

Recommended Courses

Learners on this course also enrolled on the following courses:

Further Creative Writing

Italian Beginners Stage 2

Italian Beginners Stage 1

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