julia donaldson creative writing course

You can enrol for the course here:

https://www.bbcmaestro.com/courses/julia-donaldson/writing-children-s-picture-books

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BBC Maestro, in partnership with BBC Studios, announce brand new e-learning service

BBC Maestro will offer courses taught by the most experienced creators in the world through a series of digital tutorials.

BBC Maestro, in partnership with BBC Studios, announces a brand new e-learning service, where courses are taught by the most experienced creators in the world. 

BBC Maestro offers never before granted access to the minds of some of the worlds’ greatest creative talents, who for the very first time are teaching their craft and their process through a series of very special digital tutorials. Whether you are a novice or an amateur enthusiast, BBC Maestro allows you to indulge in your area of passion from the comfort of your own home and learn from the experts.

Each course is beautifully filmed in 4K and offers several hours of content, broken down into 20 to 40 easily digested lessons accompanied by downloadable course notes filled with hints, tips and a breakdown of each Maestro’s course.

The service launches with four courses:

• Over 45 million albums sold, with 12 number ones, Ivor Novello winning song writer and musician Gary Barlow, teaches Songwriting
• 40 million books sold, 29 books written and the UK’s best-selling children’s author David Walliams, teaches Writing for Children
• Multi-award winning screenwriter and creator of Line of Duty and Bodyguard, Jed Mercurio, teaches Writing Drama for Television
• The Godfather of modern British gastronomy, and the first British

3 Michelin starred chef Marco Pierre White, teaches Delicious Food Cooked Simply

Beginning with Gary Barlow, David Walliams, Jed Mercurio, and Marco Pierre White, the service will quickly expand to cover a diverse range of subjects including;

Malorie Blackman - Writing for Young Adults

Heston Blumenthal – Ingenious Cooking At Home

Ozwald Boateng - Fashion Design – From the Blank Page to the Catwalk

Helena Bonham Carter – Acting

Julia Donaldson – Writing Children’s Picture Books

Peter Jones – Entrepreneurship

Sir Tim Rice – Performing and Writing Musical Theatre

Vineet Bhatia – Teaching Indian cuisine

Jancis Robinson – An Understanding of Wine

Each BBC Maestro’s course can be purchased for a one-off fee of £80.00. This allows the participants to watch and learn as frequently as they like in order to hone their skills.

Each course is personally crafted by the Maestro, as an intimate and informative experience that brings them directly into the lives of the participants. Their courses will not just be instructional but also motivational, filled with experiences that provide a combination of practical skills, insight, and inspiration.

The service is available at www.bbcmaestro.com

Gary Barlow says “I’ve been studying composition, songwriting and performance for the better part of 30 years. I’ve learnt a few things along the way; things that help the process, things that inspire the process. Hopefully this course will inspire you. Maybe you’re going to write something today that is going to change the course of your life forever.”

David Walliams says “ The wonderful thing about being a writer is that you don’t need any qualifications to do it. Anyone can just start doing it. The problem is often knowing where to start. I’ve written 28 children’s books and along the way I’ve learnt a lot. I’ll be sharing everything I’ve learnt about writing stories for young readers during my course. I’ll help you turn your amazing ideas into a fully formed story .”

Jed Mercurio says “The great thing about being a writer is that anyone can do it.  You just need an imagination and to know how to get started. You have the first one covered, and I’d like to help you with the second .”

Marco Pierre White says “It’s not about recipes. This is about food. The understanding of food. How to take something as simple as a potato and take it somewhere it’s never been before. It’s impossible to cook 3-star food at home without a team, but what I can do is impart that 3-star understanding and show you how to introduce it into your cooking at home.”

Malorie Blackman  says  “I’ve been a professional author for over thirty years and have written over 70 books to date which has given me a good handle on the art, craft and business of writing.  In this course we’re going to explore all aspects of writing for young adults - from ideas to the completed, published book and everything in between.  I’ll be sharing the practices that have worked for me, the ways of working that perhaps didn’t but which might work for you, the practical and the fantastical.  This is a course for any and all aspiring children’s book writers.”

Julia Donaldson  says “A picture book can be almost anything: an adventure story, a poem, a fable or just a glorious romp. But every word must count. In this course I hope to convey the art of writing something that will appeal to the ears and mind of the child listener and the adult who will read the story aloud - and also to the publisher!”

