Are you crafting a story for young people? Do you aspire to write children's and middle-grade books that will sit on bookshelves next to writers such as Jacqueline Wilson, Emma Carroll and David Almond? Or powerful YA novels reminiscent of Patrick Ness, Dean Atta and Malorie Blackman?
The stories we read when we are young shape us. This June, join us for a six-week online course (including a reading week) to help develop your craft and work towards the publication of your children's book. Lesley Parr, award-winning writer of children's fiction including The Valley of Lost Secrets and Fallout will be using practical exercises, discussion and sharing opportunities to help you shape your book. She will be delving into the writing process, helping you create memorable characters, build a world, and structure your story. Students can also expect her to share insight into the children's book market and how to improve your chances of getting your work published.
The course has been designed to benefit children's fiction, middle-grade and YA authors* at all stages of their writing journey, so whether you have an initial idea and want to know where to start, or have a full draft and need help with revising and making it the best it can possibly be, this is the course for you.
The sessions will run online via video conferencing software, with homework assignment deadlines in place for the following week.
All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the latest edition of the Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook as well as Lesley's latest book.
Schedule - Tuesday 20th October - Tuesday 24th November
Week One: The Children's Book World
Tuesday 20th October
- What it is and how your writing fits in
- Age ranges
- Word counts and content
- Themes, trends and genres
Week Two: Getting Started and Keeping Going
Tuesday 27th October
- To plan or not to plan
- Stimulating ideas
- Ways to get unstuck
- Building confidence
- Finding a community of writers
Week Three: Character Development
Tuesday 3rd November
- Creating memorable and believable characters
- Viewpoints
- Authorial and character voice
- Dialogue
- Character motivation
Week Four: Reading Week
Tuesday 10th November
This will not be a teaching week. Instead, students will have an opportunity to read a short children's book or excerpt set by Lesley, and encouraged to work on their writing, prompted by this.
Week Five: The Story
Tuesday 17th November
- The messy first draft
- Plot and structure
- Settings/ worldbuilding
- Pace
Week Six: Shaping up for Publication
Tuesday 24th November
- Editing
- Query package
- Improving your chances
- Synopsis
All sessions will include exercises, discussions and sharing time. You will explore and analyse the work of others (including published authors) as well as your own. Writing at home and sharing your work in sessions is encouraged (though not compulsory); this course will provide a supportive environment to acquire valuable feedback and develop your own critiquing skills.
Testimonials
"I recommend taking part in this course through Writers and Artists. Lesley Parr is a great facilitator: she is personable and very real and her passion for writing comes through very strongly. It was fascinating (& reassuring) to hear her talk about writing and then to relate it to her own methods. I looked forward to the course every week & came away feeling incredibly motivated and also validated as someone who can feel like a writer. There was some great work shared over the weeks by participants on the course based on our writing tasks. I was also inspired to read some excellent books as a result of attending!" 2025 attendee
"I thought the course was incredibly helpful, accessible and that it was presented extremely well. I was grateful for the range of areas covered and also how Lesley unpacked each of them. I left feeling inspired, more confident and armed with new knowledge that will really help to develop and progress my writing journey further. Lesley really brought the course to life and she was very clear, concise, encouraging and was great at illuminating the reality of ‘writing for children’ in a refreshing and thoughtful way." Esther Fowler
"Lesley Parr provided excellent insights into every aspect of writing a children's book." Chris Monks
"Lesley Parr and the W&A team delivered a thoroughly enjoyable, informative and engaging course. I was so sad when it ended but I go forward with greater confidence, knowledge and skills. I feel excited to continue working on my middle-grade, fantasy children's book." 2024 Course Attendee
"Really enjoyable and good content, thank you for putting it together! Lesley was really nice and very supportive of everyone in the course." Francesca Goff
*Please note that this course does not cover picture books or illustration. Please contact [email protected] for guidance on upcoming events that focus on writing and/or illustrating children's picture books
Lesley Parr grew up in a South Wales steel town. Her debut, The Valley of Lost Secrets, published in 2021 and was a Waterstones Book of the Month, longlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, and shortlisted for both the Branford Boase and UKLA awards. Lesley’s books have won the Tir na n-Og Award (2022,2024) and Wales Children’s Book of the Year (2023), amongst others. All four of her longer novels so far have received CILIP Carnegie Medal nominations, and she has written shorter fiction for a dyslexia-friendly publisher. A former primary school teacher, she holds an MA with distinction in Writing for Young People. Lesley now lives in England with her husband and rescue cat, Ramsay. She shares her time between writing stories, tutoring adults and shouting at rugby on the TV.
The course fee of £350 (incl. VAT). This fee is payable in full online, though please note that payment instalment plans are available for all W&A events, writing courses and editing services. Contact W&A Admin on [email protected] so that we can find a payment schedule that works for you.
If this event is Sold Out, please look out for other writing courses by visiting our Events homepage.
This is a live online course which will be presented using video conferencing software. Joining instructions and full guidance will be provided by the W&A Team a week before the event start-date. Event timings are UK Time.
Course materials will be made available to attendees for a time-limited period after the event at the author's discretion.
To view our event refund and cancellation policy, please click here.
Accessible to All
It’s of real importance to Writers & Artists that our events and courses remain accessible to all.
- Writers & Artists has made one bursary place available for this event as part of our accessibility scheme. Please visit our bursaries page for further information about how to apply. Please note, this bursary place has now been assigned.
- Payment instalment plans are available for all W&A events, writing courses and editing services. Contact W&A Admin on [email protected] so that we can find a payment schedule that works for you.
- A link to a recording of the course will be circulated each week. This will be made available to course attendees only, and for a time-limited period.
- This course will include written text and visuals. Please contact us in advance so that we can make arrangements to be sure all documents appear in a format that works for you.
- If you’d like to attend but have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, then please email [email protected]