Writing YA & Children’s Fiction – Three Months
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Writing YA & Children’s Fiction – Three Months
Take your young adult or children's novel to the next level – get expert feedback and publishing industry insights.
We’re delighted to offer this in-depth online course specialising in YA, Middle Grade, and children’s fiction (for the over 7s). Join a group of 15 writers for three months of expert teaching, including an exclusive live Zoom masterclass with top UK literary agents specialising in books for young people, all hosted on our secure online learning platform.
Prize-winning YA and children’s author Catherine Johnson will give feedback to students on their novels-in-progress during weekly online workshops, one-to-one tutorials and writing exercises. You’ll also watch exclusively recorded teaching videos from Catherine, which are accompanied by notes and resources. This course will run from 9 Oct to 5 Feb 2024.
There’s something very special about children’s writers and I feel so lucky that I was placed with this group. I also left with a sense of ‘I can do this’.
Author of the YA TikTok sensation Last One to Die
Tutor
Catherine Johnson
Catherine Johnson has written over 20 books for children and young adults, including Sawbones, which won the Young Quills Prize for best Historical Fiction in the 12+ category and was nominated for the Carnegie medal in 2015. Her book Freedom won the 2019 Little Rebels Award for Radical Children's Fiction.
What does this course give you?
- A community of writers: Our selective applications process means that you will be writing your novel in a peer group of 15 students working at a high level. We have developed a bespoke learning platform exclusively for our students. Here you can give and receive feedback, and discuss the week’s topics with your fellow students and tutors. Many of our former students have found their trusted readers with us – and form strong working friendships with classmates which go on long after the course is over.
- Writing workshops: Across the course, you'll get two dedicated workshops centring on 3,000-word extracts from your novel-in-progress. These sessions offer in-depth feedback, and are also designed to help develop your self-editing skills.
- 1-to-1 tutorials: You'll get two 45-minute, one-to-one tutorials with Catherine. Tutorials will be based on 3,000-word extracts of your novel-in-progress. Use these tutorials to address your specific concerns about your writing. Near the end of the course all students will also get a 45-minute one-to-one with an experienced CBC editor or a Curtis Brown/C&W literary agent. They will read a 6,000-word extract from your novel-in-progress plus your synopsis.
- Industry masterclass: Join a live Zoom session with a Curtis Brown literary agent who will talk about writing, editing and the submissions process, drawing on their experience of real-life publication journeys – with a specific focus on the marketplace for YA, Middle Grade and children’s fiction. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.
- Synopsis & agent letter advice: We’ll draw on our expertise to give you the vital ingredients needed for a great synopsis and the all-important pitch letter. Individual feedback will come from experienced members of the CBC editorial team and/or a Curtis Brown/C&W literary agent.
- End of course submission: All students will be invited to submit the 3,000-word opening from their novel, plus a synopsis, to be shared with the agent teams at Curtis Brown and C&W as well as a select group of agents from other UK-based agencies. This is not a formal submission but a chance to give the agents a taste of your work at this stage. When you are ready to formally submit – no matter how long after your course has finished – the CBC team will give you guidance and support with your submission to the Curtis Brown and C&W agents.
- Alumni services: You’ll be given access to a range of exclusive writing services, available only to the alumni of our selective courses, which you’ll be able to access after your course finishes. These services include individual mentoring, editorial reports on your completed novel, and submission reports on your ‘pitch package’. Read more about the opportunities available to our alumni here.
Course schedule
Please note that precise dates of sessions and details of course speakers are subject to change.
WEEK 1 – INTRODUCTION
Mon 9 Oct – Sun 15 OctWEEK 2 – BEGINNINGS
Mon 16 Oct – Sun 22 OctWEEK 3 – CHARACTERISATION
Mon 23 Oct – Sun 29 OctWEEK 4 – POINT OF VIEW
Mon 30 Oct – Sun 5 NovWEEK 5 – WORLD-BUILDING
Mon 6 Nov – Sun 12 NovWEEK 6 – EVERYTHING MATTERS
Mon 13 Nov – Sun 19 NovWEEK 7 – SYNOPSIS
Mon 20 Nov – Sun 26 NovWEEK 8 – DIALOGUE AND DESCRIPTION
Mon 27 Nov – Sun 3 DecWEEK 9 – PLANNING, PLOTTING AND DREAMING
Mon 4 Dec – Sun 10 DecWEEK 10 – CHILDREN’S WRITING TROUBLESHOOTING
Mon 11 Dec – Sun 17 DecCHRISTMAS BREAK
Mon 18 Dec – Sun 7 Jan 2024WEEK 11 – ENDINGS AND RESOLUTIONS
Mon 8 Jan – Sun 14 JanWEEK 12 – EDITING AND REWRITING
Mon 15 Jan – Sun 21 JanWEEK 13 – END OF COURSE SUBMISSION
Mon 5th Feb
COURSE FEES
The course fee of £1,800 (inc VAT) per student is payable, in full, by bank transfer. Funds must reach our bank account before the course begins. If you are unable to pay the full fee upfront, let us know and we can arrange an instalment plan.
Scholarship Available
The Breakthrough YA & Children's Fiction Scholarship for Writers of Colour will award one talented writer of colour with limited financial means a place on our Writing YA & Children's Fiction course. Deadline 24 Sept. Apply by clicking the button below.
Breakthrough YA & Children's Fiction Scholarship for Writers of Colour
READY TO APPLY?
Please apply with the first 3,000 words of the novel you’d like to work on during the course, and a synopsis of no more than a page (both need to be in the same document, as you can only upload ONE file to the application form).
The CBC team will select applicants based on the quality of the writing sample provided. The deadline for applications is midday Fri 29 Sep, and we will respond to applicants by Fri 29 Sep.
We read all application material promptly after the closing date and make our selection of students swiftly at that time. However if you require an earlier response from us in order to be able to take part in this course, please email us with full details and we will consider and respond on a case by case basis.
If you encounter any problems during the application process, or have any more questions about the course, please email help@curtisbrowncreative.co.uk for assistance.
Learn how to write exciting and engaging YA, Middle Grade, and children's fiction. Scholarship place available.
Tutor
Catherine Johnson