Stephen Davies , Managing Director of BBC Studios, Consumer Products & Licensing says “BBC Maestro offers the ultimate guides for anyone who has a dream or a passion that they’ve always wanted to perfect. Whether you want to write a best-selling book or TV series, become a songwriter, learn to act, cook like a Michelin-starred chef or become an entrepreneur, these lessons provide a rare opportunity for novices and experienced amateurs alike to hone their craft and learn from the very best in the world.”

For more press information:

[email protected]

Ian Johnson, 07711 118019

Jeni Noel, 07825 293232

Biographies

Gary Barlow is one of Britain’s most successful songwriters and record producers. As part of pop group Take That, he has won eight BRIT Awards and sold over 45 million records. Aside from his achievements with Take That, he has also co-written and produced music for other renowned artists including Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John and Robbie Williams.

Gary’s last solo record SINCE I SAW YOU LAST sold more than 600,000 copies and was the ninth biggest-selling album that year. His new solo album is released later this year.

In more recent years, Gary has also turned his attention to the world of theatre, composing the score for the hugely successful production FINDING NEVERLAND, working alongside screenwriter Tim Firth to write the music and lyrics for musical THE GIRLS and also working alongside his Take That bandmates to produce THE BAND a record-breaking musical featuring the music of Take That.

David Walliams As a children's author, David Walliams has written 13 children’s novels, 2 junior novels, 9 picture books and 5 books of short stories for which he has received enormous critical and commercial success. It has led to David frequently being heralded as a modern-day Roald Dahl. Since the publication of his ground-breaking first novel, THE BOY IN THE DRESS (2008), David has seen unprecedented growth with global sales exceeding 40 million copies, and his books translated into 53 languages.

David closed the last three years as the UK’s biggest-selling author and his titles took three of the top ten overall bestselling books of 2019 as well as the three biggest-selling children’s books of the year.

To date this year, David’s titles have been number 1 in the children’s charts for an astonishing 28 weeks, and at the top of the overall bestseller charts for 9 weeks. The world beyond the books includes licensed product, TV adaptations, theatre productions and arena tours.

David is also one of Britain’s best-loved comedians, known for hits such as multi award-winning LITTLE BRITAIN and COME FLY WITH ME, as well as being a beloved judge on BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT. He has also had dramatic TV roles such as CAPTURING MARY, PARTNERS IN CRIME and MURDER MYSTERY and on stage in A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM for which he won the London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Comedy in 2013 and the What’s On Stage Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Play in 2014. He will next be seen in the role of Losberne in TWIST, a modern version of OLIVER TWIST alongside Lena Headey and Michael Caine.

David is a trustee of Comic Relief, a charity he has personally raised £8.5m for, most notably swimming the English Channel in 2006 and the River Thames in 2011. David is also an Ambassador for the children’s charity, Make A Wish. Due to David’s generous support of Comic Relief and other charities he was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in Summer 2017 as part of the Queen’s birthday Honours.

Jed Mercurio ’s latest series BODYGUARD and LINE OF DUTY have both topped the ratings for UK television drama. With other credits including seminal, ground breaking series such as: BODIES, CRITICAL, THE GRIMLEYS and CARDIAC ARREST to name but a few, Jed Mercurio’s work has achieved award wins/nominations at the Golden Globes, Emmys, BAFTAs, Royal Television Society, Broadcasting Press Guild and Writers’ Guild. Jed Mercurio is a former hospital physician and Royal Air Force pilot whose career took a rather interesting bank to the left when he saw an advert in the British Medical Journal asking if any doctors had an idea for a television drama.

Marco Pierre White is the man who single handedly made cooking sexy. Anthony Bourdain hailed him as ‘the original rock star chef who made history.’ Marco was the first British chef to win 3 Michelin Stars and the youngest chef to do so at just 33 years of age.  The true Godfather of modern British cuisine has trained a team that reads like a who’s who of cooking including: Heston, Gordon Ramsay, James Martin, Phillip Howard, Eric Chavot, Bryn Williams, Matt Tebbutt, Robert Reid, Thierry Busset, Jason Atherton, Shannon Bennett, Curtis Stone and Mario Batali, to name but a few.

