Writing for Children & Teens. How to write for children, How to get published, write a query letter
Writing for Children & Teens. How to write for children, How to get published, write a query letter. Mobile view

Ideal For

Beginner/Intermediate writers

Time

220 hours

2 years

Tuition

Full Pay $1,515

Monthly $79

Ideal For

Beginner/Intermediate writers

Time

220 hours

2 years

Tuition

Full Pay $1,515

Monthly $79

How To Write For Children

Your course for one-on-one, personalized mentorship

Perfect for any aspiring writer ready to learn how to write for children and how to get published.  Students enrolled in this course benefit from a proven process that teaches essential writing techniques, shows how apply them to your specific manuscripts, and how to target your manuscripts to the right children’s markets.   

With the guidance of your one-on-one instructor, you’ll learn how to write for children, and how to get published by preparing marketable work for publishers and editors. The effectiveness of this course comes from the highly personalized relationship between student and instructor. The instructor develops a tailored teaching plan based on your beginning skill level, working as a team to achieve your writing objectives. 

View Curriculum

How To Write For Children

Your course for one-on-one, personalized mentorship

Perfect for any aspiring writer ready to learn how to write for children and how to get published.  Students enrolled in this course benefit from a proven process that teaches essential writing techniques, shows how apply them to your specific manuscripts, and how to target your manuscripts to the right children’s markets.   

With the guidance of your one-on-one instructor, you’ll learn how to write for children, and how to get published by preparing marketable work for publishers and editors. The effectiveness of this course comes from the highly personalized relationship between student and instructor. The instructor develops a tailored teaching plan based on your beginning skill level, working as a team to achieve your writing objectives. 

View Curriculum

Meet your instructor

Guides to great writing

Where you'll see our published grads

Why Writing for Children and Teens?

CUSTOMIZED LEARNING

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK

CONFIDENCE BUILDING

ACCOUNTABILITY

WORK AT YOUR OWN PACE

PATH TO PUBLISHING

CUSTOMIZED LEARNING

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK

CONFIDENCE BUILDING

ACCOUNTABILITY

WORK AT YOUR OWN PACE

PATH TO PUBLISHING

CUSTOMIZED LEARNING

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK

CONFIDENCE BUILDING

ACCOUNTABILITY

WORK AT YOUR OWN PACE

PATH TO PUBLISHING

Curriculum Overview

Learn The Basics

Find Your Market

Choose Your Own Adventure

1

Pre-Thinking: Start with an idea

500 to 750-word story based on a picture and autobiographical letter.

4

Nonfiction: Articles have their own structure, too

500 to 1,000-word nonfiction article.

8

Plan your story: Map out three story or article ideas

Develop 3 outlines for stories, articles, or a combination of both. Include up to three market choices for each outline.

2

Building a story: Each story has a structure

500 to 1,000-word story based on a word list.

5

Characterization: Creating characters that connect with your reader

5A: People your story with characters we can see.

5B: People your story with characters we understand.

9

Develop the plot: Write and revise one story (or article) plan

Complete 1 story or article based on a chosen outline from Assignment 8. Include a query letter and goals update letter.

3

Setting: A story takes place somewhere

500-word description of a specific place recalled from childhood and goals update letter.

6

Conflict: A character needs a dilemma

500 to 1,200-word story based on Assignment 5 character with market choice and goals update letter.

10

Pull all your skills together for a story or article

Submit an article or story with three magazine choices and write a query letter.
This is the final assignment for those who do not select the book option.

7

Revision: Revisit an assignment and revise

Revision of assignment 1,2,4 or 6.

10A

Get started on a book synopsis

Outline for fiction or nonfiction picture or MG/YA book with age level, chapter outline (if applicable), and 200 to 300-word synopsis.

10B

Write your first two chapters

Submit a complete picture book manuscript or two or three sample chapters of a MG/YA novel with publisher choice and query letter.

Learn The Basics

1

Pre-Thinking: Start with an idea

500 to 750-word story based on a picture and autobiographical letter.

2

Building a story: Each story has a structure

500 to 1,000-word story based on a word list.

3

Setting: A story takes place somewhere

500-word description of a specific place recalled from childhood and goals update letter.

Find Your Market

4

Nonfiction: Articles have their own structure, too

500 to 1,000-word nonfiction article.

5

Characterization: Creating characters that connect with your reader

5A: People your story with characters we can see.

5B: People your story with characters we understand

6

Conflict: A character needs a dilemma

500 to 1,200-word story based on Assignment 5 character with market choice and goals update letter.

7

Revision: Revisit an assignment and revise

Revision of assignment 1,2,4 or 6.

Choose Your Own Adventure

8

Plan your story: Map out three story or article ideas

Develop 3 outlines for stories, articles, or a combination of both. Include up to three market choices for each outline.

9

Develop the plot: Write and revise one story (or article) plan

Complete 1 story or article based on a chosen outline from Assignment 8. Write a query letter and goals update letter.

10

Pull all your skills together for a story or article

Submit an article or story with three magazine choices and write a query letter.
This is the final assignment for those who do not select the book option.

10A

Get started on a book synopsis

Outline for fiction or nonfiction picture or MG/YA book with age level, chapter outline (if applicable), and 200 to 300-word synopsis.

10B

Write your first two chapters

Submit a complete picture book manuscript or two or three sample chapters of a MG/YA novel with publisher choice and query letter.

