This course is designed for those who wish to delve more deeply into the art of writing short stories for children. It will lead the student through four plot patterns, drafting a story for each pattern, then rewriting and polishing these stories. Final lessons will cover how to study a magazine, building a marketing list, marketing strategies and basic manuscript format. The long-term goal is to help writers of children's fiction to become published--and to get published on a more regular basis.
Enroll today! This is a self-paced, online course. You have 6 months to finish.
An instructor will monitor your progress and assess your body of work at course completion. UniversalClass™ offers many wonderful learning tools
to help you get the most out of your online course, including an online portfolio service
that manages all your course completions.
This class has been officially reviewed by our Course Review Committee that scrutinizes course content and instructor participation. This course has received our Committee's highest rating: 4 stars.
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1.0 CEUs
Course Description
Plot designs are not something 'set-in-stone' by magazine editors (or teachers of Creative Writing courses). Just as an architect uses blueprints, so do writers of short stories for children. No one buys a house if the architect does not know how to design blueprints.
Short story plots are the the children's fiction writer's blueprints. Four basic 'blueprints' will be covered in this class: the Incidental plot, the 'did-it -by-myself, the wishful thought fulfilled, and the turn-around story. From these, students will write from four to five stories. Each story will be individually critiqued by the instructor. Rewriting assistance and feedback will be given. The end focus will be marketing the finished manuscripts for paid publication.
This course is designed for authors with some experience at writing, particularly in the area or short stories for children. It will concern plotting, writing, rewriting and actively marketing four different types of children's stories. If you haven't completed 'Writing Short Short Stories for Children,' please email the instructor at web-request@UniversalClass.comfor information on qualifications for this class.
Children's Fiction: In-Depth Plotting is a course designed for those who wish to delve more deeply into the art of writing short stories for children. It will lead the student through four plot patterns, drafting a story for each pattern, then rewriting and polishing these stories. Final lessons will cover how to study a magazine, building a marketing list, marketing strategies and basic manuscript format.
Students admitted to this class should have successfully completed Write Short Stories for Children, also available at Universal Class. Experienced writing students can email the instructor and obtain permission to take the class. I will ask to review one short children's story and issue a password to qualifying students. This class will further require students to 1) complete and submit all lesson components, 2) participate in class discussions, and 3) check in with the instructor at least once a week. Grading will be based on a 100-point scale. Grades will be divided as follows: Completing quizzes/20 points, class participation/30 points, assignments/50 points.
This course offers 1.0 CEUs upon successful completion. You may take this
online course with or without CEU documentation. An online and hard-copy Certificate of Course Completion displaying your coursework and
CEUs earned is included with the CEU Option. We also offer an expedited Transcript Service for sending your accomplishments to a third party.
Certificates awarded by the instructor will vary and are based upon student merit.
Any awards you earn are considered unofficial (or temporary) unless you decide to make the award official.
To make an award official, there is a $30.00 processing fee that covers the customization, printing, and shipping of a hard copy of the certificate as well as access to the UniversalClass™ Transcript Service.
Official awards include a serial number that verifies the authenticity of the award you earned for a lifetime (great for employers
to verify your achievement).