Writing Non-Fiction and Informational Books for Children

The market for children’s nonfiction and informational books and articles has never been better.

In this course, which can be taken by those familiar with writing for children and those just beginning, students will learn about the needs and trends within nonfiction work for children ages 3-12 – magazines, trade books, school-library publishers, and book packagers. Students will gain practice researching nonfiction topics and writing for the various markets, as well as examining the variety of writing styles that can be used to write about individual topics.

Topics covered in the course include: Straight Nonfiction and the School-Library Market – subjects, elements and design, Easy Reader Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Lyrical Nonfiction, Biography, Fictional Informational Books – Fictional books that provide information and elements of nonfiction; The children’s magazine market, and Common Core State Standards and how these affect the nonfiction market.

Quarters Typically Offered:  Winter Quarter (online) | Summer Quarter (online)
Course Fee:  $425
Prerequisite:  None, but some writing experience preferred.
Contact:  For more information about this course, please email the academic department at ahl@ucsd.edu.

Course Number: WCWP-40327
Credit: 3.00 unit(s)
Related Certificate Programs: Children’s Book Writing, Creative Writing, Science Communication