How to write for children and young people
There once was a two-level curriculum - distributed in two academic years - specifically designed for the training of writers of children and youth literature.
The objective of the itinerary is for the student to acquire a structured method of writing, as well as knowledge of the history and fundamentals of Children's and Youth Literature and the tools and strategies necessary to develop in the publishing world: relationships with publishers, agents, institutions, methods of promotion and diffusion of the work, etc.
Objectives of the Itinerary
Over two years, the student will acquire the necessary techniques to design his own editorial project, from the initial idea to the last correction, and will be prepared to manage it within the editorial scope of children and youth. You will also have acquired a working method that you can apply to your future works.
In order to achieve these objectives, there were once invited to talk with the students authors, editors, literary agents, illustrators ... School of Writers counts for this course with the collaboration of publishers such as SM, Edebé or Maeva, who will read those works that the cloister considered appropriate for their collections.
Given the good relationship between the current literature for children and young people and new technologies, the itinerary also contemplates the student's training in this field: social networks, new formats and digital supports.
The two courses of the itinerary
Each course of the Itinerary occupies one academic year (from October to June). These are the exact characteristics for each of the modalities we offer (the face-to-face mode is taught in Madrid).
Virtual mode
Duration: 8 months (approximate dedication: 160 hours)
Price: 1,200 euros
Number of students: 12
Face-to-face mode
Duration: 90 hours (distributed in 32 classes of 2.5 hours plus 10 hours of activities and extraordinary meetings)
Price: 1,200 euros
Number of students: 12
First year: Do you want to write LIJ?
In this first course the student will learn the essential narrative techniques to write LIJ, learn the History of Children's and Juvenile Literature, its background and development, both in Spanish and in other languages. Individual writing practices will be done, which will be commented by the teacher and the group, and will analyze several readings chosen by the team of teachers of the itinerary to illustrate the concepts that have been addressed in the writing classes. The course is completed with two meetings with authors and professionals from the children's and young people's publishing world, as well as monographic sessions on specific aspects of the LIJ.
The course is divided into two subjects, a theoretical and reading analysis (Overview of the LIJ) and a practice (Write LIJ) that will be taught in alternate weeks.
The students will choose at the beginning of the course one of the seven areas of action proposed by Vladimir Propp (within his study Morfología del Cuento) and will seek in each one of the aspects addressed in the theoretical subjects the presence of this literary archetype, performing a work of prospecting in literature from the particular angle of the character they have chosen.
Second year: LIJ Project
The second year's work program delves into narrative techniques, paying special attention to the main narrative genres of children's and youth literature.
The course is divided into two semesters, with two subjects in each. During the first four months, the literary genres of the LIJ are dealt with from a practical point of view (Write II) and continues with the revision of the editorial and literary panorama initiated the previous year (Overview LIJ II). These subjects will be taught in alternate weeks. The second semester the student will embark on his writing project guided by the tutor and, in parallel, will deal with the theoretical aspects of the literary project management.
The team of teachers will help the student to define the age, gender or style that best suits their work. The second semester of the course will be devoted to the preparation of the editorial project of each student. The student will be accompanied and guided throughout the process. In addition, you will be provided with the necessary tools for the management, promotion and promotion of your work in the editorial field.
Like the first year, the course is completed with reading analysis and two meetings with authors and professionals from the children's and young people's publishing world, as well as monographic sessions on specific aspects of the LIJ.
More information and registration
The upcoming LIJ Itinerary courses will begin in October 2017.
In Internet
Beginning: October 26, 2017
Schedules: Without a fixed schedule, an approximate time of 5 hours per module
In Madrid
Beginning: October 19, 2017
Hours: Thursdays, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
Content of the courses
First year: Do you want to write LIJ?
Overview of LIJ I: Theoretical subject and reading
Origins of the LIJ
Anglo-American LIJ
LIJ in the Mediterranean
LIJ in Spanish
LIJ in Spain
LIJ in central and northern Europe
LIJ in other languages
LIJ in the 21st century
Practical subject: Write LIJ I
First quarter
Basic principles of LIJ
Naturality, abstraction and concretion
The action
The theme
Narrative structure
Narrative tension
The children's characters
The youthful characters
Second term
Storytellers
Dialogues
About us
With the five senses
The absurd as a story generator
The wonderful world of fantasy
Non-human characters
Beyond Narrative: Poetry, Theater, Popular Lyric
Second year: LIJ Project
Overview of LIJ II: Theoretical subject and reading
Limits of LIJ
Current panorama of children's literature
Current panorama of youth literature
Topics in the LIJ narrative
Editorials and contests
Presentation of projects
Promotion and dissemination
Contracts
Practical subject: Write LIJ II
First quarter
Witches and magic
Travel and Adventures
How to have fun reading: humor and reality
Love
Wonderful Classical Tales
The mystery and the black genre (maybe gray)
Fear and science fiction
Illustrated album and comic book (readers and prelectors)
Second term
Individual project
