Course Details
- Course Code: UKFEC15CWC
- Location: Online
- Duration: 20 hours
- Cost: £299.00
- Qualification: All modern browsers and devices
Further Details
- Course Access: 12 months
- Exams Included: Yes
- Compatibility: All major browsers / devices
Approved Course:
A003196
Children's Story Writing Diploma
Have you always wanted to allow your creativity to flow and become a successful children's story writer? This is your chance to learn all you need to know to write your own children's book, come up with your own characters and discover your passion for writing.
Introduction to Children's Story Writing Diploma
The Children's Story Writing Diploma covers a range of topics, helping you develop your characters, the plot and write a great story that you can publish for children around the world. This course covers a range of topics in thirteen modules which takes between fifteen to twenty hours to complete.
You will learn how to develop your characters and plot. You will get the guidance, skills and support you need to become a children's story writer with online modules that you can study from anywhere at any time on any device.
This course will help to allow your creativity to flow and become a successful writer, with no previous experience necessary. The information packed modules have been carefully constructed to give you everything you need to write a children's story with complete confidence.
What You Will Learn
The course comprises of thirteen information packed modules and a multiple choice test. The course includes:
- Introduction – the introductory module includes what writing a book for children entails and what it is about children's story writing that appeals to you.
- What you will need to write literature for children – this value packed module will identify the tools and personal skills you will need to write a successful story.
- Examples of what other children's writers do well – in this module you will learn what some of the best children's writers do well and how to use existing children's books to write your own.
- How to choose an age group's point of view – you will learn how to choose an age group and the importance of writing for a particular age group. You will also learn a number of points of view you can make use of when writing your book.
- Getting started from the first page and creating the perfect setting – this module will teach you what you can do to make your first page stand out and the importance of the first line and page of your children's book.
- Learn how to build a good character for your book – learn how to get good characters and why your characters are so important. You will also learn how to differentiate your characters based on the age group you are targeting.
- Plot planning – learn how to create a plot, identify with other plot structures and learn ways to develop your plot structure.
- Using a backstory – What is a backstory? How to ensure your backstory isn't boring? Why you need a backstory when writing children's literature.
- Writing dialogue that makes your story flow – this module will teach you how to use dialogue and why it is so important, along with how to make your dialogue realistic and engaging.
- Useful advice to improve confidence and purpose – identify common problems you will face, tips to achieve your writing goals and effective tools to overcome writer's block.
- Practical writing exercises – identify why writing exercises are so important and how writing a blog may enhance your writing.
- Working with illustrators – know the power of illustration, how to submit a picture book for publication and how to choose and work with an illustrator.
- Working with publishers and selling your story – know the difference between traditional publishing and self-publishing, the process you will have to go through in getting your children's book published and whether you are going to need a literary agent.
Benefits of the Children's Story Writing Diploma
This diploma will provide you with a host of benefits once you have completed the course successfully, including being able to download and print your certificate on successful passing of the multiple choice test.
The benefits of taking this course include:
- The course will help you to become a creative thinker when working on your own project.
- You will learn how to organise your ideas in order to write clearly.
- Your self-confidence will improve when you see your work on paper.
- You will discover your passion for writing.
- You will get to step outside your comfort zone to achieve writing success.
Course Modules/Lessons
Module 1 : A Course on How to Write Children’s Books
- What is it about writing children's books that appeals to you?
- Clearing up the myth that writing for kids is easier than writing for adults
- Some other common misconceptions about writing books for children
- What does writing a children's book actually entail?
