Map and Compass: Plotting compelling fiction for children and young people.

Through a combination of teaching, practical exercises, and feedback on their writing, participants will develop their understanding of children’s fiction, and explore how to structure and develop their story using the concept of the hero’s journey.

Sessions take place every Tuesday evening, over six weeks, from September 14th to October 19th, 7.30 to 9.30.

Please note that the course will be interactive and we aim to create a small, active, supportive group. Participants will need to have video enabled during the sessions, and should aim to attend all the workshops.

Tutor:

Jenny Alexander has written scores of books for children and adults, both fiction and non-fiction. She teaches creative writing, both independently and for major organisations such as the Society of Authors and the Arvon Foundation. She has written four books on the art and craft of writing and has a monthly column, ‘Free-range writing through the year’, in Writing Magazine. www.jennyalexander.co.uk

Course Outline:

Session 1: Intro to children’s writing. Writing for different age groups. Creating the protagonist and the importance of character in plotting.

Session 2: How to create a beginning that hooks the reader. The call to adventure and initial refusal of the call.

Session 3: Meeting the mentor and crossing the threshold.

Session 4: How the body of the story works. The journey – tests, allies, enemies. The role of other major characters, including the antagonist. Subplots and how they work.

Session 5: The crisis of the story, the final push. The ordeal and the treasure.

Session 6: Creating a satisfying ending. How are the protagonist and their world changed? The relationship between the beginning and the ending.

This course is part of Wolves & Apples, a programme of events and courses on writing for children, run since 2015 by by Mantle Arts, a participatory arts organisation based in Leicestershire .

www.mantlearts.org.uk

Once the course is full you can add yourself to the waiting list by selecting 'Tickets' and then 'Join Waitlist' on the next page. You will then be informed if any tickets become available.