Professional Children's Writing
Diploma KID12
Journalism, Editing & Publishing
Learning Method: Correspondence with online support

Career opportunities include: Children's Fiction Writer, Children's Non-Fiction Writer, Children's Picture Book Writer, Children's Chapter Book Writer, Children's Short Story Writer.

Industries include: publishing, media, education, corporate.

Children's writers plan and write stories for kids. These can be short stories of around 800 words accompanied by pictures (done by an illustrator) or they can be longer chapter books or novels for young teens. Children's writers can also choose to specialise in non-fiction writing: educational books (that are sold through bookshops and educational suppliers). A children's writer may:

• choose themes or subjects for stories work, plot and
• plan and organise material and write the work
• revise or edit the work, making sure that the style is consistent, there is proper development of the theme, plot and characterisation
• set out the original manuscript so that it is clear and legible and submit the work to a publisher
• work with other specialists, such as illustrators and editors.

Work may be commissioned by a children's book publisher or may be sold by the writer or a literary agent acting on the writer's behalf.