Writing for Children
Writing for a younger audience is an endlessly exciting adventure. Join bestselling author Andy Stanton for this inspiring and energetic course which delves deep into the art of creating unforgettable stories for children.
Level
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Location
Length
- Start Date
- Time
- Thursdays, 19.00–21.00
Places available
£1095
£1095
£350 / month for 2 months and a £395.00 deposit
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Always wanted to write a children's book? Start here
Is your imagination bursting with ideas for your book for younger readers? Halfway through your first draft and wondering if you can make it to the finishing line? Or maybe you’ve just got the inkling that writing for children is something you’d like to try your hand at?
Covering fiction for kids aged six to twelve, with room for a little experimentation beyond, Writing for Children is a new twelve-week course, led by Faber Children’s author Andy Stanton. With his wide knowledge of children’s literature and a bottomless store of enthusiasm, Andy will help you harness your brilliant, freewheeling creativity to a rigorous understanding of storytelling technique – and get you well on your way to finishing your first book.
Each week you’ll cover a new topic, giving you a solid grounding in everything from pacing, structure and style; to world-building, character creation and writing great dialogue that’ll make your readers giggle and thrill by turns. You’ll also discover those tiny, subtle details which can elevate your work from ‘just good enough’ to ‘unputdownable’. Along the way, there’ll be masterclasses and guest talks from other authors and industry professionals, each providing their own perspectives on the craft and the industry at large.
At every step, you’ll be travelling alongside your fellow students – a group of likeminded writers, all seeking to find their own paths. Each week will include a workshop on one particular student’s project, with the whole class providing invaluable feedback, analysis and advice in an encouraging and supportive environment. Join us as together we strive to uncover writing’s secrets great and small – and let’s take your ideas to the next level!
Is this the right course for me?
This three-month course is one of our 'Starting Out' courses, so you don't need to have taken any writing courses before. Perhaps you’ve already got an idea for a children's book you've been thinking about for a while – or you may previously have been working on other types of writing and want to try your hand at something new.
By the end of the twelve weeks, you should expect to have created a bag of juicy ideas to choose from, have gained invaluable insights from industry professionals into the children’s publishing world and be well on your way to becoming a fully-fledged children’s writer.
Writing For Children is led by bestselling children’s writer Andy Stanton, who has nearly two decades of experience as a published author.
Children, teachers and parents alike love Andy’s madcap Mr Gum books for their anarchic invention, outrageous characters and endlessly inventive wordplay. But underneath all the inspired nonsense lies a rigorous underpinning of structure, classic storytelling technique and attention to detail.
Andy is someone who truly cares about getting every word right in order to tell the best possible story in the best possible way. He loves to play with ideas and to examine things from different angles, which makes him a tireless and inspired editor of his own work – and of yours. He is adept at re-tooling and reframing drafts, and works overtime to help realise the potential of his students’ writing.
Andy’s best-known series, Mr Gum, has sold 3 million copies in the UK and been translated into more than 30 languages – as well as winning the Red House Book Award, the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize and two Blue Peter Awards. Additionally, he has written picture books for younger readers, including Danny McGee Drinks the Sea and Going to the Volcano. In 2023, Andy published his first book for adults, Benny the Blue Whale: A Descent into Story, Language and the Madness of ChatGPT.
The course will take place on Thursday evenings, from 7–9 p.m., at The Bindery, Faber's beautiful new offices near Farringdon Station.
Please note: your tutor may adapt the titles, order or content of these sessions based on the needs or interests of the students in the class.
Course Programme
Session 1
Thursday 24 April, 19.00–21.00
Getting Started: Overview, great f...
Session 2
1 May, 19.00–21.00
Not just any Tom, Dick or Lyra: Cr...
Session 3
8 May, 19.00–21.00
World-building: Place and setting ...
Tutor
Andy Stanton
Andy Stanton lives in North London. He studied English at Oxford but they kicked him out...
More About This TutorLocation
The Bindery
51 Hatton Garden
London EC1N 8HN
How to get here
Faber’s office, The Bindery, is well connected by public transport, with Farringdon Station just five minutes’ walk away, and stops for several bus routes in the area too. If you’re coming from outside of London, the office is a short bus or taxi journey from Kings Cross, Euston and St Pancras stations.
Browse the Reading Room
From author interviews and writing tips to creative writing exercises and reading lists, we've got everything you need to get started – and to keep going.
Recommendations from Faber
Founded in 1929 in London, Faber is one of the world's great publishing houses. Our list of authors includes thirteen Nobel Laureates and six Booker Prize-winners.
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