Writing Chapter Books - February Online Course

I have really enjoyed running my previous two WRITING CHAPTER BOOKS courses, so I will be running another from Monday 5th February.

I'm the author of the Autumn Moonbeam chapter book series, and the younger reader book - Mega Merle and the Mega Mystery. I have been editing and mentoring other writers for the best part of a decade now, and love being able to share things I've learnt about writing for children and the children's writing industry. 

I have a special love of writing younger fiction, and I'm really excited to share that passion for fun fiction with other writers.

The Writing Chapter Books course will be Slack based to make is more accessible and flexible for people to attend when it's convenient to them. Including the weekly live session, where people can join in during that hour or throughout the week or beyond, when it best fits your routine and day to day life. 

There will be weekly handouts, plenty of writing exercises, inspiration and weekly discussions that you can join in or add to in your own time. The handouts and the Slack group will remain open after the six weeks for those on the course to access.

Cosmic Illustrated by Heidi Cannon

A few testimonials from writers on the previous courses:

Writing Chapter Books with Emma Finlayson-Palmer is brilliant. After 6 weeks, I have a clearer understanding of this niche area of children's publishing and a solid story idea to build on. The course is well structured to help participants generate compelling characters, playful plots and wonderful worlds to weave them altogether in. The exercises in the live workshops are helpful and Emma is generous with her time and knowledge, answering our many questions and providing supportive resources. I'm thankful to Emma and the other writers - it's a fantastic course and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone curious about creating chapter books.

- Tracy Bullock

I really enjoyed this accessible and informative course that Emma provided. The information was superior and I felt that I learnt everything I needed to know about chapter books.

- Angel Dike

Wonderful children’s writing course. An abundance of material and interaction. Thank you so much Emma, I’ve been plotting & writing daily.

- Sharon Hynes

This course was fabulous. Emma gave us SO much information, which was super helpful. Emma was also extremely quick to reply to any questions, which really helped (even outside of the course times). I liked the way the days of the course varied from week to week. I really can't recommend Emma and this course highly enough.

- Tara Potter

If you're interested in learning how to write a Chapter Book (aimed at ages 5-8) do send me a message so I can send you more information ✍

Seasons of Mist and Writing Fruitfulness

Seasons of Mist and Writing Fruitfulness

Today is Monday the first of January 2024 – It’s always odd writing the date for the first time in a new year. I dare say I’ll spend the coming weeks still writing 23 rather than 24, in much the same way I spend the weeks after the clocks going forward or backwards by an hour saying: “It would have been… INSERT TIME HERE.”

When the clocks last went forward, October 2023, it marked the change from Autumn to Winter in many ways, but also plunged the days into further darkness. I try to see the shorter daylight hours as cosy times to snuggle up at home of an evening – but in reality, I struggle to adjust and hate waking in darkness and my children coming home from school when night has already arrived.

But, as we are now past the Winter Solstice, and the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight hours, it feels as though I am slowly tiptoeing my way back to lighter days, and the happiness I feel as Spring approaches.

Spring is my favourite time of year – I love the crisp, fresh days, when it’s still chilly but the sun is bright and bringing a little more warmth – birds are busy building nests, buds are bursting, and new life is blooming all around.

I love nature, and I always try to bring it into my writing. Whilst the seasons will always come and go, and with them all manner of changes, there is always beauty and inspiration to be found in the world around us. So, even on the darkest of days, both in terms of day versus night, or the darkness of what life has in store, I will look to nature, and spend time outside letting it inspire and heal me, and for it to recharge my creative battery.

I’ll leave this post with a link to a poem I have loved since my teens and one that inspired the title of my post – a poem that feels fitting given the subject matter and themes explored – Ode to Autumn by John Keats, I hope you enjoy it either in reading or listening to the audio available at the link, and find peace and inspiration in the beauty of nature around you.

To Autumn by John Keats | Poetry Foundation