Beyond The Basics

Beyond the Basics: Creating and Selling Short Stories and Articles Overview

Beyond the Basics is designed to train you for independent, professional-level work. By the time you finish this course you will complete at least four manuscripts that are suitable for submission to magazine editors. The course teaches the development, writing, and revision of three articles and/or stories suitable for submission to current children’s publications. The emphasis is on targeting writing to editorial needs including advanced work in researching, planning, writing, self-editing, and creating submissions directed to meet editorial specifications of children’s magazines.

Our courses are designed for you to set your own pace. The average student takes about 395 hours to complete all assignments. Although most students complete this course in 18 months, ICL allows up to 2 years to complete Beyond the Basics: Creating and Selling Short Stories and Articles.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Beyond the Basics Course

Beyond the Basics: Creating and Selling Short Stories and Articles 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.

binder_small
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Beyond the Basics Course

Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers, edited by Marni McNiff; IFW Publishing, Annual edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-27-7, 2024

Offers a complete roadmap to the changing world of publishing — get the inside scoop on what print and digital publishers are looking for in 2024. In addition to 608 new and updated listings, you’ll find bonus articles to boost your knowledge of the industry and increase your odds of getting published. Plus, you’ll find sections devoted to helping you create a polished submissions package including how to write and format a query letter and how to properly format your manuscript so you can make a professional impression on publishers.

Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers by Institute for Writers
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Beyond the Basics

First-Time Authors, IFW Publications.

An anthology of 64 children’s writers first published pieces with comments from authors and editors.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Beyond the Basics Course

Supplementary Instructional Materials, IFW Publishing:
Talk Abouts.

IFW Background   Email14

Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel Course Manual, IFW Publications.

The Course Manual is your road map to a finished novel. Step by Step, with your instructor by your side, it will lead you through the process of writing a novel.

binder_small
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel Course

The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing, 3rd Edition, Writer’s Digest Books.

This handbook includes dozens of essays by masters of the novel. You'll learn from established writers about how to make your novel a reality. Discover techniques and strategies for generating ideas, connecting with readers emotionally, and finding inspiration you need to finish your work.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel Course

Novel and Short Story Writer Market: he Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published, Amy Jones, editor, ISBN-13: 978-0593332078.

The Novel and Short Story Writer Market book will help unlock the secret of a successful submission package for an editor or agent. You’ll use this market directory in conjunction with outside research and your instructor’s suggestions to determine exactly what to include and where to send your submission package.

Novel-Short-Story-Writers-Market-40th-Edition-min
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel Course

Supplementary Instructional Materials, IFW Publications:
Talk Abouts.

Why Choose IFW

  • Customized – one-on-one mentor
  • Reputable – time-tested, quality curriculum
  • Affordable – tuition payment plans available
  • Flexible – write anytime, anywhere, at your own pace
  • Approved – earn college credits
IFW 27 1 scaled
IFW 3 1 scaled

Save On Your Tuition

The Institute for Writers makes it easy for you to receive a high quality writing program at an affordable rate. Everything you need to complete Beyond the Basics Course is included in your tuition. Choose which payment option best fits your needs.

College Credits

College Credits and Professional Development Hours: The Connecticut Board for State Academic Awards recommends that our graduates be awarded 6 college credits. No matter where you live, you can obtain these credits from Charter Oak State College—which functions under the credit-granting authority of the Connecticut Board—for a fee anytime within five years of your completion of the Institute’s course. You can have Charter Oak “transcript” these credits to any college, university, or school board. Teachers may be able to receive professional development hours. Check with your district or administrators.

Beyond the Basics: Creating and Selling
Short Stories and Articles Course Details

An Advanced Writing Program for Selected Graduates, Beyond the Basics: Creating and Selling Short Stories and Articles emphasis is squarely on writing that is targeted to editorial needs, and on selling your writing.

IFW 13

Course Goals & Objectives

1. Development of writing skills with particular focus on meeting the standards of the children’s magazine market
2. Write four to six submittable manuscripts targeted to suitable magazine markets
3. Analyze, in depth, the needs of the current children’s magazine market
4. Create fiction and nonfiction ideas to meet publishers’ needs
5. Prepare drafts and revise manuscripts tailored to the requirements of specific magazines
6. Plan and develop on-going writing projects

curriculum

Outline

This course gives you advanced training to increase your prospects for success as a fiction/nonfiction writer for children’s and teen magazines.

Part 1
You’ll sharpen your skills, master new techniques, and update and broaden your knowledge as you create salable fiction or nonfiction for specific markets.

