It’s hard to remember now that there was a time when a writer only had the option of taking in-person courses in their own area, or traveling — perhaps great distances, to attend courses elsewhere.

While those options are still open to us, I am so grateful that we can also take advantage of all the amazing courses available online — no travel or accommodations to worry about, we can learn at our own pace, and many are priced quite affordably.

The courses listed below are just a fraction of what is available. The tip of the courseberg, if you will (I warned you about my puns, if you read my bio…)

JUST WRITE FOR KIDS — This is a self-paced online/home study course in writing picture books taught by author, editor, and educator Emma Walton Hamilton.

The lessons are contained in modules, each of which introduces students to another aspect of the craft of picture book writing, each lesson building on the previous ones. By the end of the course, the student has a solid workable picture book manuscript, and the tools to move forward with revision. The course can be started at any time. I took this course in 2010, and it has informed and enhanced my writing — for all ages — ever since.

JUST WRITE FOR MIDDLE GRADE — Following the success of JUST WRITE FOR KIDS, Emma launched JUST WRITE FOR MIDDLE GRADE. Through self-paced modules, the student is introduced to the building blocks of writing chapter books and middle grade novels, with thought-provoking, challenging, and fun assignments. At the end of the course, the student has a solid draft ready to take to the next level. The course can be started at any time. I took this course from May to July, 2014. Even though I’d been writing middle grade for a few years, and considered myself well-versed in the craft, Emma taught me so much! I use the techniques and worksheets to revise other writing projects, both middle grade and adult fiction.

JUST WRITE FOR YOUNG ADULTS – This course was launched at the same time as JUST WRITE FOR MIDDLE GRADE, and as the name suggests, it is a course dedicated to learning the ins and outs of creating young adult novels. It's delivered in the same way as the other JUST WRITE CHILDREN’S BOOKS courses. The course can be started at any time. Although I haven’t taken this course, I know from my experience with Emma’s other courses that this will be an excellent learning tool for anyone who wishes to write for teens.

MAKING PICTURE BOOK MAGIC — This course is taught by picture book author and founder of the popular Perfect Picture Book Fridays, Susanna Leonard Hill. As I understand it, they are not onerous or time-consuming. There are two versions of the course, either Interactive or Self-Study. I have not taken the course myself, but I have heard rave reviews from many picture book writers at all levels of experience, and it’s on my bucket list.

LYRICAL LANGUAGE LAB – The subtitle of this course, “Punching Up Prose … With Poetry,” gives you a good idea of the focus of the course. Although students do write some poetry, there is a great emphasis on learning to both identify and write lyrical language, and then to use lyricism to enhance one’s prose. The course is taught by poet and editor Renee LaTulippe, whose passion for words is evident in her writing and her speaking — and, I am sure, in her teaching. Currently, the interactive version of the course is on hiatus, but you can sign up for the mailing list. There is also a self-study version of the course that is available at all times. I haven’t taken the course (yet), but I know others who have, and who speak highly of it and of Renee’s teaching abilities.

Also, a wide variety of courses available through the following:

The Writing Barn

Writing Blueprints (from the folks at Children’s Book Insider)

Storyteller Academy

Mary Kole’s Good Story Company

Children’s Book Academy

and others, of course.

Online groups became so important during the pandemic. In-person groups will continue to offer online options, but I appreciate very much being able to belong to groups online. A sense of community is so important in this often lonely life of a writer.

The groups I mention below are a fraction of what is available, but they are the ones I have experience with. I hope you’ll find someplace where you’ll feel “at home.”

The Children’s Book Hub Facebook Group — this ever-growing online group is a free opportunity for writers, illustrators and editors to share resources, encouragement, questions, and links of interest. It is a closed group, so people must request membership. I am honored to co-host this group with Emma Walton Hamilton.

KidLit411 Facebook Group — this amazing online group headed by Elaine Kiely Kearns and Sylvia Liu is another free community where writers, illustrators and editors share a plethora of information and support. It, too, is a closed group, so people must request membership. There is a manuscript swap group and a portfolio swap group in conjunction with the main KidLit411 Group, to allow writers and illustrators the change to give and receive feedback on their work. They also have a fantastic website, KidLit411.com, which is a compendium of links to information on pretty much any topic regarding writing or illustrating books for children. Their website has been listed in Writer’s Digest’s 100 Best Websites issue multiple times.

12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge and Community — Founded and hosted by author, writer-entrepreneur, and digital expert Julie Hedlund, 12 x 12 is an online group in which members are challenged, supported, and encouraged as they attempt to write twelve picture book draft manuscripts in twelve months. There are a variety of blog posts to provide encouragement and instruction. The two levels of paid membership allow differing intensities of participation — at the highest level, there is a monthly opportunity to submit to an agent. There is an active online forum and a Facebook Group for extra interaction. I was a member for the first three years the group was in existence, and highly recommend it, although my focus has turned to middle grade and adult fiction. I do make time to attend the monthly 12x12 BookChats, which are free and open to anyone.