Marco’s acclaimed book, WHITE HEAT, is regarded as having influenced the careers of several Michelin starred and celebrity chefs, being described by one critic as ‘possibly the most influential recipe book of the last 20 years’.

Marco’s culinary genius was recognised by legendary French chef Michel Roux in the last interview he ever gave, shortly before he died. After Michel had been extremely blunt about other celebrity chefs he’d known, he was asked about Marco. His response says it all…

“ To be a great chef, you have to be a gourmet. Marco Pierre White had the palate so, for me, he was and still is the greatest. ”

Notes to Editors

Online digital classes and e-learning is a huge growth area and in 2020 this has increased exponentially. The global MOOC (“Mass Open Online Courses”) market size is expected to grow from $3.9 billion in 2018 to $20.8 billion by 2023.

The courses can be viewed on most devices with an internet connection and a web browser, such as mobile, tablet, laptops, and desktop computers.

BBC Maestro

BBC Maestro, operates under license from BBC Studios, but is an independent business which is not taxpayer funded in any way.

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios, a global content company with bold British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions, and programmes and formats made by high-quality UK independents. Award-winning British programmes made by the business are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing / Dancing with the Stars , Top Gear , Doctor Who and Bluey . BBC Studios has offices in 22 markets globally, including ten production bases in the UK and production bases or partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which ordinarily makes around 2500 hours of content a year for both the BBC and third parties including Apple, Amazon and China Mobile, is a champion for British creativity around the world. It is also a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector through a mix of equity partnerships, content investment and international distribution for programme titles. To the BBC, BBC Studios contributes both cash dividends and funds for programme-making, supporting the licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences. 

bbcstudios.com

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Writing Picture Books for Children with Julia Donaldson

By Writing.ie

• 20 May 2021

Julia Donaldson is set to join BBC Maestro to impart her wisdom in her new course – Writing Picture Books for Children.

BBC Maestro launched in October 2020 to phenomenal success. The first four courses attracted more than one million people to the service, with thousands signing up to learn from their favourite Maestro.

About the Course

Launching 17 June 2021 and aimed at beginners, curious onlookers and experienced authors alike, this course harnesses Julia’s vast experience and expertise to inspire you to create something that will appeal to the ears and mind of the child listener, the adult who will read the story aloud – and also to publishers. Step by step, Julia shares industry tips and guidance, celebrating the magic of picture books and demystify the production process.

The course includes lessons that will help you write your story – constructing storyline and plot, creating rich and colourful characters, using humour, working on rhyme and writing good endings. But it goes further, covering publication and other things to expect like working with an illustrator, getting an agent, and performing at events.

Julia’s passion for picture books shines throughout – the art and craft of it, and what it means to children and families. She speaks expertly on teaching children basic skills like letters, numbers and colours, through to life’s big lessons like celebrating diversity and helping children learn to cope with difficult emotions.

Alongside Julia, the course features other experts in the industry – Julia’s agent, Caroline Sheldon, her illustrator, Axel Scheffler ( The Gruffalo, The Snail and the Whale, Room on the Broom ), as well as the editor of The Gruffalo , Alison Green and TV producer, Michael Rose.

With BBC Maestro courses, the learner can develop professional skills at their own pace and rewatch the lessons as many times as they like. While Julia provides inspiration and insight along the way.

“I’m going to take you through the creation of a picture book from the germ of an idea, to publication and beyond.” Julia Donaldson

About Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson is the bestselling author of children’s books THE GRUFFALO, STICK MAN and ROOM ON THE BROOM (illustrated by Axel Scheffler) and the WHAT THE LADYBIRD HEARD series (illustrated by Lydia Monks), among others. Her books have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and won numerous major awards including the Nation’s Favourite Bedtime Story Award, the Scottish Book Trust Award, the Red House Children’s Book Award, and The Booksellers Association Books Are My Bag Readers Award. Her work has been translated into 100 languages.

In 2011, Julia was appointed the UK’s Children’s Laureate. During her laureateship she undertook a tour of libraries from John O’Groats to Land’s End to publicise the state of libraries in the UK. She received an MBE in 2011 for her services to literature and a CBE in 2018.

