Studying at York
Writing Children's Fiction - CED00206C
- Department: Centre for Lifelong Learning
- Credit value: 10 credits
- Credit level: C
- Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
Module summary
This module aims to introduce writers to the skills required to write fiction for children. With a focus on longform fiction, the step by step process of developing age-appropriate prose will be addressed, with reference to considerations such as plot, conflict, character creation and world building. Students will be encouraged to share work, reflect on insights and feedback, and apply new knowledge back to writing. Both classic and contemporary children's novels will be discussed, and although the focus lies with longer works, we will also refer to examples from picture books and fairytales.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
To introduce students to the specific skills required when writing fiction for children and to:
- Introduce students to aspects of creative plotting through reading, exercises, discussion and relevant criticism.
- Explore the ways in which authors achieve specific effects for their readers, with reference to writing for a target age group.
- Facilitate the writing of new material through structured writing exercises.
- Foster self-awareness in the use of structure and students’ ability to edit and redraft their own work.
- Provide a space for students to give and receive constructive feedback.
- Cultivate the enjoyment of reading, writing and analysing novels.
- Promote critical thinking and the ability to make arguments supported by the close reading of texts and consideration of broader structure.
And also to:
- Begin to use language precisely.
- Realise the importance of writing to engage children with reading.
- Begin to develop confidence in writing abilities
- Promote and nurture skills in critically analysing the work of others and their own work.
- Realise the importance of revision, redrafting and editing.
Module learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the module, students will:
- Have gained a basic understanding of the writing strands existing in the children’s literature market.
- Be aware of opportunities for writers within that market.
- Understand how to use language appropriately in children’s fiction.
- Be able to critically discuss their own and other students’ writing for children.
- Be able to reflect on and revise their work.
- Create characters, description, plots and dialogue that is age and theme appropriate.
- Have produced writing that fits the essential requirements of the market.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
The tutor will give regular individual verbal and written feedback throughout the module on work submitted.
The assessment feedback is as per the university’s guidelines with regard to timings.
Indicative reading
- Beauvais, Clementine. Complete Writing for Children Course. Teach Yourself. 2014.
- Boulter, Amanda. Writing fiction: creative and critical approaches. Palgrave Macmillan. 2007.
- Cameron, Julia. The Artist’s Way. Tarcherperigee. 1990.
- Mullan, John. 2006. Ch 2 / ch6 of How Novels Work. Oxford University Press. 2006.
- Rundell, Katherine. Why You Should Read Children’s Books, Even Though You Are So Old And Wise. Bloomsbury. 2019.
- Snyder, Blake. 2005. Save the cat! The last book on screenwriting you’ll ever need. M Wiese Productions 2005.
- Tobias R. 20 Master Plots and How to Build Them . 2nd pbk. ed. Writer’s Digest Books; 1993.
- Winter, A. P. Writing Children’s Fiction: Sceneplay : A Scene-based approach to better stories; 2021.