Thriving Writers, a community led by Mary Kole, is a "space designed for proactive, growth-oriented, and motivated writers." There are workshop opportunities, guest interviews, writing sprints, critique opportunities, and so much more. I am currently a member, and I highly recommend it.

The Courage to Create (through The Writing Barn) — is an online group that has two ways of joining: either by the month, or by the year. It is led by Bethany Hegedus, founder of The Writing Barn, and, in her words, “is made for writers seeking support in navigating the triumphs and challenges of living a literary life.” The presentations are excellent – uplifting, empowering and inspiring. I highly recommend it.

Write for Kids, from Children’s Book Insider is an online compendium of information, learning tools, videos, and opportunities for networking for writers and illustrators of all levels of children’s books. It is a paid membership group. It was founded by Jon Bard and Laura Backes in 1990, and is still going strong under their leadership. I learn so much from the monthly newsletter and from the website.

SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) — This is a real life AND online international group for writers and illustrators of children’s books. If you can only join one group, make it this one! Their website is lush with resources and networking/connection potential, there are local/regional groups in which you can participate (all over the world), there are regional conferences, and there are two international conferences annually that should be on every children’s book creator’s bucket list. I have been a member of SCBWI since late 2010, and attended the international Summer Conference in Los Angeles in August 2011, and the virtual Summer Conference in 2020. I highly recommend membership in this group.

CANSCAIP (The Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers) is a group similar to SCBWI specifically for Canadian kidlit creators. It offers a yearly conference (both in person and online), monthly meetings online, so you can network with members across the country, quarterly celebrations of newly published picture books, workshops, critique group opportunities, and more. I appreciate CANSCAIP very much, and highly recommend you join if you are a Canadian kidlit creator.

There are so many books on writing craft that I can’t possibly list them all here. These books are on my shelves (either in real life or virtual). They’re books I’ve consulted more than once, and so I’m happy to recommend them.

Some will be familiar to you; some might not be. I’ve tried to sort the list into categories to help you find what you’re looking for. It is not an exhaustive list at all, but it may introduce you to some books you haven’t encountered yet. The list is a work-in-progress, and may be added to from time to time.

KidLit

Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication by Ann Whitford Paul. Be sure to get the revised and expanded edition. This book is a full course in picture book writing enclosed in one easy-to-read book. 

Writing Irresistible KidLit: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Fiction for Young Adult and Middle Grade Writers by Mary Kole. Mary is also a great teacher, as evidenced by the many workshops she has led, and this book is an excellent primer in writing middle grade and above. The link includes some of her other books, as well.

Plot

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. This book is a fantastic guide to plotting, written in a way that’s easily understandable and applicable. Her website and free workshop add great value.

Write Your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell. I found this a very interesting concept. His premise is that the “midpoint moment” is the pivotal moment of a book, and so it makes sense to work back from that point and work forward from that point. Worth a look.

The Plot Clock by Joyce Sweeney. This provides a very useful structure to pin your plot to. It helps you ensure that you’re hitting all the necessary plot points, and it does it via a four-act structure, rather than the more usual three-act framework. Check it out! The link leads to a blog post on Janice Hardy’s Fiction University site (another excellent resource!)

Miscellaneous Craft Elements

Make a Scene, revised and expanded edition, by Jordan Rosenfeld. When I read this book for the first time, I took copious notes – all about my work-in-progress at the time. I’ve never read a book that gave me such immediate insights into my own manuscript. Highly recommend. Note: Jordan has several other books, teaches courses, and is a freelance editor. Check out the rest of her website while you’re there looking at the info for this book!

The Creative Academy for Writers series by Eileen Cook. I have three of the books in this series, and have found them to be pithy, easy-to-understand, basic explanations of the craft elements they delve into. The ones I own are Build Better Characters, Create Story Conflict, and Build Better Settings.

The Busy Writers Guides series by Marcy Kennedy. The book I have is Book 10, Description. I found it also to be pithy and easy-to-understand – a basic explanation of what goes into crafting good descriptions. Although the link is more of a “new website coming soon” announcement than a description of the series, it at least gives the titles that are in the series.

Writing Mysteries

Note: I don’t think I have the chops to write a mystery, but I love reading them. I found these two books to be helpful for writing craft in general, and they’re written by two of my favorite mystery authors.

Sleuth: Gail Bowen on Writing Mysteries. Gail is a Canadian writer whose Joanne Kilbourn mysteries are stellar. She also knows her stuff as a writing teacher. Check it out! Also, if you’re a mystery aficionado, check out her Joanne Kilbourn books. They’re not cozies, so be aware of that.

Write Away: One Novelist’s Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life, by Elizabeth George. It’s a while since I’ve read this one, but I do recommend taking a look at it. I also recommend her Inspector Lynley mysteries. Again, not cozies (although I do love cozy mysteries, these aren’t cozy.) They’re listed on the website linked above.