Julia and her husband Malcolm live in the UK and divide their time between Sussex and Edinburgh.

About BBC Maestro

BBC Maestro offers never before granted access to the minds of some of the worlds’ greatest creative talents, through a series of very special digital tutorials. Whether you are a novice or an amateur enthusiast, BBC Maestro allows you to indulge in your area of passion from the comfort of your own home and learn from the experts. Each course is beautifully filmed in 4K and offers several hours of content, broken down into 20 to 40 easily digested lessons accompanied by downloadable course notes filled with hints, tips and a breakdown of each course. Julia Donaldson is the latest Maestro, joining David Walliams, Gary Barlow, Marco Pierre White and Line of Duty creator, Jed Mercurio. And coming soon are Malorie Blackman, Sir Tim Rice. Peter Jones and more – all imparting wisdom, expertise and industry secrets.

BBC Maestro taps into the fast-growing space of e-learning – because of the way technology has revolutionised teaching and learning, lessons no longer have to be confined to the classroom. In 2020, the number of people using online learning videos rose dramatically, with an estimated 200 million users worldwide. The global ‘Mass Open Online Courses’ market size is expected to increase from $3.9 billion in 2018 to $20.8 billion by 2023.

“We’re so delighted to have Julia on the platform. For the first time, she’s going to teach the audience at home how she goes about her process, to encourage them to find their own craft, their own voice.” Michael Levine, MD at BBC Maestro

See here for further details.

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Julia Donaldson: ‘Edward Lear taught me that there can be a lyrical beauty in nonsense’

The Gruffalo author on Lord of the Flies, Just William – and why Ruth Rendell is up there with Ian McEwan

The book I am currently reading I’m enjoying Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, but I also have Richard Mabey ’s wonderful Flora Britannica by my bedside and dip into it regularly to find out more about the history and folklore surrounding the flowers I’ve seen while out walking.

The book that changed my life Lord of the Flies by William Golding was a coming-of-age book for me. Till I read it I had a child’s rosy view of life; I suppose I believed in happy endings. This story of a group of boys stranded on a desert island was a horribly convincing portrait of the darker side of human nature.

The book I wish I’d written Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel . This and the other books about the same comic amphibian duo each contain several short stories – fables, really – about endearing human weaknesses such as greed, self-consciousness, laziness and addiction to routine. In my favourite story, “The List”, Toad makes a list of Things To Do and then refuses to do anything at all when it blows away. (He can’t chase after it because that wasn’t on the list.)

The book that had the greatest influence on my writing Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets by Edward Lear , mainly because it contains the poem “The Jumblies”, which sank deeply into my imagination, teaching me that there can be a lyrical beauty in nonsense, madness and the unreasonable quest for adventure. In my own rhyming story The Snail and the Whale , the snail who longs to see the world is really a Jumbly in disguise.

The book I think is most underrated The Tree of Hands by Ruth Rendell – or almost any of her psychological thrillers (as opposed to those about Inspector Wexford). Of course Rendell was hugely popular within the crime genre but I feel she was perhaps snobbishly regarded as a “popular” rather than a “literary” author (not that I approve of these classifications). To my mind she’s right up there with the likes of Ian McEwan in style and characterisation. This particular book is a compelling and convincing story about a child abduction.

The last book that made me laugh Dishonesty Is the Second Best Policy by the comedian David Mitchell . A collection of witty articles about the irritations of modern life. This is what he has to say about going to the theatre: “I don’t enjoy it anywhere near as much as prancing around myself, and I would be amazed if my view isn’t (possibly secretly) shared by most performers.” (I plead guilty.)

The last book that made me cry Plainsong by Kent Haruf (and the other two books in the same trilogy, Benediction and Eventide ). I cried more because I was moved than saddened by Haruf’s poetic yet unpretentious descriptions of the intermingling lives of ordinary people in a small American country town.

The book I couldn’t finish I’m sure Terry Pratchett won’t be turning in his grave if he ever discovers that I found the only Discworld book that I tried to read put-downable.

The book I’m ashamed not to have read So many! Three quarters of Dickens , all of Hemingway , and Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to name but a few.