Module 2 : What You’ll need to Write Children’s Literature in Regards to Tools and Personal Skills
- Physical items you will need to start writing a book
- Managing your time efficiently
- Personal skills you need to succeed as a children’s writer
- Skills you can develop in order to write children’s literature
Module 3 : Learn from the Best: Great Examples of What Other Children’s Writers do Well
- How to use other children's books in order to write your own
- A look at some famous picture books aimed at younger readers
- Excellent examples of first chapter books
- Books aimed at teenagers and young adults
Module 4 : Selecting an Age Group Point of View: Who’s Telling the Story
- The importance of writing for a particular age group
- How to choose an age group
- The most common age groupings used by publishers
- The various points of view you can use to narrate your book
Module 5 : How to Get Started From Getting the First Page Spot-on to Creating the Perfect Setting
- The importance of the first page and first line
- Examples of some great first lines in existing children's books
- What you can do to make your first page stand out
- What not to do in a first page
Module 6 : How to Build a Good Children’s Book Character
- Why creating good characters is important
- How to get ideas for characters
- How characters will differ depending on your target age range
- The qualities a character needs to be real and engaging
Module 7 : How to Plan a Perfect Plot
- A definition of plot and why it is important
- How to come up with plot ideas
- The traditional plot structure
- How to develop your plot ideas
Module 8 : How to Use Backstory Without Being Boring
- The definition of backstory
- Why backstory is important in children's literature
- What happens when backstory is employed incorrectly
- When to use backstory and when to avoid it
Module 9 : How to Write Dialogue that makes your Story Flow
- Why dialogue is important
- The uses of dialogue
- How to make your dialogue realistic
- How to make your dialogue engaging
Module 10 : Advice on Improving Confidence and Sense of Purpose
- The problems that a writer will face
- How to improve self-esteem and banish your critical inner voice
- How to achieve your writing goals
- How to overcome writer's block
Module 11 : Practical Writing Exercises
- Why writing exercises are useful
- Some writing exercises for different aspects of writing
- Some writing exercises to prompt your writing if you need ideas
- How blogging might help you as an emerging writer
Module 12 : Illustrating your Story and Working with Illustrators
- The power of illustration
- The differing nature of illustration for different formats and age ranges
- How to submit a picture book for publication to a conventional publishing house
- How to choose and work with an illustrator
Module 13 : How to Deal with Publishers and Selling your Stories
- The importance of perfecting your manuscript before you submit it
- How conventional publishing and self-publishing compare
- The process of getting your book published by a publishing house
- Whether you need a literary agent
Example Certificate
A003196
FAQ's
-
Who can take the Children’s Story Writing Diploma course?
Anyone who has an interest in learning more about this subject matter is encouraged to take the course. There are no entry requirements to take the course. -
What is the structure of the course?
The course is broken down into 13 individual modules. Each module takes between 20 and 90 minutes on average to study. Although you are free to spend as much or as little time as you feel necessary on each module, simply log in and out of the course at your convenience. -
Where / when can I study the course?
You can study the course any time you like. Simply log in and out of the web based course as often as you require. The course is compatible with all computers, tablet devices and smart phones so you can even study while on the move! -
Is there a test at the end of the course?
Once you have completed all 13 modules there is a multiple choice test. The questions will be on a range of topics found within the 13 modules. The test, like the course, is online and can be taken a time and location of your choosing. -
What is the pass mark for the final test?
The pass mark for the test is 70%. -
What happens if I fail the test?
If you don’t pass the test first time you will get further opportunities to take the test again after extra study. There are no limits to the number of times you can take the test. All test retakes are included within the price of the course. -
When will I receive my certificate?
Once you have completed your test you can log in to your account and download/print your certificate any time you need it. If you would prefer us to post you a certificate to a UK address, there will be an admin charge of £10 (certificates sent internationally may cost more). -
How can I pay?
You can either use your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Solo cards or PayPal account to pay for the online course. Our site uses the latest SSL encryption to ensure your safety. All payments are handled securely by PayPal. -
How long after payment can I begin the course?
You can begin the course immediately after your payment has been received. You will create your login details during the checkout process. We will also send you an email confirming your login details. -
How long does it take to complete the Children’s Story Writing Diploma course?
We estimate that the course will take about 20 hours to complete in total, plus an additional 30 minutes for the end of course test. -
How long is my certificate valid for?
Once you have been awarded your certificate it is valid for life. The certificate does not expire or need renewing.