About Uma Krishnaswami
Student Comments
Complete List of Writers.com Classes
First Steps: Introduction to Writing for Children (8 weeks)
This class is for those who have read children's books as readers parents but have never tried to write one, those who want to write for children but are unfamiliar with children's literature, those who are just beginning to work on stories for children, and those who have tried and are feeling stumped. We will discuss the variety of forms within this genre, and learn the basics needed to write for young readers.
This is not a critiquing class or a workshop. You will not be posting your work in progress. Instead you will receive a lecture and exercises each week that will either spark new work or relate to existing work in progress. You will be asked to complete homework assignments to share with the whole group for discussion in class and instructor comment. You will also be required to read and analyze selected children's books related to the forms (e.g., picture book, chapter book, novel) that you are most interested in exploring.
This class takes place through the nicenet.org Internet classroom. Registered students will be sent Nicenet sign-up instructions via e-mail on the day the class begins.
Class Outline
Week 1: Introduction
Overview of forms, identifying your reader, the sources of story. Exercise, building on memory.
Week 2: Characters and dialogue
Building character, dialogue basics, collaborative dialogue exercise.
Week 3: First words, first pages, first chapters
Examining selected openings. Writing to an age-range. Opening scenes exercise.
Week 4: Character, motivation, and conflict.
Raising and lowering tension. Using motivation to guide a scene. Exercise, shifting motivation. Selected reading/analysis.
Week 5: Plot.
The structure of story. Scene and sequel. How to find the natural structure for your stories. Exercise, creative outlining.
Week 6: Setting and context.
Integrating setting into scenes, minimizing exposition. Exercise, entering a space in character.
Week 7: The story in nonfiction.
Writing to learn. Exercise, the personal curatorial collection. Selected reading/analysis.
Week 8: Drafts, revisions, and the critique process
Finding your revision process. Choosing the tools to help you draft and revise.
to top of page | about Uma Krishnaswami & student comments
Manuscript Workshop for Children's Writers
(10 weeks)
This ongoing writers' workshop is open to intermediate
and advanced writers who are working on manuscripts and
need the structure of a class to retain their focus and
energy. Prerequisite: Uma's Introduction to Writing for
Children or a comparable real time or Internet class,
and/or working knowledge and experience shaping a story
from idea through completion. Unlike the introductory
class, the advanced workshop will not offer weekly
exercises or lectures, but will focus entirely on the
participants' own work in progress. Expect to post work
in progress (complete picture book draft or novel chapters)
once a week, offer comments on others' work and respond
to critical appraisals of your own. Picture books through YA.
Ongoing advanced writers' workshop for anyone who has taken Uma Krishnaswami's Introduction to Writing for Children or a comparable class online or in realtime. Unlike the introductory class, the advanced workshop will not offer weekly exercises or lectures, but will focus entirely on the participants' own work in progress. Participants should expect to post work in progress once a week, offer comments on others' work and be prepared for critical appraisals of their own. Picture books through YA.
to top of page | about Uma Krishnaswami & student comments
Picture Book Workshop: Writing Text for Children's Picture Books (8 weeks)
This class will explore the constantly evolving art form of the picture book, in which words and images each constitute a part of the whole. You will read 5 picture books from those for the very youngest readers to some for the middle grades and up, and analyze 2 in detail each week. While studying this wide range of published picture books, we will examine the variety of ways in which text interacts with image in a picture book. You'll also get comments on your own own fiction or nonfiction picture book text from classmates and from the instructor.
For intermediate through advanced writers.
This class takes place through the nicenet.org Internet classroom. Registered students will be sent Nicenet sign-up instructions via e-mail.
Common text: everyone will read some of the same books as the class progresses. If you need to reserve them at a library or purchase your own copies please do so in advance of the week in which the book is assigned. In addition to the common texts, you will be expected to read 5 picture books and analyze 2 each week. Plan to keep your local library busy. It's not possible to write a picture book without reading a number of them.
Class Outline
Week 1: Introduction to picture books (PBs)
What does picture book text look like? The shape of the text.
Week 2: Disassembling text and image in a PB.
Page breaks and line breaks--when and why? The physical form of the PB
Week 3: Ways in which text and images work together.
Plot points in picture books. Writing for art that doesn't exist yet. Imagery and word choice. A balancing act, lyricism vs. precision.
Week 4: Character in a PB: age range, roles.
Audience age range, and the role of the adult reader.
Week 5: Toddler books.
Bedtime books, concept books, mood books.
Week 6: Outlining a PB: why, and how?
Basic plots--incident, achievement, wish fulfilment, misunderstanding.
Week 7: Emotional themes in PB fiction.
Highs and lows in the story arc. Resolution. Structural aspects of the final pages.
Week 8: Submitting the PB manuscript.
PB publishing process. Questions. Summary and closure
This class takes place through the nicenet.org Internet classroom. Registered students will be sent Nicenet sign-up instructions via e-mail.
to top of page | about Uma Krishnaswami & student comments
Summer Reading for Children's Writers (8 weeks)
For intermediate to advanced writers
Accelerate your understanding of your own writing for the contemporary children's market by reading a range of children's books with an analytical eye. Identify those aspects of craft that make for satisfying children's books worthy of those hundreds of readings that young readers often demand. Sharpen your critical perception, and hone your writing skills by reading! During the 8 week class, you will be asked to read from a selected list of books, and share your analyses in a moderated discussion format.
You will respond to others' comments on topics including character, viewpoint, voice, structure, imagery and more. Your interest and participation will drive the class. You may also use it to explore the work of writers you've always wanted to study. The instructor's comments will reflect on your responses, add to your insights, and raise questions for you to consider.
This class will not include workshop submissions or writing exercises. You're welcome to report on anything you find out about how your reading affects your own writing.
home:about:classes:enroll:services:instructors:newsletter:tips:store
writers on the net/writers.com
© 1995-2008