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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.
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.
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.
Duration : Continuous: Enroll anytime!
Faculty Information:
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.
Other Activities:
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.
Facility Information:
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.
1. Lesson One: Incidentally Yours - There are always odd-beat type plots, some of which make it into print. Most do not. Four plot patterns do work well for children's fiction. Some also work for adult fiction, although there are more variants as readers age.
2. Lesson Two: Revising Your Dream Child - You've already written the "heart" into your story. Now it's time to turn your dream child into a story that is alive and real and marketable.
3. Lesson Three: Revision Revisited - One of the great things about writing is that words can always be changed and made stronger.
4. Lesson Four: How to Study a Magazine - Writers read everything at least twice if they want to sell to a magazine. Always read a magazine for fun first. Then read it to learn.
5. Lesson Five: Building a Market List - Because we are creative, most writers dread the business side--marketing. Truth is, marketing is 50% of your writing career, at least until you have book sales and can attract a good agent.
6. Lesson Six--In Depth Plotting: Aha! I Did it! - The necessity for planning a story before writing it becomes more apparent as story plots grow in complexity.
7. Lesson Seven: Revision Again - I'll bet you didn't think I could possibly say anything more about revision. Never make a bet with an old writer.
8. Lesson Eight: Revise & Market - Again, a few of you will be able revision part of this session and can follow the direction given with your returned first revision. There is one assignment to be done even if you don't need to rewrite again.
9. Lesson Nine: Turn-Around - The turn-around is one of the most marketable story plots.
10. Lesson Ten: And Yet Again--Revise - Believe it or not, there are still more ways to catch the errors in your stories when rewriting!
11. Lesson Eleven: Revise? Market! - A number of you have been able to skip the second revision assignment on your stories. Directions will be given if you can do this again. The second assignment here is required of all students.
12. Lesson 12- Wishful Thinking - We all do it! Stories of Wishful Thinking are highly popular with children. This plot works especially well with animal or other inanimate object characters.
13. Lesson 13: Still Rewriting - I almost called this lesson "I told you so." Yes, I still a few words left to say about rewriting.
14. Lesson 14: Revision/Marketing - We've covered marketing fairly extensively, but this lesson includes one good way to further the marketing of your work-- workshops and conferences.
15. Lesson 15: Marketing Check-Up - You've done it! You have completed from 4-5 stories and hopefully, you have found the lessons valuable tools for rewriting previously rejected manuscripts.
16. More Class Lessons...
Instructor: Margaret Shauers
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Notes:
* Basic Course: $60.00
* with CEUs & Certificate: $85.00
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