Writing for Children and Young Adults
Tuesdays, beginning February 16
You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children. – Madeline L’Engle
Many people think that writing for children is easier than writing for adults. Give it a good moral, throw in some talking bears (and maybe a boy wizard!), and you’ve got an instant hit.
As adults, we sometimes forget how sharp, imaginative, and slyly witty children can be, and what rich inner worlds they have. In order to write for children, not only must we not underestimate them, but we must also be able to travel back in time and put ourselves once again in the shoes of a five year old, a fourth grader, or a teen.
Like any great fiction, successful children’s stories must have all the elements of craft: plot, subplot, conflict, structure, voice, characterization, dialogue, and point-of-view. In this class, we’ll discuss the necessary ingredients for great children’s and young adult literature, read examples of some of the finest literature for different age groups, and workshop our own drafts.
In the workshop component of the class, you’ll share your work and receive critical feedback to help you move forward. You will also receive extensive instructor comments. (Students do not need any prepared stories before the course begins!)
Who should attend: Anyone who is interested in writing for children or young adults, from those with a completed story to those who have not yet put pen to paper.
About the Instructor: M. Molly Backes has often been accused of being stuck in junior high. Her YA novel The Princesses of Iowa is forthcoming from Candlewick Press. A graduate of Grinnell College, Molly taught writing in New Mexico where she got 150 middle schoolers to write novels with her for National Novel Writing Month. She recently moved to Chicago and found her way into the Advanced Fiction Workshop. These days, in addition to teaching and tutoring writing, she works as the Assistant Director at StoryStudio Chicago where she’ll be happy to answer all your questions about life, the universe, and all our classes.