We're looking for people to—

by Prescott Kelly, President

Learning how to write the kinds of books, stories, and articles that children love to read is the first half...

...then learning how to market your writing to children's
editors and publishers is the second half.

We'll teach you both--in one course--if you have the aptitude it takes to qualify.
 

Please read on.

Dear Reader,

Writing for children is the ideal way to take up writing--not because it's a snap (it isn't), or because the stories are simple to write (they aren't), or because it doesn't take any time (it does).

Writing for children is ideal because we've all been there before. We know our way around because of our own childhood experiences, and because the children who populate our lives keep us up to date on childhood.

So, we don't have to invent childhood or imagine what it's like to be a child. We just have to let the child in us speak.

Then it's time to rummage through the characters, places, events, and impressions of your life to find the other pieces of the story. They're all there already--in your "trunk" and in your imagination.

A once-in-a-lifetime experience

The rewards of writing for children of every age are as plentiful as they are gratifying. Seeing your stories take shape in words that behave as you want them to, and winning praise from your writing instructor, may be your first rewards.

But the heaven-on-earth turning point will be your first letter of acceptance from an editor, followed by the never-to-be-forgotten experience of seeing your words and your name in print.

For most writers, no matter how small that first publisher's check may be, no other payment is ever so meaningful.

Yet, even before you publish, you may be rewarded by seeing your story light up a child's face or hearing the bright laughter it sets free--or by knowing your words have reached into an adolescent's world and helped.

These are gifts that writing for children can give--precious gifts you also give to yourself.

Once you're "in print," of course, things change. The recognition you receive is highly gratifying. Friends see "the old you" in a new light. As Susan Curtis, Forest, MO, says:

A big, rich market for freelancers

Writing for children and teenagers is now a big, rich market. Sales of children's books since 1980 have doubled, redoubled, and doubled again, and now stand at more than $2 billion a year!

There are now more than 500 juvenile book publishers who buy manuscripts from new writers.

In addition, more than 600 magazines of interest to children's writers depend on freelancers to fill at least part of every issue. That's thousands of stories and articles every month!

Yes, the rewards of writing for children are rich and varied. But how does an aspiring writer find out whether he or she has any prospect of claiming them?

How we spot potential authors

To help us spot potential authors, we've developed a unique test for writing aptitude based on our experience in teaching people how to write and how to market their writing. Our test is free, and we don't charge for our evaluation. But no one is accepted by the Institute without a satisfactory evaluation.

Those who qualify and decide to enroll receive our promise:

One-on-one training with

your own professional instructor

Every member of the Institute's teaching faculty is a published writer or professional editor of children's literature. They've earned their stripes in the real world of publishing--not in ivory towers. Altogether, these instructors have published more than 3,000 books and 29,000 articles, reviews, and short stories.

And we've trained each instructor in "tutorial teaching," our uniquely effective one-on-one method:

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When you're ready--in your own time and at your own pace--you send your completed writing to your instructor.

He or she reads it, and rereads it, to get everything out of your manuscript that you've put into it.

It's a matter of push and pull with each assignment: You push, your instructor pulls, and between you both, you learn how to write and how to market your writing.

We've been teaching people how to write for children and teenagers since 1969. We've learned that writing is a craft that can be learned through correspondence teaching provided that three elements are present: genuine writing aptitude, strong motivation, and skillful one-on-one instruction individually tailored to each student's needs and goals.

This is "tutorial teaching," the only method of teaching we use at the Institute.

We also teach you how to sell what you write.

That's the other half of your training--the half that gets you into print! Your instructor knows what editors want today, what they don't want, and what they pay.

"I hit pay dirt!"

"...a little bird...has just been given...freedom"

"The course has helped me more than I can say," writes Jody Drueding, Boston, MA. "It's as if a little bird that was locked up inside of me has just been given the freedom of the garden."

"I was attracted because you require an aptitude test," says Nikki Arko, Raton, NM. "Other schools sign you up as long as you have the money, regardless of talent or potential."

"I'd take the course again in a heartbeat!"

"I'd take the course again in a heartbeat!" says Tonya Tingey, Woodruff, UT. "It made my dream a reality."

"...it is comforting to know that there are still people out there who deliver what they promise," writes Meline Knago, Midland, TX. "The Institute is everything it says it is--and maybe even more."

Of course, not everyone gets published; we simply provide you with the best training available.

FREE--Writing Aptitude Test
and 32-page illustrated brochure

We offer a Writing Aptitude Test to people who are interested in writing for children and teenagers. It's free and we don't charge for our professional evaluation of it.

We also offer a free, 32-page illustrated brochure describing our course, Writing for Children and Teenagers, and introducing you to 80 of our instructors.

If your test reveals a true aptitude for writing, you'll be eligible to enroll.

But that's entirely up to you.

There is no obligation.

Sincerely,

Prescott Kelly, President
Institute of Children's Literature®