Writing For Kids: Picture Books and Children’s Fiction

with Davina Bell and guests including Anna McFarlane and Beau Wylie

Words and pictures combine in Writing for Kids. Packed with industry guests and including the chance to collaborate with a professional illustrator, this lively program will give you the inside information you need to stand out from the crowd in the field of children’s literature.

Applications open

Level All abilities

Location

Online

Start Date 9 Feb 2027

Schedule

Tuesdays 6.30pm – 8.30pm (AEDT/AEST), 9 February – 18 May 2026

Price $2,400 or $2040 (alumni)

$2200 or $1870 (alumni) – early bird price

Apply Now

This is the perfect three-month course for people who wish to write picture books and children’s fiction. We will cover the elements required to create a stand-out manuscript. You will discover how to craft a compelling story, memorable characters and an evocative setting. You will learn about your audience and the themes and language suited to different age groups. The course will also discuss what publishers are looking for and how to convince them that you are the one to publish.

Writing for kids requires skill and imagination; getting published takes commitment and perseverance. You will be required to work hard and read continually. During your regular workshops, you will be given feedback in a supportive and creative environment. Over the twelve sessions, we will study a range of children’s authors and hear from guest speakers in the children’s publishing industry.

This course is suitable for writers of all levels of experience. Participants are encouraged to bring along ideas for stories, works-in-progress and your favourite children’s books. This course will primarily focus on picture books, but will also explore elements of storytelling which can be used in writing junior and middle-grade fiction.

As part of Writing for Kids you will have the rare opportunity to work directly with illustrator Beau Wylie, collaborating to produce a one-page illustration that will practically demonstrate what goes into the relationship between author and illustrator. You will be able to use this page as part of a pitching session at the end of the course.

Your course includes:

A complimentary copy of a recent A&U publication.
12 x Tuesday evening sessions (6:30pm-8:30pm AEDT/AEST).
A custom illustration of your lead character, drawn by Beau Wylie.
A 30-minute one-on-one consultation with your Course Director, Davina Bell.
An opportunity to pitch your work to children’s agent, Annabel Barker.
On completion of the course, alumni discounts on future Faber Writing Academy courses and books from the Allen & Unwin website.

Writers you'll be working with:

Davina Bell

Davina Bell is an Australian author of books for young people of all ages, from babies to teens. For over fifteen years, she worked as an editor, commissioning editor and publisher at Penguin Books, Affirm Press, and Allen and Unwin respectively. Some of Davina’s much-loved titles include All the Ways To Be Smart, All of the Factors of Why…

Anna McFarlane

Anna McFarlane has worked for several publishing houses during her thirty-year career, and is currently at Allen & Unwin where she publishes books for children and young adults. Recently published books include the CBCA award-winning picture book My Friend Fred by Frances Watts and Anne Yi, award-winning middle grade novel Dragon Skin by Karen Foxlee,…

Beau Wylie

Beau Wylie is the creative moniker of Newcastle based creative Cam Beau Wylie Foster. From an inquisitive childhood spent wading through wild creeks and building scraggly nooks in the bush around his home, Beau began drawing his own wondrous worlds full of brilliant frogs, nipping yabbies and curious marsupials from the moment he could grasp…

Course outline

The course consists of: 12 x evening sessions, 6.30 – 8.30pm Tuesday nights (AEDT / AEST)

Session 1: Tuesday, 9 February
Introduction: Developing a practice, finding material, identifying your ‘guide books’ and outlining the workshopping process.

Session 2: Tuesday, 16 February
Meet Allen & Unwin’s Publishing Director of Children’s and YA Fiction, Eva Mills. Eva is a veteran children’s publisher who will give you the current state of play in children’s publishing. Learn about the difference between picture books, chapter books, and middle grade fiction, and find out about what publishers are looking for in an author in 2027.

Session 3: Tuesday, 23 February
Structure and Shape: Discuss the basics of storytelling, share your initial ideas, and learn how to craft them into well-rounded stories.

Session 4: Tuesday, 2 March
Music and Metrics: Music and metrics are alive and well in children’s literature. This week we’ll begin to get our heads around rhyming verse and learn how to write out loud, while walking the dog!

Session 5: Tuesday, 9 March
Visual Storytelling with guest illustrator Beau Wylie. Meet a seasoned illustrator, learn how they work, and how to leave room in your text to let them shine.

Session 6: Tuesday, 16 March
Chapter Books and Middle-Grade Fiction: Character with guest author Sally Rippin. Learn how to develop characters kids want to spend time with. We’ll read a range of chapter books and middle grade novels and analyse them for character arc and development.

Session 7: Tuesday, 23 March
Chapter Books and Middle-Grade Fiction: World-building with guest author Gabi Wang. This week we’ll explore different ways we might create worlds kids want to get lost in.

Session 8: Tuesday, 30 March
Chapter Books and Middle Grade Fiction: Plot and Pace for Younger Readers. What’s a hook, and how can you catch your reader with it? Learn how to keep kids turning the pages.

COURSE BREAK – one-on-one consultations with Davina Bell

Session 9: Tuesday, 27 April
Editing your work with guest editor Meg Whelan, senior editor at Affirm Press/ Simon & Schuster. Turn your clichés into glittering details, polish your work until it sings. Have an eye for style, grammar and register.

Session 10: Tuesday, 4 May
Writing as a career. Besides writing, what’s involved in the life of a writer? How to make a “living” from school tours, writing cover letters, choosing publishers, etc.

Session 11: Tuesday, 11 May
Pitching Your Work. Present your book to literary agent Annabel Barker and get feedback on your work. We will use your one-page illustration example as a way for you to demonstrate to the agent your proof of concept.

Session 12: Tuesday, 18 May
Where to from here? This week Davina will share her checklist for what makes great writing for children. You will discuss how to elevate your work above the ordinary, and set goals for your career ahead.

Please note, the exact course content could be adjusted according to the experience and concerns of the group and availability of guest writers.

Praise for this course

“Writing for Kids exceeded my expectations. Davina is an incredible mentor who was so generous with her knowledge and support.” – 2026 course participant

“Davina is incredibly knowledgeable and personable. She made this course exceptional.” – 2026 course participant

How to Apply

To apply for this program, you will first have to submit an application form via this link.

The form will ask you to submit a 500-word picture book text, and will invite you to apply for a full or partial scholarship, or progress directly to consideration for a paid place.

Important Dates:

Scholarship information session: Monday, 21 September, 6:30pm

Scholarship & applications for early bird discount deadline: Sunday, 25 October, 2026, 11:59pm.

First round offers made by Thursday, 3 December, 2026.

Scholarship announced: Thursday, 3 December, in our newsletter.

Early bird discount expires: Sunday, 6 December, 2026.

Payment information:

If you apply by 25 October and are accepted, you will be eligible for an early bird discount of $200 when you make your payment by 6 December.

If you choose to pay by instalments, you may do so via Zip Money on a schedule that suits you. Use your Zip account or sign up at checkout.

Please see our terms and conditions for more information.