Sure, it's simple, writing for kids ... just as simple as bringing them up.
Ursula K. Le Guin
This course supports you in developing your own children's book through an engagement with the issues and practices of writing for children, including the history of children's books, approaches to structuring your book, audience expectations and engagement, and issues around publication.
As part of a small group, allowing for individual attention and feedback on your work, you’ll be guided through a series of readings, discussions and writing exercises over four weeks, culminating in a week-long retreat where you’ll have the opportunity to use what you’ve learned in the introductory lessons to really hone in on your own work. You’ll be invited to send in an extract from your work (or a complete piece of shorter work) to the tutor a week before the retreat, on which you’ll gain one-on-one and peer feedback.
During each day of the retreat, there’ll be a writing workshop, quiet writing time, and opportunities for individual feedback from the tutor. There’ll be plenty of time for you to write, read, think, learn and grow in a relaxing, natural environment. Breakfast and lunch are provided each day. A dinner out on the first night is included, and a last-night BBQ. During the week, you can take advantage of the fully-equipped kitchen to prepare your evening meal together.
Course Tutor: nike bourke
Nike Bourke is the tutor for the children's writing course. Nike is an award-winning author, with more than ten years experience teaching creative writing and research in universities and writing centres, and working as an editor, and as a judge of writing competitions. Her book publications include: The Bone Flute, The True Green of Hope and What The Sky Knows.
Nike's focus as a teacher and facilitator is on nurturing the creative talents of each participant, assisting them to recognise the skills they already have as well as developing new, more sophisticated and effective approaches to their work, and recognising and nurturing the deep pleasures of writing.
Her goal is to help you become a confident, independent writer with a toolkit of skills you can use for this project, and for a range of other projects in the future. It is also to help you develop an awareness of your strengths and weaknesses as a writer, and to develop strategies for continuing to improve and develop your craft.
During the course, you will have an opportunity to get individual feedback on your work from Nike, including feedback about how to further improve and develop the work, and on navigating the path to publication.
What’s Included?
The Children's Writing Course Reader, broken up into four weekly ‘lessons’, each of which includes:
- Extracts from key works of children's writing
- Articles and secondary readings (including author interviews)
- Commentary, instruction and close reading notes
- Writing Exercises
- Discussion Topics/Stimulus
Participation in an email discussion list (run for the four weeks leading up to the retreat) with the other participants and the tutor.
A week-long intensive retreat at Olvar Wood, including most meals.
WHEN
The 2009 Children's Writing Course runs commences January 19.
The pre-retreat course runs for four weeks, from January 19 - February 14.
The course retreat runs from February 20 - February 27.
Bookings
Bookings can be made at any time up to January 12.
To reserve a place, simply send an email indicating your interest, and including a brief outline of your proposed biographical project, to: admin@perilousadventures.net
Cost
The full cost of the five week course is $3000.00, which includes all tuition, readings, feedback, accommodation and most meals during your retreat.
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: If you book and pay your deposit before November 23, you will receive a 10% discount.
Friends of Olvar receive a 20% discount.
We offer a 10% discount to QWC members and full-time students.
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Perilous Adventures in Olvar Wood. Queensland, Australia