The book I give as a gift Period Piece by Gwen Raverat. This memoir captures the way a child can develop a passionate attachment to a place (in this case Down House, the home of her grandfather, Charles Darwin), and is full of funny descriptions of eccentric relatives, my favourite being Aunt Etty, who went round destroying the stinkhorn fungus (phallus impudicus) “to preserve the morals of the maids”.

My earliest reading memory I remember loving a picture book about a lion looking for a friend and getting taunted by some Dali-esque elephant-like characters called, I think, Chittergongs, but I can’t remember the title, author or illustrator and have been unsuccessful in tracking it down. Please, please, please, can anyone help?

My comfort read The many William books by Richmal Crompton . William was my childhood hero and I still have my battered collection of books about the eternally 11-year-old boy’s misadventures. I love the way William is always “snorting sardonically” and saying things like: “Huh! I like that!”

• Books that made me

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Julia Donaldson: Writing children's picture books

Latest posts.

There are a huge number of online writing courses and many of them are a scandalous amount of money! I sometimes watch the initial free webinar to glean what wisdom I can but without recommendations, I’m never really sure if a course will make me a better writer, or if I am just being ripped off. So let me help you decide if this one is worth your pennies.

Last year, I signed up to the ‘Writing Children's Picture Books' with Julia Donaldson, hosted by BBC Maestro who run a number of celebrity fronted courses in a variety of practical topics from acting to wine tasting! Several of their courses are writing-based including Song writing, Writing for Children, Writing for Young Adults, Writing Drama for Television, Storytelling etc. Each one has a celebrity leading us through the topic in a series of short, 5 to 15 minute online videos.

I decided that the price was affordable (and actually, if you sign up without buying a course, they’ll keep emailing you with offers! There’s a handy tip). I also chose to do it because Julia Donaldson is one of those names that, as a children’s writer, people keep saying I should emulate. Things like ‘Why don’t you just do such and such, the way that Julia Donaldson does it?’

So, is it worth the money?

Overall, it is a very good course, especially if you want to write a children’s picture book but need some inspiration. The majority of the course is focussed on generating ideas and forming your structure. If you have a blank slate, this course will fill your slate with ideas. If you already have a children’s book but want to improve it, you’ll also get ideas of how to restructure your book to make a better story.

There are tips about baddies and endings, themes and patterns, language and rhyme. Every topic you can think of is covered, with a little ‘activity’ to do at then end of each video. These videos are worth every penny of the course and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants to write a children’s book. Which, in turn, makes me believe that the other courses in their library should hopefully be equally as professional and helpful.

There are two downsides: Firstly, the final few videos are dedicated to practical matters such as getting an agent, working with illustrators, editing and marketing etc. Because Julia Donaldson is the communicator, all the advice is in the context of a traditional publishing model. For children’s writers who self-publish or hybrid publish, like myself, there’s some helpful tips in this section but mostly it’s the opposite of my experience, which I’ll write about in my next blog.

The second thing that stood out to me is the emphasis on the story, not the values. Julia Donaldson’s advice, when it comes to writing for children is “Don’t be too earnest”. She recommends that you aim to write a really good story and your values will come through naturally. Julia admits that her primary motivation is NOT to communicate values, even though others have projected values onto her books (e.g., if you’re kind to nature, nature will be kind to you).

As someone who writes for children, I am purely motivated by the earnest desire to teach children Biblical truths in memorable and imaginative ways. So how do I do that while not being too earnest? Ms Donaldson's advice is to put the story first. Who am I to argue? However, I still feel that this aspect of writing for children bears further thought, so I shall have to keep searching for answers. 

Can anyone recommend a good online course I might do? Or perhaps I shall write my own - once I've sold a hundred million books myself, of course!

Joanne Gilchrist is mother of 3 and runs the charity, Ruach Resources, which is the home of God for Kids app and the Animals of Eden Valley series (a series of two at the moment - but I'm working on it!). 

She also wrote the autobiographical "Looking for Love" and freelances for the SunScool app. 

Lovely post! Thanks for all the tips and advice. My advice to you Joanne is to have more confidence in your skills and art as a wrriter and that will give you a unique brand. Then, you will not sound like somebody else. God in His good time will make your dream of selling a hundred million books come to pass.With God nothing is impossible.I will try to believe in your dream for myself too!100,000,000 sales!!! For you and for me and for all of us, by God's grace. Amen. Thanks and blessings.

