How to write for younger readers

Are you passionate about writing stories that will inspire younger audiences? Read on for more information about our specialised courses on how to write for children and young adults.

Novels written for children and young adults are some of the most emotionally resonant stories of our time, with the power to convert a young person into a lifelong reader.

We have a range of courses designed to help you craft your initial story idea into something that will spark the imagination of younger readers.

Children's Picture Book courses

Our online picture book courses are suitable for complete beginners and those who want to learn more and improve their skills. Choose from one of our six-week courses in writing or illustration or take the combined ten-week course.

Illustrating a Children's Picture Book

Bestselling and prolific children’s book illustrator and author, Sarah McIntyre, guides you through the fundamentals of children’s picture book illustration. 6 weeks.

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Writing a Children's Picture Book

Popular children’s book author and illustrator David O’Connell guides you through the unwritten rules of writing children’s picture book text. 6 weeks.

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Writing & Illustrating a Children's Picture Book

On this ten-week course, Sarah and David share insights into both sides picture book creation. Perfect for budding illustrators and writers. 6 weeks.

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The CBC course was where my career as a children’s author began. I had a little baby at the time, so the flexibility to watch the videos and do the weekly tasks in my own time was perfect for me.

Rachael Davis
Author of I Am NOT a Prince

Young Adult & Middle Grade Fiction

Whether you are writing for a middle-grade reader (typically children aged 8 to 12 years old) or are gearing your writing toward a young adult audience, our courses are designed to help take you from first idea to final draft.

We offer both a short six-week online course, led YA author Patrice Lawrence, and a more in-depth three-month selective-entry course with workshops and tutorials.

Writing YA & Middle Grade Fiction

Write captivating stories for younger readers with award-winning children’s fiction and YA author Patrice Lawrence. 6 weeks.

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Writing YA & Children's Fiction – Three Months

Join a group of 15 writers for three months of expert teaching, workshops and tutorials from prize-winning YA and children’s author Catherine Johnson.

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I went in an enthusiast, but left with a much more professional outlook. Catherine really pushed us – every sentence had to work hard, every character needed to feel real…

Michael Mann
Author of Ghostcloud

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It was the smartest thing I could have done.

Bonnie Garmus, Global bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

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How to write for younger readers

Children's Picture Book courses

Illustrating a Children's Picture Book

Writing a Children's Picture Book

Writing & Illustrating a Children's Picture Book

The CBC course was where my career as a children’s author began. I had a little baby at the time, so the flexibility to watch the videos and do the weekly tasks in my own time was perfect for me.

Young Adult & Middle Grade Fiction

Writing YA & Middle Grade Fiction

Writing YA & Children's Fiction – Three Months

I went in an enthusiast, but left with a much more professional outlook. Catherine really pushed us – every sentence had to work hard, every character needed to feel real…

Illustrating a Children's Picture Book

Writing a Children's Picture Book

Writing & Illustrating a Children's Picture Book

The CBC course was where my career as a children’s author began. I had a little baby at the time, so the flexibility to watch the videos and do the weekly tasks in my own time was perfect for me.

Young Adult & Middle Grade Fiction

Writing YA & Middle Grade Fiction

Writing YA & Children's Fiction – Three Months

I went in an enthusiast, but left with a much more professional outlook. Catherine really pushed us – every sentence had to work hard, every character needed to feel real…