Write Books for Kids (Fiction)

Write Books for Kids (Fiction)
Writing book-length Fiction for Children

Instructor:
Sheila Seifert is a published writer of children's books and the author of over 1,000 freelance sales. For more information on Sheila, go to: http://home.rmi.net/~seifert .

Course Description:
Write Books for Kids (Fiction) offers students insider information about writing, revising, and marketing fiction books for children (ages 0-12) in the modern writing and publishing culture. This four-week course includes four lectures (with audio, visual, and PowerPoint bonus material).

Textbook:

The FabJob Guide to Become a Children’s Book Author

by Jeannie Harmon and Sheila Seifert

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS:

The FabJob Guide to Become a Published Writer by Sheila Seifert

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Horrible Harry and the Green Slime by Suzy Kline

The Hat by Jan Brett

The Tales of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

The Tortoise and the Hare by Betty Miles

Winnie the Pooh’s Honey Adventures by Isabel Gaines, Adapted by Disney

Required Reading:

The FabJob Guide to Become a Children's Book Author (section numbers in the Table of Contents are given instead of page numbers)

In “1. Introduction to Becoming a Children's Book Author,” read the following:

1.1 Essentials for Becoming a Successful Children's Book Author

1.2 Do you Know Yourself

1.3 Skill Practice

In “2. Getting Ready,” read the following:

2.1 Do the Right Research

2.2 Have the Right Equipment

2.3 Get Ideas Down on Paper

2.4 Focus Your Idea

2.5 Use Vocabulary Words Effectively

Additional reading will be at: http://home.rmi.net/~seifert . Click on “Writing Kids Books.” Then Click on Lesson 1, “The Essentials,” and on Lesson 2, “The Basics” when prompted in the lesson lecture.

Optional Supplemental Reading

The FabJob Guide to Become a Published Writer (section numbers in the Table of Contents are given instead of page numbers)

In “1. Introduction,” read the following:

1.1 From the Author

In “3.2 Fiction,” read the following:

3.2.1 Genres Within Fiction

Lecture Outline for Lesson One:

1. Market Fluctuations

2. Audience

3. Types of Books

4. Illustrations

Lesson One Assignment:

Chart Your Course

Required Reading:

The FabJob Guide to Become a Children's Book Author (section numbers in the Table of Contents are given instead of page numbers)

In “2. Getting Ready,” read the following:

2.3 Get Ideas Down on Paper

In “3. Skills,” read the following:

3.1 Writing Picture Books

3.3 Juvenile Fiction (8-12 year olds)

You will also be asked to read one of two sections at http://home.rmi.net/~seifert . Click on “Write Kids Books,” and then click on either “Write Books for 8-12 Year Olds” or “Write Picture Books” when the lesson’s lecture suggests.

Optional Supplemental Reading

The FabJob Guide to Become a Published Writer (section numbers in the Table of Contents are given instead of page numbers)

In “2. Getting Ready,” read the following:

2.14 Invention under “2.1 Creativity”

2.2.4 Writing a First Draft under “2.2 Discipline”

In “3. Skills,” read the following:

3.2 Fiction

Horrible Harry and the Green Slime by Suzy Kline

The Hat by Jan Brett

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Winnie the Pooh’s Honey Adventures by Isabel Gaines, Adapted by Disney

The Tortoise and the Hare by Betty Miles

Curious George Flies a Kite by Margret Rey

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin

Lecture Outline for Lesson Two:

1. Ideas

2. Characterization & Motivation

3. Plotting

4. Pacing

Lesson Two Assignment:

Write your first draft

Required Reading:

The required reading for this week can be found at http://home.rmi.net/~seifert . Click on “Write Kids Books” and then on either “Books for 8-12 year Olds” or “Picture Books” (depending on which one you are writing). If you are writing a first chapter book, read the section for 8-12 year olds. If you are writing an early reader, read the section on picture books.

Optional Supplemental Reading

The FabJob Guide to Become a Published Writer (section numbers in the Table of Contents are given instead of page numbers)

In “3. Skills,” read the following:

3.4.3 Hooking and Satisfying

3.5.1 Understanding the Process in “3.5 Revision”

3.5.2 Knowing What to Cut in “3.5 Revision”

3.5.3 Reworking Your Manuscript in “3.5 Revision”

Lecture Outline for Lesson Three:

1. How necessary is Revision?

2. Adding Depth to a Manuscript

2. Voice and Descriptive Elements

3. Painting a Setting

Lesson Three Assignments:

Improve your first draft by adding depth to it as described in the lecture.
Glance at your manuscript to study your voice.
Write one SIP to hone your skills as a descriptive writer.
Complete the “Paint the Setting” exercise

Required Reading:

The FabJob Guide to Become a Children's Book Author (section numbers in the Table of Contents are given instead of page numbers)

In “4. Getting Published” under “4.1 Freelance Opportunities with Book Publishers,” read the following:

Preparing your Manuscript

The Freelance Process

Working with a Book Publisher

Promoting Yourself and Your Book

Writers’ Conferences, Seminars, and Workshops

The Literary Agent

In “4. Getting Published,” glance over the following:

4.3 Resources to Help Children’s Book Authors

You may also want to read information found at http://home.rmi.net/~seifert . Click on “Write Kids Books” and then on “Formats, Submission, and Markets.”

Optional Supplemental Reading

The FabJob Guide to Become a Published Writer (section numbers in the Table of Contents are given instead of page numbers)

In “4 The Business,” read the following:

4.2 Working with Publishers and Editors

4.3 Rejecting Rejections

4.4 Writing as a Business

4.5 Marketing Yourself

Lecture Outline for Lesson Four:

1. Submission Formats
2. Finding a Publisher

3. The Synopsis
4. Marketing Process

Lesson Four Assignments:

Find the name and address of an editor and his/her publishing house, the place where you intend to eventually send your manuscript.