This was really interesting to me Joanne as I'm thinking of doing a course at some point in writing picture books, and I saw that one advertised. Thanks for sharing the pluses and minuses. I was advised by a writer of picture books that the Arvon courses are excellent.

I think that's a good question, too, about how to write for children about Biblical truths but without being off-putting or overbearing (although I think about it more as a homeschool mom choosing books for her kids...). I imagine the best place to start is to read those who did that well. George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien. I think the intro to Kingsley's Heroes is worth a read (even though that's Greek myth). Charlotte Yonge. Books like Heidi. Even less overt stories that convey Christian truth. Fairy tales. The Wind in the Willows. I could go on :)

I was very interested to hear about this course. it sounds great! And Julia Donaldson knows what she's talking about. I've only ever been on one course, run by Paul Kerensa in lockdown and it was fab. Taught me loads. I agree with Sophia - wait on God, keep writing and see what happens.

As someone who has written (and had published) stories for children on Biblical themes, I understand your confusion. But Julia Donaldson is right about the over-riding importance of story. It is the framework upon which everything else depends. Values, characters, illustration - everything else is the bricks and mortar. And you have complete control over which bricks and what kind of mortar you use. Remember, Jesus drove his disciples crazy by teaching in parables (stories!!)

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5 tips for writing a children’s picture book

By BBC Maestro

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Some of the best books for children are picture books. Picture books can help introduce new topics and themes to a child’s life by engaging them with colourful images, imaginative characters and captivating storylines. 

This article will explore the world of children’s picture books, as well as touch on some top tips for new authors, with the advice of award-winning author and former children’s laureate, Julia Donaldson.

What is a picture book?

A picture book uses illustration to enhance the narrative in a story. They are mostly made for, and used by, young children but you can buy picture books for various ages. Picture books for younger children may be more interactive and tactile than those for older groups who can read or write. “Picture books are really, really varied, perhaps as varied as the children who read them,” says Julia Donaldson in her BBC Maestro children’s writing course . Most picture books tend to follow a rhythmic style of writing, with a focus on language that conjures up vivid pictures. 

Here are some examples of famous children’s picture books:

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
• Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

5 tips for writing a picture book

1. keep track of ideas.

Whether you want to write about a giant, a monkey, or a troll, it’s important to keep note of all your picture book ideas. Some of our best ideas can spark at any time, so be sure to capture them as soon as you can in a notebook, or on your mobile phone. 

If you’re struggling to conjure up new ideas, start with something small, like imagining a new character or thinking about the environment your story is set in. Have faith that the right idea will come though. 

“You just have to have your ears and eyes open all the time and the ideas are going to come, probably when you least expect it,” Julia says in her BBC Maestro course . 

2. Collaboration is key

Producing a picture book requires the skills of many different hands – illustrators, editors and literary agents, all play a role. 

If you get a book deal, your publisher will pair you up with an illustrator. For example, The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson, and illustrator Axel Scheffler, have worked together for over 20 years. In her writing course, Julia notes that despite popular belief, illustrators rarely work closely with the author. Most of the time an illustrator has a lot of autonomy. They can use their interpretations of the narrative to design the characters, settings and scenes. 

An editor’s role is to work with you from manuscript to print. They are heavily involved in the picture book creation process, helping the author with wording, and assisting with the book’s design. Editors look for work that is fresh and that stands out. So when you’re sharing with publishers, be sure to do some research on what they might want to see too.

It’s useful to work with a literary agent if you plan to release a lot of books, but it is not essential. Their role is to represent your career and offer help on the business side of things. If you plan on only bringing out one book, you may choose to approach publishers directly.

3. Play with the power of language

Words play a valuable role in picture books. Language has the power to stimulate our imaginations, building vivid pictures. It can also help capture the mood of a character or story.

You can use patterned language, rhyme or tools, like onomatopoeia or juxtaposition , to bring your narrative to life. As Julia Donaldson says in her course, “your story is designed to be read aloud, so the sound of the words is going to be really important”. 

