6-week chapter book course with Clare Helen Welsh

• Industry expertise: Gain direct access to a literary agent during a one-hour live Q&A session, including up-to-date knowledge about market trends in chapter books (series fiction, illustrated fiction, emerging themes, word counts, etc.) and submission advice. The agent will also provide verbal feedback on your concept and written feedback on your work (A one page pitch/synopsis and 1000 sample).
• Written resources: Receive comprehensive notes from your course tutor, including craft advice, structural templates, recommended chapter book reading and submission guidance – yours to keep and refer back to.
• Video session: Meet your fellow participants and tutor via Zoom weekly.
• Writing tasks: Weekly writing tasks designed to help you strengthen plot structure, develop engaging protagonists, build series potential for young readers.
• Professional feedback: Receive personalised feedback from your course tutor and a literary agent on your submitted chapter book extract (up to 2000 words across the course).
• Peer feedback: Receive feedback on your writing from your fellow course participants, and develop your own critique skills by giving feedback in return.
• Writing community: Learn from and share ideas with fellow participants on the course platform. Discuss each week’s topic, give feedback on your writing, and support one another during and beyond the course. Many of our students even create critique groups after the course has finished.

SESSION ONE

Introduction and Agent Q&A Introductions followed by a one-hour industry Q&A with a literary agent, focusing on the current chapter book market, series potential, and what agents are looking for. Pitch your concept for live agent feedback.

SESSION TWO

Concepts and USPs Explore different types of chapter books, including early series fiction, highly illustration fiction and chapter books for 6-8yrs and 7-9yrs readers. Understanding your audience, your USP and commercial positioning. Workshopping of 1000 word extracts.

SESSION THREE

Characters Develop memorable protagonists, supporting characters and the all-important antagonist. Plan for character arcs across a short format and how to balance action, dialogue and interiority. Workshopping of 1000 word extracts.

SESSION FOUR

World Building Explore how setting shapes story and how to weave a sense of place into action without slowing a story down. Also consider how successful chapter book worlds become instantly recognisable and expandable. Workshopping of 1000 word extracts.

SESSION FIVE

Structure, Pacing and Series Potential Study chapter book plotting and how to build strong openings, arcs and endings. Learn how to raise tension in age-appropriate ways and how to plan for standalone project vs a series. Workshopping of 1000 word extracts.

BREAK WEEK

A short break in the course for the agent to read submissions and prepare written feedback. Writers can use this time to refine their manuscripts or continue working on to complete a full draft.  

SESSION SIX

Agent Feedback and Next Steps Discussion of agent feedback and next steps: querying, submission packages and building a sustainable writing career.