Writing Chapter Books for 6-9 year olds

Inspire a new generation of readers...

This course is ideal for: Anyone wanting to know how to create a chapter book series for early readers

You will:
Learn how to write a book that 6 to 9 year olds will love
Discover what goes into a story that enthrals younger readers
Find out how to work with illustrations
Receive personalised feedback on a writing exercise.
And much more.

Where	Starts	Duration	Presenter	Price
Online with tutor feedback Self-paced course with feedback on an assignment	On demand Learn at your own pace	12 months	Lesley Gibbes	$245

Have you ever:

Dreamt of being the author of a successful chapter book series for children aged 6-9 years?
Been inspired by chapter books such as Weirdo by Anh Do, Lulu Bell by Belinda Murrell, The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey and the Fizz series by Lesley Gibbes?

Children’s books are among the biggest sellers in the publishing industry and avid readers are always hungry for more. In this course, you’ll learn the basics so you can get started with your own chapter book. Join award-winning author Lesley Gibbes as she explains the essentials in this introductory course.

Lesley Gibbes
Children's author

But first, what exactly is a chapter book?

If you’re thinking longer than a picture book but shorter than a middle grade novel then you’re on the right track. Chapter books have a tight word count but are complex enough to be divided into chapters with accompanying illustrations. They have a big story with a vocabulary and sentence structure modified to support newly independent readers.

In this course you’ll be fine-tuning your understanding of your target audience and how to meet their unique reading and motivational needs with a short illustrated story in a chapter book format.

“Lesley Gibbes was a personable, knowledgeable and highly engaging presenter. She demonstrated a wealth of knowledge about chapter books beyond her own titles. The most enjoyable part was delving into the details about chapter books, and hearing Lesley’s tips on word choices, themes and sentence structure.”

– Liz Ledden

Why are these books so appealing to younger readers?

Fun, silly, quirky, scary, adventurous and even a little bit naughty – add in plenty of illustrations and what's not to like about this format of chapter books! It's a segment that has become ridiculously popular in the past two decades especially and kids simply can't get enough of them. They love the illustrated, high-impact story in a chapter book format (making them feel like a grown up!). Ultimately it's the vital first step for kids into a world of independent reading – which is why it's so important to make it such a fun experience. When you write early chapter books, you're writing books that will inspire kids to read for life! (But hey, no pressure…)

This introductory course will cover:

What is a chapter book series and how does it differ from other children’s books?
Who is your target audience and what are their specific needs?
How long should your chapter book be?
How do you create a high impact story with a small word count?
What are chapter hooks and why are they important?
What role do illustrations play?
What story themes resonate with this age group?
Is your idea suitable for a series?

How our “self-paced courses” work

This is one of AWC’s 20+ “self-paced” online courses. But what does that mean? Allow us to explain:

What’s included in your online course?

Almost 2.5 hours of content – access anytime at your own pace
9 audio lessons plus 9 supporting handouts
Personalised tutor feedback on a writing exercise

“I loved Lesley’s nuts and bolts, no-waffle approach. She knew her subject matter inside out, and her key points were effectively communicated.”

– Debra Tidball

About course creator Lesley Gibbes

Lesley Gibbes is an internationally published children’s author and primary school teacher. Her books include the hilarious, internationally published chapter book series Fizz, illustrated by Stephen Michael King (CBCA Notable Book, Younger Readers) and picture books Scary Night (CBCA Honour Book, Early Childhood), Little Bear’s First Sleep (CBCA Notable Book, Early Childhood), Bring A Duck, Quick As A Wink Fairy Pink, Fluke and Bouncing Bouncing Little Joeys. She has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Sydney and 16 years teaching experience in Primary Education.

The AWC methodology

We truly believe that every person needs to tap into their own creative intuition. It’s YOUR ideas and imagination that will make your stories unique – and find your voice in your writing. However, we also know there are clear frameworks and techniques that will make you a better writer. AWC’s methodology will equip you with the right tools and skills you need, but also show you how to harness the creative process and tap into your own innate talents.

“Lesley gave us all the information we needed to write our chapter books. Australian Writers’ Centre courses are full of fabulous information and are easy to work through.”

– Kerry Malone

Where	Starts	Duration	Presenter	Price
Online with tutor feedback Self-paced course with feedback on an assignment	On demand Learn at your own pace	12 months	Lesley Gibbes	$245

Writing Chapter Books for 6-9 year olds

Inspire a new generation of readers...

Have you ever:

But first, what exactly is a chapter book?

Why are these books so appealing to younger readers?

This introductory course will cover:

How our “self-paced courses” work

What’s included in your online course?

About course creator Lesley Gibbes

The AWC methodology

About us

Contact us

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