writing for children
and teens

Writing for Children and Teens Course Overview

Aspire to write children’s books, but haven’t found that perfect course on writing children’s books? Well, look no further! Institute for Writers offers the best course on writing children’s books that’ll help you in learning how to write children’s literature or story books.

Our signature, customized writing course for those interested in learning how to write and market children’s stories and articles. Students learn techniques of good writing, develop the ability to direct writing to specific readers, and undertake projects that match their skills and interests to editorial needs of publishers of material for children. Students write and review three article/story outlines targeted to specific magazines and websites as well as one magazine manuscript up to 1,500 words suitable to submit to a publisher.

Our courses are designed for you to set your own pace. The average student takes about 220 hours to complete all assignments. Although most students complete this course in 18 months, ICL allows up to 2 years to complete Writing for Children and Teens.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

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.

binder_small
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens 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 Writing for Children and Teens Course

Book Markets for Children’s Writers, edited by Marni McNiff; IFW Publishing, Annual edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-28-4, 2024.

Offers a complete roadmap to the changing world of publishing. In addition to 675 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.

2024 Book Market Guide for Children's Writers - Institute of Children's Literature
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and
Teens Course

From Inspiration to Publication, IFW Publishing, ISBN 978-1-889715-58-2.

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.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, 4th edition, ISBN 978-0205309023, 2000.

A classic manual on the principles of English language. Decidedly the most practical handbook of grammar, correct usage, punctuation, and effective writing techniques.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

Searching: a Research Guide for Writers, IFW Publications, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-13-0.

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.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children
and Teens Course

Supplementary Instructional Materials, IFW Publications:
Talk Abouts.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

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.

binder_small
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

From Inspiration to Publication, IFW Publishing, ISBN 978-1-889715-58-2.

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.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens 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 Writing for Children and Teens Course

Book Markets for Children’s Writers, edited b Marni McNiff; IFW Publishing, Annual edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-28-4, 2024.

Offers a complete roadmap to the changing world of publishing. In addition to 675 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.

2024 Book Market Guide for Children's Writers - Institute of Children's Literature
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, 4th edition, ISBN 978-0205309023, 2000.

A classic manual on the principles of English language. Decidedly the most practical handbook of grammar, correct usage, punctuation, and effective writing techniques.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

Searching: a Research Guide for Writers, IFW Publications, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-13-0.

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.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens 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-27-1-1536x1024
IFW-3-1-1536x864

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 Writing for Children and Teens 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.

Writing for Children and Teens
Course Details

Our Writing for Children’s and Teens Course is designed to teach you how to write and market children’s stories, articles, and books.

IFW 13

Goals & Objectives

  • Define personal writing goals and work with one-on-one mentor to accomplish them
  • Identify and develop the techniques of good writing and apply them to own writing
  • Plan and develop ongoing writing projects that match writing skills and interest to editorial needs
  • Develop the ability to direct writing to specific readers and publishers. Gain knowledge that will lead to:

a.       survey and analyze the current children’s magazine and book publishers’ requirements
b.      use interest and experiences as salable idea sources
c.       revise and polish writing to prepare for submission
d.      approach publishers with manuscripts that meet current specifications

curriculum

Outline

A beginning course in teaching students how to write for children and teens, and how to market their writing to publishers

Part 1 – Getting Started (Writing Assignments (1-3)
You are introduced to current markets for children’s stories and articles. At the same time, you’ll develop basic fiction and nonfiction writing skills and learn the discipline of staying within a specified word count.

Part 2 – Targeting the Market (Writing Assignments 4-7)
You learn to target your manuscripts for specific age levels and magazines while refining the writing skills you developed in Part 1.

Part 3 – Choose your own Adventure (Writing Assignments 8-10)
Magazine Article – If it’s for the magazine market, you’ll tailor a story or article to fit the requirements of the publishers you select. Your instructor edits your work and evaluates its suitability for those markets or recommends alternatives.

OR

A Children’s Book—If your personal goal is a book, you’ll analyze publishers’ requirements, prepare an outline, and submit your draft (picture book up to 500 words or early reader 500-1,500 words) to your instructor for review.

Overview

1.  Story based on picture AND Autobiographical letter
2.  Story based on word list
3.  Description of a place recalled from childhood targeted to a young reader
4.  Nonfiction article with market choices
5.  External character description AND 350-word internal character description
6.  Story based on character with market choices
7.  Nonfiction article, query letter AND Revisions of previous assignments
8.  Three story and/or article outlines, with market choices
9.  Complete story or article with query or cover letter
10A. Final story or article with market choices OR Outline/synopsis of proposed book
10B. Either the first two or three chapters of your novel, or a draft of a picture book up to 500 words, or early reader book up to 1500 words.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

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.

binder_small
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens 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 Writing for Children and Teens Course

Book Markets for Children’s Writers, edited by Marni McNiff; IFW Publishing, Annual edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-28-4, 2024.

Offers a complete roadmap to the changing world of publishing. In addition to 675 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.

2024 Book Market Guide for Children's Writers - Institute of Children's Literature
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and
Teens Course

From Inspiration to Publication, IFW Publishing, ISBN 978-1-889715-58-2.

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.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, 4th edition, ISBN 978-0205309023, 2000.

A classic manual on the principles of English language. Decidedly the most practical handbook of grammar, correct usage, punctuation, and effective writing techniques.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

Searching: a Research Guide for Writers, IFW Publications, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-13-0.

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.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children
and Teens Course

Supplementary Instructional Materials, IFW Publications:
Talk Abouts.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

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.

binder_small
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

From Inspiration to Publication, IFW Publishing, ISBN 978-1-889715-58-2.

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.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens 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 Writing for Children and Teens Course

Book Markets for Children’s Writers, edited b Marni McNiff; IFW Publishing, Annual edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-28-4, 2024.

Offers a complete roadmap to the changing world of publishing. In addition to 675 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.

2024 Book Market Guide for Children's Writers - Institute of Children's Literature
IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, 4th edition, ISBN 978-0205309023, 2000.

A classic manual on the principles of English language. Decidedly the most practical handbook of grammar, correct usage, punctuation, and effective writing techniques.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

Searching: a Research Guide for Writers, IFW Publications, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-13-0.

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.

IFW Background   Email14

Material Included in your Writing for Children and Teens Course

Supplementary Instructional Materials, IFW Publications:
Talk Abouts.

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

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.

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.

2024 Book Market Guide for Children's Writers - Institute of Children's Literature

Book Markets for Children’s Writers, edited by Marni McNiff; IFW Publishing, Annual edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-28-4, 2024.

Offers a complete roadmap to the changing world of publishing. In addition to 675 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.

From Inspiration to Publication

From Inspiration to Publication, IFW Publications, ISBN 978-1-889715-58-2.

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.

Elements of Style Book IFW

The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, 4th edition, ISBN 978-0205309023, 2000.

A classic manual on the principles of English language. Decidedly the most practical handbook of grammar, correct usage, punctuation, and effective writing techniques.

Searching Book IFW

Searching: a Research Guide for Writers, IFW Publications, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-13-0.

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.

Black IFW Pen Blog

Supplementary Instructional Materials, IFW Publishing: Talk Abouts.

Writing for Children and Teens Course Tuition Rates

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

Enroll for $99 Down – Use Promo Code IFW

Begin Your Writing Journey