Create a Kids' Book

We offer two e-courses, each with ten modules and with individual feedback to each of the ten or more exercises. A course could be completed in ten weeks, but there is no time limit, and most people take much longer, enjoying the process. Virginia’s monthly e-bulletins on children’s literature and its creation are included.

Create a Picture Book (by June Colbert)
Create a Kids’ Novel (by Jennifer Dabbs)

New! Mentoring Options Mentoring is available with Jennifer Dabbs (Chapter books and Novels) and June Colbert ( Picture Books). Once you complete the e-course, mentoring begins and continues for 6 months. Also included are 2 hours of personal consultation (skype,telephone or face to face). The fee scale is: Picture book $ 900 Picture book with Illustrations $1500 Chapter book (to 15 000 words) $ 900 Junior novel (to 40 000 words) $1200  Fantasy and YA which run over 60 000 words attract an additional fee $55 plus $12 per thousand words.

Create a Picture Book

This is for all of you who have ever dreamed of writing a story for children in picture book form, or have already put a story on paper and want to know the next step! The outcome of the course should be at least one publishable picture book text.

As well as passionate storytellers, among our students have been artists who want their own text to illustrate, junior and young adult novelists who know they will be asked for a picture book text after their novel has been accepted, and those working on school readers for educational publishers.

The tutor is June Colbert who has published four children's books, and has taught creative writing for severalyears.The cost is $600 or, for illustrators who would like some extra input from artist Jo Thompson on media and design, $900.

More details including a description of the 10 modules can be found Create A Picture Book e-course page.

Create a Kids’ Novel

This is a rare opportunity for writers to receive ongoing feedback on their work, and is suitable for those already working on a novel, and those who are 'thinking' about one. 

Your tutor, Jennifer Dabbs, has twelve years’ experience in teaching fiction writing – short stories and novels – at tertiary level. She has had four novels published herself – one adult, two junior novels and one young adult. She continues to write, edit, assess and give guest lectures and workshops.

The cost is $500 for ten modules, each with an assignment for comment and feedback.

More details can be found on the Novels e-course page.
 

To register for an e-course or mentorship, ring Virginia on 03 9578 5689 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it