Part 2
Refine and expand your writing, revising, and marketing skills. You’ll be introduced to advanced techniques for writing fiction and nonfiction.

Part 3
Polish your writing and marketing skills to a professional level, with publication as your goal.

Overview

1. Autobiographical letter and story or article
2. New article or story, with 2 market choices, query letter with article
3. Revision of Assignment 1 or 2 and note updating goals
4. Two story or article proposals with market choices and the first 100 words of each piece
5. Complete manuscript developed from Assignment 4 proposal: query letter with article
6. New manuscript with market choices or revision of an earlier manuscript and proposal for a new story or article with market choices and note updating goals
7. Manuscript developed from Assignment 6 proposal and new proposal for Assignment 8 with market choices
8. Manuscript developed from Assignment 7 proposal or revision of an earlier story or article and note describing next project

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Beyond the Basics Course

Beyond the Basics: Creating and Selling Short Stories and Articles 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.

binder_small
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Beyond the Basics Course

Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers, edited by Marni McNiff; IFW Publishing, Annual edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-27-7, 2024

Offers a complete roadmap to the changing world of publishing — get the inside scoop on what print and digital publishers are looking for in 2024. In addition to 608 new and updated listings, you’ll find bonus articles to boost your knowledge of the industry and increase your odds of getting published. Plus, you’ll find sections devoted to helping you create a polished submissions package including how to write and format a query letter and how to properly format your manuscript so you can make a professional impression on publishers.

Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers by Institute for Writers
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Beyond the Basics

First-Time Authors, IFW Publications.

An anthology of 64 children’s writers first published pieces with comments from authors and editors.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Beyond the Basics Course

Supplementary Instructional Materials, IFW Publishing:
Talk Abouts.

IFW Background   Email14

Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel Course Manual, IFW Publications.

The Course Manual is your road map to a finished novel. Step by Step, with your instructor by your side, it will lead you through the process of writing a novel.

binder_small
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel Course

The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing, 3rd Edition, Writer’s Digest Books.

This handbook includes dozens of essays by masters of the novel. You'll learn from established writers about how to make your novel a reality. Discover techniques and strategies for generating ideas, connecting with readers emotionally, and finding inspiration you need to finish your work.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel Course

Novel and Short Story Writer Market: he Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published, Amy Jones, editor, ISBN-13: 978-0593332078.

The Novel and Short Story Writer Market book will help unlock the secret of a successful submission package for an editor or agent. You’ll use this market directory in conjunction with outside research and your instructor’s suggestions to determine exactly what to include and where to send your submission package.

Novel-Short-Story-Writers-Market-40th-Edition-min
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel Course

Supplementary Instructional Materials, IFW Publications:
Talk Abouts.

With ICL, all course materials are included. Details below:
binder_small

Beyond the Basics: Creating and Selling Short Stories and Articles, 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.

Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers by Institute for Writers

Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers, edited by Marni McNiff; IFW Publishing, Annual edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-27-7, 2024.

Offers a complete roadmap to the changing world of publishing — get the inside scoop on what print and digital publishers are looking for in 2024. In addition to 608 new and updated listings, you’ll find bonus articles to boost your knowledge of the industry and increase your odds of getting published. Plus, you’ll find sections devoted to helping you create a polished submissions package including how to write and format a query letter and how to properly format your manuscript so you can make a professional impression on publishers.

First Time Authors 1

First-Time Authors, IFW Publications.

An anthology of 64 children’s writers first published pieces with comments from authors and editors.

Black IFW Pen Blog

Supplementary Instructional Materials, IFW Publishing: Talk Abouts.

Beyond the Basics: Creating and Selling Short Stories and Articles Course Tuition

The Institute of Children’s Literature makes it easy for you to receive a high quality writing program at an affordable rate. Everything you need to complete your Writing for Children and Teens course is included in your course tuition. Choose which payment option best fits your needs.

Full Pay

$ 1,229 Full Pay
  • Highest Savings
  • Access to all Assignments
  • Save $286 with promo code IFW, Total $1,229

Payment Plan I

$ 79 Monthly
  • Most Popular
  • $99 Down, 16 monthly payments of $79
  • Save $152 with promo code IFW, Total $1,363

Payment Plan II

$ 59 Monthly
  • Lowest Monthly Payments
  • $99 Down, 24 monthly payments of $59
  • Total $1,515

Specifically designed for ICL graduates (Instructor Recommendation Only)

Enroll for just $99 Down – Use Promo Code IFW