Writing into the Heart of Childhood Experience with Sita Brahmachari

A groundbreaking course for those writing for - or about - children and young people

‘Most of the basic material a writer works with is gathered before the age of fifteen.’
Willa Cather

Sita Brahmachari, whose books push the boundaries between children’s, YA and adult fiction, winning many awards for their exceptional portrayals of children and young people, has created a unique course for Writing Room to help our writers navigate the challenges of writing from the perspective of childhood.

This course is for you if you'd like to write for children/young adult readers, or if you want to feature authentic young characters in your work.

During our weekly explorations we'll immerse ourselves in the experience of childhood, rewilding our imaginations and revisiting places of awe, wonder, fear, confusion, curiosity, injustice, agency and potential.

We'll consider early rites of passage; a childhood sense of place and the passing of time; magic realist imaginations; the pushes and pulls of culture, history, family and school; and what is shown to the world or kept inside as personal identity is formed in keeping with, or in conflict with, societal and global expectations and realities.

We'll look at texts for children/YA readers and at work aimed at adults written from the point of view of young protagonists in a variety of genres, voices and perspectives.

The course will help us create authentic, contemporary young characters with believable voices, giving genuine expression to the experience of childhood.

All levels welcome, whether you’re taking your first steps in writing for or about young people or whether you have a manuscript on the go. This course will focus on producing new work, but the techniques can be applied to ongoing projects.

WHOLE NEW WRITING PROCESS THAT UNLEASHED MY CREATIVITY

I just wanted to say what a fantastic course Writing Into The Heart of Childhood was. Not only did I delve back into children's books (as well as adults' books with childhood as a key theme), but I learnt about a whole new writing process that really unleashed my creativity, and most importantly, allowed me to nurture and share my writing voice. Sita was wonderful at creating a comfortable, safe and accepting space, constantly reminding us that there was no such thing as censored, 'wrong' writing. In fact, that's the very thing that inhibits us as adults. I can safely say this course is one of the most important I have attended in my life.

Aoife

Our tutor Sita says...

On the writing way I have met so many people passionate about writing for children and young adults. I am delighted to be sharing my writing inspirations and journey with Writing Roomers. I have seen how creating authentic young characters can be transformational for both aspiring writers and young readers. In Writing into the Heart of Childhood Experience I want to pass the baton on. I can't wait to see the stories that emerge from the creative writing seeds planted here.