An eye-opening and inspirational introduction to the nuts and bolts of writing for children.

Learn all about the genres, formats, styles, and word counts required for children's and young adult books. This workshop will demystify the writing process and the publishing industry for this exciting and rewarding slice of the book world.

Aleesah will explain who the major players are in the children’s publishing industry, what the formats and word lengths are for various age groups and genres, what types of stories publishers are looking for, how to format your manuscript, and who to send your work to. She'll explain how to get your start in writing and how to network and connect with other creatives, organisations, publishers and agents, plus much more! This session is suitable for adults wishing to write picture books, chapter books, novels, and series, for children and young adults.

Handouts and writing exercises will be included. Bring a sample of your work to read for constructive feedback.

Learning outcomes

In this workshop, participants will learn more about:

Sourcing and developing ideas
Narrative structures
Genres, age groups/stages, styles
Appropriate word lengths
Formatting manuscripts
Opportunities & markets
Industry overview: publishers & agents
The submission process.

Format

This is an in-person workshop with a focus on writing craft and industry information; it will be held at State Library of Queensland. This workshop is designed for beginners and is suitable for writers of all levels and backgrounds.

About Aleesah

Aleesah Darlison is one of Australia’s most popular, award-winning children’s authors. She has published over 65 books including picture books, chapter books, novels, and series. She is well-known for her stories that champion the cause of animals and the environment and that empower children.

For more information about Queensland Writers Centre’s Program of Events and answers to FAQs, please visit: www.queenslandwriters.org.au/program-info