This course, Online Feedback: Children’s Books with Aleesah Darlison, takes place online.

In this online writing course, author Aleesah Darlison will provide feedback on your writing for children, enabling you to hone your skills over five months. Feedback will vary depending on each submission, but it may focus on areas such as storytelling, plot, structure, characterisation, theme or voice.

Once a month, you’ll submit either a picture book text (up to 800 words) or an early reader/chapter book or middle grade text (up to 1500 words). Your tutor will provide tailored feedback, giving you time to incorporate her suggestions and advice into the next month’s submission. Each month, you can submit either new or revised writing.

You’ll also have the opportunity to read and critique the writing of other participants. This process of giving and receiving feedback from fellow writers is an ideal way to determine what works, what resonates, what falls flat – and how to improve.

This online program takes place on a website specifically designed for writers, making it simple and easy to share your writing, give and receive feedback, and interact with fellow writers.

If you’re ready to challenge yourself and develop your skills through constructive critique and independent work, this is the program for you.

Please note: this is a feedback-based program. While you are welcome to generate new material for submission during this time, no prompts or themes will be provided.

***Regarding picture books: Industry standard word count is generally a maximum of 500 words. It’s rare that longer picture book text would be published, so shorter submissions are encouraged. This online feedback program will help you learn how to write a more concise picture book text.***

Participant Requirements

This course is for picture book and early reader/chapter book or middle grade writers. This course is not suitable for writers of young adult fiction. If you would like feedback on young adult fiction, check out our Online Feedback: Young Adult Fiction course or manuscript assessments. Picture book text and early reader text should be fictional.

This Online Feedback course is not suitable for aspiring or beginning writers. We recommend that you complete at least one other creative writing course before enrolling in Online Feedback. By enrolling in this course, you are committing to giving and receiving feedback from peers and the tutor. Read this article here for more information.

Internet access and confidence using basic computer software are essential for this program. Read our FAQ before enrolling>>

You do not need to log into the course at a specific time and there are no live meetings. You will receive an email with an invitation link to join the online classroom a week before the course starts.

This five-month course opens on Monday 3 February 2025. Submissions of picture book text (up to 800 words) or early reader/chapter book or middle grade text (up to 1500 words) are due on the following dates, 10pm (Sydney times):

Monday 10 February 2025

Monday 17 March 2025

Monday 14 April 2025

Monday 12 May 2025

Monday 9 June 2025

After each submission date, you’ll have 10 days to complete peer feedback. At the end of each feedback period, you’ll receive your tutor feedback.

More from Writing NSW

Check out our full range of in-person writing courses in Sydney, our online writing courses and our feedback programs to see how we can help you on your writing journey. Find out about our prizes and opportunities, writing spaces, as well as writing groups across NSW, and sign up to our weekly newsletter for writing events, news and giveaways.