Introducing rhythm to the story, and using words and phrases that touch on all the senses, can add a touch of fun and humour to your story, making it far more memorable. For instance, in her course, Julia Donaldson touches on the book The Star In The Jar by Sam Hay and Sarah Massini. The story is about a young boy searching for treasure. Julia reads a few particular phrases used in the book, “tickly treasure, glittery treasure, litter-bin treasure”. “All those words: ‘tickly’, ‘glittery’, ‘litter-bin’, they are very pleasing. They have a similar sound. That short ‘ih’ sound,” she adds. Its brilliance, she notes, lies in this compilation of same-sounding words that are so descriptive that the reader feels they are sharing the same experience with the character. 

4. Incorporate basic skills into your narrative

Picture books are a great way to reinforce basic learning. Referencing numbers, letters, colours and shapes into your narrative, are clever ways to enhance the minds of young readers. It can be as simple as incorporating a counting activity into your plot, or placing focus on the colours of different objects on each page.  

5. Get creative when promoting

When publishing time comes, it’s important to market your picture book well. Attending book signings, press interviews, and going on book tours are all good ways of getting yourself and your book out there. An agent can be of use at this stage, but if you don’t have one, you can still get creative with how you share your book with the world.

Partnering with schools or youth groups can present new opportunities to connect with your readers. Social media is a great tool to tap into too, where you can host live Q&As to answer fan questions, or share snippets of your book with new audiences. The world is your oyster!

Now you’re ready to get writing. Keep an open mind when it comes to new ideas and collaborating with new partners. Writing is an evolving process that gets better with discussions and feedback. Remember to keep a record of any new ideas that spring to mind – you never know, your next one could be your best yet! 

So, there you have it. Five brilliant writing books to get you started on your writing journey. It may feel daunting at first, but with guidance from authors who have inspired some of the best stories of today, you have all the tools you need to get started. There are plenty of resources out there to help – books, podcasts, and even online writing courses too. Do your research, find what works for you, and get that creativity flowing.

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FREE video lesson: What to expect writing a picture book

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Learn more about picture books

Julia takes you from initial idea to publishing in her course Writing Children’s Picture Books. Learn how to develop unique characters, captivating storylines and produce your very own picture book.

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Writing Bestselling Fiction

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Writing for Children course

Writing for children.

Short course

An ideal introduction to the world of children’s story writing; students gain confidence and learn to turn their ideas into exciting and creative children’s fiction.

No starting dates

Starting date to be confirmed.

• Duration: 10 weeks (unconfirmed)
• Fees: £270 (unconfirmed)
• Location: Online (unconfirmed)
• Register interest

Testimonials

I have thoroughly enjoyed the course. Bryony was an excellent tutor. She is incredibly supportive and knows her stuff! It has been a highlight of my work to attend the sessions via the Zoom. As a group we have bonded and we have supported one another throughout. Bryony has helped me develop as a writer and I will be forever grateful for that.

Bryony was an excellent tutor - clear materials delivered via slides. Excellent delivery via zoom and full and thorough feedback for all assignments. Really motivating and confidence building and a very enjoyable experience.

Susan Callum

I am very grateful to Bryony for going the extra mile to equip us with the tools we need to become writers. Her approach and materials were second to none.

Jonathan Kalemera

• Course overview

What will I learn?

Assessment and certificates, eligibility, recommended reading, writing for children course overview.

This course is also offered as an intensive one-week summer school .

This Introductory Writing for Children short course is for students who would like to write books for children aged 3-16 years old.

The first part will focus on learning writing techniques in the context of children’s books, covering a range of areas including characterisation, settings, dialogue and plotting. We will examine how to tackle books for different age ranges, from picture books to Young Adult.

The second part of this Writing for Children course will look at refining your writing and understanding what publishers and agents are looking for.

Each week students will tackle writing exercises and there will be some element of sharing work. We will also look at texts from a variety of published children’s authors.

By the end of the Children's Writing evening course, students should have a strong grasp of what it takes to succeed in the tough but rewarding world of writing for children.

Who is it for?

Whether you want to publish your work or write stories just for your own children, City's Writing for Children short course delivers a comprehensive introduction to the subject, covering several areas and ages.

