Learn about the craft of writing for children and young adults over eight weeks of creative writing exercises, class discussions and workshops.

  • Learn about the craft of writing for children and young adults.
  • Develop your critical thinking skills as a reader.
  • Improve your creative writing.

Introduction to Writing for Young People teaches you about the craft of writing for children and young adults. While fostering a supportive writing environment, you’ll be encouraged to develop your voice and writing skills, strengthen your critical thinking skills, work collaboratively with other writers, and explore your own creativity.

You’ll explore approaches to crafting stories that engage and inspire young readers through your own creative writing.

Before the course begins, you'll be required to read the novel Holes by Louis Sachar. Over the course, you’ll explore voice, characterisation, setting, narrative structure and plot amongst other elements of the craft, using Holes as a common language.

This course is open to anyone looking to improve their writing or learn more about writing for children.

Overview

Each week we will:

  • Learn about and discuss a different area of the craft of writing for young people
  • Study and discuss a passage from Holes by Louis Sachar
  • Try new creative writing exercises to inspire your creativity

During the course, you will also get peer and tutor feedback on a piece of writing of your choice and give feedback to your peers.

No prior experience is needed for Introduction to Writing for Young People, just an interest in learning more about writing for children. English doesn't have to be your first language, but a strong grasp of spoken and written English will help you gain the most from the course.

You must be aged 18+ to take part in this course.

This course will take place the 12th Century Castle Tower in the heart of our Newton Park campus, Bath. Please note there are steps required to access the Castle.

The next course starts:

  • Thursday 11 February 2027 for 11 weeks, Thursdays 11:30am - 1:30pm

You’ll receive eight weeks of teaching, a break w/b 15 February for half term and a two-week break taking place on the 1 April and 8 April for the University's spring break. Teaching dates are as follows:

  • 11 February
  • 25 February
  • 4 March
  • 11 March
  • 18 March
  • 25 March
  • 15 April
  • 22 April

This course costs £199 per person. 

You’ll need a pen, paper and a copy of Holes for this short course.

Meet the team

Alex Campbell is an established children's author who has written both young adult (YA) and middle-grade books as Alex Cotter. Her first YA novel, Land, was nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2016. She has extensive experience in delivering talks, workshops and events at a range of secondary and primary schools, along with festival and library events.

Alex is passionate about helping inspire other writers to develop their creative talent, from sharing innovative processes and prompts to tailoring techniques and collaborations that can suit a wide range of individual writing styles and workshops.

Terms and conditions

Read the terms and conditions for taking part in this short course.

Get in touch

For more information about the course please email your enquiries to shortcourses@bathspa.ac.uk .