Irish Writers' Center

The Irish Writers' Centre in Dublin offers a wide range of writing classes and workshops for beginners, as well as intermediate and advanced writers. Although none of them is specifically aimed at children's authors, every one is welcome. Here are two courses taught by children's writers Conor Kostick and Claire Hennessy.

Finishing Your Book, by Conor Kostick
This is a course for those who are already working on a novel and have made a certain amount of progress in characterisation and plot. It examines the key features of successful novels through discussion of classic texts and culminates in a practical guide to getting published.
 
To enroll on this course please email your details to : This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or you can call 01 8721302.

The Novel 2 - Novel Writing, by Claire Hennessy
The Novel 2 course is geared towards those who have already taken the Novel course at the centre, though writers who have made a start on their novel are also welcome. This course will focus on how to keep going after those first few chapters have been written – how to maintain the pace, the character development, and keep things interesting for both writer and reader.

To enroll on this course please email your details to : This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or you can call 01 8721302.

University College Dublin

UCD Adult Education Centre has a lot to offer aspiring writers (students and non-students alike). Here is one class for any one interested in writing for children.

Writer's Workshop in Children's Fiction, by Ann Carroll
If you want to write a novel or short story for children, this is the course for you. It covers topics from how to get started to development of character and plot, from the use of dialogue and setting to information on the world of children's publishing. The workshop format stimulates creativity through exercises and discussion and participants are encouraged to write at home. The reading list for this is "Goodnight Mr Tom" by Michel e Magorian and "The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night" by Mark Haddon.

For more details on this course and others, see www.ucd.ie/adulted/interest/index.html or ring (01) 716-7123.