Find out more about our Creative writing and publishing courses

• Learn Creative writing and publishing

This course takes place every Monday evening for ten weeks.

City Short Courses follow the academic year, delivering courses over three terms. These include:

• Autumn  - October
• Spring - January
• Summer - April
• Delivered by an award-winning children’s author.
• Taught in small groups
• Awarded a City, University of London certificate

Over the course of 10 weekly evening classes on the Writing for Children short course, you will learn how to:

• Apply theoretical knowledge to practical writing tasks and learn more about the market for children’s books and how to succeed as a children’s writer.
• Understand the market - who exactly are you writing for?
• Identify what works about successful stories, across a range of texts;
• Create strong settings, stand-out characters and convincing dialogue;
• Build pace and structure into your work;
• Learn how to use descriptions that will bring your writing to life;
• Edit and revise your writing, including when to cut;
• Understand what agents and publishers are looking for in a publishable manuscript - the practicalities as well as the indefinable 'it';
• Submit your work to publishing professionals.

There is no formal assessment for this Writing for Children course but students will be expected to participate in group discussion and feedback and be prepared to bring in their work-in-progress for constructive critiques.

This course is open to anyone interested in writing for children and no prior knowledge is required.

English requirements

Applicants must be fluent in written and spoken English.

Picture books

• The Gruffalo (Julia Donaldson)
• Hairy Maclairy (Lynley Dodd)
• Sometimes I like to curl up in a ball (Vicki Churchill)
• Pirate Cruncher (Jonny Duddle)
• Oh Boris (Carrie Weston)
• Hugless Douglas (David Melling)
• Dog Did It (Lynne Garner)
• Augustus and his Smile (Catherine Raynor)

First chapter

• The Jolley-Rogers and the Ghostly Galleon (Jonny Duddle)
• Ferno the Fire Dragon - Beast Quest book 1 (Adam Blade)
• Ottoline (Chris Riddell)

Lower Middle Grade

• Cosmic (Frank Cottrell Boyce)
• The Case of the Stolen Sixpence - Maisie Hitchins book 1 (Holly Webb)
• The Jamie Drake Equation (Christopher Edge)
• The Boy who fell down Exit 43 (Harriet Goodwin)

Upper Middle Grade

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (JK Rowling)
• Mortal Engines (Philip Reeve)
• Murder Most Unladylike (Robin Stevens)

Young Adult

• The Knife of Never Letting Go (Patrick Ness) – sci fi
• Savage Island or Raising Hell (Bryony Pearce) - horror
• The Gifted the Talented and Me (Will Sutcliffe) - comedy
• Noughts and Crosses (Malorie Blackman) – issues / dystopian
• The Court of Thorns and Roses (Sarah J Maas) – fantasy / romance

Reading on Writing

• Lamott, A (1995)  Bird by Bird , Anchor Books
• Yorke, J (2008)  Into the Woods , Penguin Books
• Spufford, F (2002)  The Child that Books Built , Faber and Faber
• Pullman, P (2017),  Dæmon Voices , David Fickling Books
• Kole, Mary (2012),  Writing Irresistible Kidlit , Writers’ Digest Books

Bryony Pearce

Bryony Pearce is a multi-award-winning novelist working in both the YA and Adult markets.

In the YA genre she has produced a mixture of dark thrillers, paranormal adventures and horror and currently has nine published novels: Angel’s Fury , The Weight of Souls , Phoenix Rising, Phoenix Burning , Wavefunction , Windrunner’s Daughter , Savage Island , Cruel Castle and Raising Hell .

For the adult market she writes domestic noir for Avon (Harper Collins) and her debut, The Girl on the Platform was published in 2021.

Bryony also writes short stories, which have been published in a number of anthologies.

She visits schools to talk about reading and writing and conducts creative writing workshops, as well as delivering entertaining and inspirational talks. Among other events, she has performed at the Edinburgh Literary Festival, YALC and Comicon appears regularly at the Sci Fi Weekender.

Bryony also works as a consultant and mentor for Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and The Writing Coach.

She currently lives in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire has two children and when she isn’t reading or writing, can usually be found drinking wine, learning the cello and providing a taxi service for her children!

Have a question?

• Make an enquiry
• +44 (0)20 7040 8268

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