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Writers Retreat > Student Talk > Course Lessons > Advanced Courses > Advanced course: Writing and Selling Children's books
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Author Topic: Advanced course: Writing and Selling Children's books  (Read 2740 times)
butterflii
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« on: July 13, 2010, 01:52:47 AM »
I've been recommend by my instructor to take this course.  Is anyone taking this course that could give me an idea of what it's like?

Thanks! Smiley
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"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." ~A Cinderella Story

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ctnyrene
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« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2010, 01:40:55 PM »
I am currently taking this course.  I really love it. 

If you are writing a fiction full length novel, it starts out with the outline phase (vomit) but then after you get through that, its free sailing. You write at your own speed.  You will send in your MS in 1/3 increments as assignments 4,5&6.  I am working on the 2nd increment at this point.  After you send in your thirds, they come back with feedback about whats good, whats not, and what you need to work on.  It has been wonderful to my way of thinking.  Well worth the money and so much more my thing.  After you have completed the MS you then send in the revised MS I am not certain if it is in full or if you 1/2 it.  I haven't gotten that far yet. 

If you have any questions let me know.  I'll tell what I know or think.

Good Luck!
ctny
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"A well-adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous."  Alexander Hamilton

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DonnaMW
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« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2010, 02:09:02 PM »
I took that course a couple of years ago. It was a great help in getting my novel done (of course, I've been revising ever since . . .) But I had a wonderful teacher and I really learned alot, even though I had already been published in magazines quite a few times. Good luck!
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Mikki S
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« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2010, 05:14:48 PM »
I am currently taking the course for the second time.  I finished my first novel with one instructor who was simply great.  I had an historical novel started and wanted help in finishing it, so I took the course again with an instructor who has published middle grade and YA historical novels.  I'm on the 6th assignment, which is to send in the second 1/3 of the novel.

Like Courtney, I dislike the outline part intensely!  If you have a story that is character-driven, The Hero's Journey by Christopher Vogler is a neat way of fitting your MC into a type of outline that makes the rest fall into place much easier.  At least, it did for me.

I think you would enjoy the course, and get a lot out of it.  Good luck with it if you enroll.
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The Freedom Thief  (MuseItUp Publisher  11/2013)


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butterflii
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« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2010, 05:16:36 PM »
Thanks everyone.  That really helps.

I really want to enroll but right now, I can't do it for financial reasons.  Although, I was told that I could enroll anytime.  I'm hoping by the end of the year, I will be able to.
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"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." ~A Cinderella Story

"You might have FMS if... your house is full of post it notes, but you forget to read them."

"So many books, so little time." — Frank Zappa
ColoradoKate
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« Reply #5 on: July 13, 2010, 05:22:42 PM »
Yeah, they never "take back" the invitation... They will, however, assign you to a different instructor each time they remind you of the offer, depending, I suppose, on who's available.

I just started the novel course, almost four years after finishing the basic one. So don't worry about putting it off until you're ready!
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butterflii
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« Reply #6 on: July 13, 2010, 07:31:07 PM »
Thanks Kate.  I noticed that they switch instructors every time they invite you to sign up.  That's fine with me.  Plus, it will give me time to get out some stories for magazines and get some experience in that area.  Also, my daughter starts kindergarten in September and then I will only have my son at home who will be a year old in October.  That will give me more time for my courses if I start by the end of the year.
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"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." ~A Cinderella Story

"You might have FMS if... your house is full of post it notes, but you forget to read them."

"So many books, so little time." — Frank Zappa
Keggy
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« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2010, 07:25:44 AM »
If I may add to butterflii's original question:

How long do you have to turn in each assignment? And can you ask for extensions, as you can in the basic course?
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jfields
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« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2010, 10:02:25 AM »
I don't know how long you have...someone with more experience will step up I'm sure. But yes, you can definitely get extensions.
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ctnyrene
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« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2010, 10:21:45 AM »
I usually get 4-6 weeks for most of my assignments, but the last one I got almost 2 months.  I think it depends on what you are writing, or how long your book is.  That kind of thing.  If you are doing the 3 short books you maybe dont need as much time to write it as you would 1/3 of a novel.  I dont know.  I do know that my instructor has said time and time again if I need more time to just let them know. 

ctny
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"A well-adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous."  Alexander Hamilton

“…Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too.  They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.”   Stephen King

My blog: www.ctnyrene.blogspot.com
My website:  www.courtneyrene.com
Mikki S
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« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2010, 11:57:24 AM »
 What Courtney said!

I'm doing the course by email this time, the other two were by snail mail, but I get the same length of time for each one...at least 6 weeks, sometimes 8, and of course you can get an extension.

I like the email because the turn-around time for instructor input is only about 5 days.  The one thing I do not like is the template they send you.  I have Vista on my computer, and for some reason the template doesn't work right, so I have to redo it for each assignment.  Other than that, it's much better than snail mail.
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The Freedom Thief  (MuseItUp Publisher  11/2013)


What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
      Oliver Wendall Holmes

www.mikki-wordpainter.blogspot.com
Keggy
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« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2010, 01:22:59 PM »
It sounds good! Smiley I'll just have to wait and see if my instructor recommends me for anything. If given the choice, I would love to take the book course!
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"Maturity is knowing when to be immature." ~Randall Hall
Jo Brielyn
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« Reply #12 on: August 09, 2010, 03:31:18 PM »
I'm enrolled in this course right now and am finishing up Assignment 5 (the second third of the novel) this week. I'm finding the course very helpful!

You can get extensions if needed. Also, a few months back I was swamped with life and work (I'm a full-time freelance writer) and couldn't complete my assignment for a while. I spoke with the representative at the Student Help Center to find out how long I had to finish the entire course. I knew the basic course had to be done within a certain time frame and was worried that my time was running out. He told me there was no set time limit on the advanced course, just on the specific assignments from your instructor (which can be extended in ICL's online student center by clicking on late lesson request. - http://institutechildrenslit.com/lessons/iclstudent.cgi?s=&c=icl&p=index.htm&f=1).
« Last Edit: August 09, 2010, 03:34:13 PM by Jo Brielyn » Logged
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Thom
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« Reply #13 on: August 13, 2010, 09:37:30 PM »
 :Smiley Hi everybody, I'm also taking this course. It's great. My instructor has allowed me to use a one of the manuscripts I have finished. How wonderful it is to have someone who is published, helping you get everything right. I just sent in lesson 4, and we are doing 75 pages at a time. It's a lot of work correcting, but.......

Thanks, Thom
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kmhumphreys
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« Reply #14 on: February 16, 2011, 01:24:39 PM »
I am just starting the course.  I'm waiting for the beginning materials to start my first assignment.  All this information has been helpful in knowing what to expect.
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