Enroll Now

Materials Included In
Writing For Children & Teens

With real textbooks and guides that maintain their value for years, you’ll gain practical knowledge on how to write fiction and nonfiction, prepare a character study, develop a descriptive sketch, write a query letter to an editor, and how to write a picture book for youngest readers or the opening chapters of a book.

From Inspiration to Publication IFW Publishing Offers a wealth of practical advice on every aspect of writing for young adults. From Inspiration to Publication is a distillation of over 50 years of teaching individuals how to write for children and teens, and how to market and sell. It is the best treatment of the subject in print. The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White,
4th Edition A classic manual on the principles of English language. Decidedly the most practical handbook of grammar, correct usage, punctuation, and effective writing techniques. Searching: a Research Guide for Writers IFW Publications, 6th edition Prepared especially for our students, this handbook introduces a variety of sources and methods available for tracking down information, an indispensable guide to research resources. Writing for Children and Teens Course Manual IFW Publishing The Instruction Manual published exclusively for our students. It contains assignments, idea generators, planning guides, writing and revision techniques and guidelines for preparing a book submission package. Supplementary Instructional Materials IFW Publications: Talk Abouts How to Become a children’s author, scooters girl Running Girl. how to become a children's author

2024 Market Guides

Published annually by The Institute with you in mind. Our 2024 Market Guides offer a complete roadmap to the changing world of publishing for children’s books and magazines. With over 1,200 listings for children’s publishers, you’ll have the inside scoop on what print and digital publishers are looking for in 2024.

“The Writing for Children and Teens course has been helpful in developing the skills I've always wanted to hone. It has put me one step closer to achieving my goal of being a published author.”
- Samantha Altizer
"This course gave me clear examples on how to improve my writing. The assignments brought me out of my comfort zone to explore new ideas and concepts. I would definitely recommend this course for anyone looking to write for children or teens.”
- Laura Baker
“This course is wonderful. I have enjoyed all of the assignments and I have learned so much. I am feeling more confident about my writing. My instructor was amazing to work with. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in writing for children's magazines or books.”
- Erin Clemens
“The Writing for Children and Teens course has been helpful in developing the skills I've always wanted to hone. It has put me one step closer to achieving my goal of being a published author.”
- Samantha Altizer
"This course gave me clear examples on how to improve my writing. The assignments brought me out of my comfort zone to explore new ideas and concepts. I would definitely recommend this course for anyone looking to write for children or teens.”
- Laura Baker
“This course is wonderful. I have enjoyed all of the assignments and I have learned so much. I am feeling more confident about my writing. My instructor was amazing to work with. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in writing for children's magazines or books.”
- Erin Clemens

Tuition

Full Pay

$1,515
  • Fastest Completion Time
  • Access To All Assignments
  • Total $1,515
ENROLL
A single one time payment for the total tuition price of: $1,515

Payment Plan I

$79/month
  • Most Popular
  • $99 down, 17 monthly payments of $79, final payment of $73
  • Total $1,515
ENROLL
17 Month autopay plan requires down payment of $99.00 due at enrollment and 17 equal monthly payments of $79.00 with a final payment of $73.00. Total tuition price: $1,515

Payment Plan II

$59/month
  • Lowest Monthly Payments
  • $99 down, 24 monthly payments of $59
  • Total $1,515
ENROLL
24 Month autopay plan requires down payment of $99.00 due at enrollment and 24 equal monthly payments of $59.00. Total tuition price: $1,515

Full Pay

$1,515
  • Fastest Completion Time
  • Access To All Assignments
  • Total $1,515
ENROLL
A single one time payment for the total tuition price of: $1,515

Payment Plan I

$79/month
  • Most Popular
  • $99 down, 17 monthly payments of $79, final payment of $73
  • Total $1,515
ENROLL
17 Month autopay plan requires down payment of $99.00 due at enrollment and 17 equal monthly payments of $79.00 with a final payment of $73.00. Total tuition price: $1,515

Payment Plan II

$59/month
  • Lowest Monthly Payments
  • $99 down, 24 monthly payments of $59
  • Total $1,515
ENROLL
24 Month autopay plan requires down payment of $99.00 due at enrollment and 24 equal monthly payments of $59.00. Total tuition price: $1,515

METHOD OF PAYMENT: Pay using your credit or debit card! We accept Visa, Discover, Master Card and American Express.

10 DAY NO-RISK TRIAL: Our goal is to provide you with the writing skills and knowledge needed in today’s publishing industry. We are confident that you will enjoy our writing courses so we offer you a 10 day no-risk trial! If for some reason you are unsure or dissatisfied, we’ve got you covered. The Institute For Writers Student Protection Policy:

  • You have 10 days once you enroll in your course to change your mind. If you’re not completely satisfied, simply notify us, return the materials and get a FULL REFUND. It’s that easy.
  • After 10 days, you have the ability to cancel your course at any time. Whether you have paid in full or on a monthly payment plan, you qualify for our Student Refund Policy.
    REFUND POLICY: Our student service team focuses on student satisfaction. However, if you choose not to continue your writing course, we offer a refund policy. Cancellations within the first 5 days of enrollment receive a full refund. After the first 5 days your refund amount is based on: Tuition collected, Lessons completed, and Enrollment date. Learn more about our refund policy.