Level Up Your Skills in Writing for Young Readers
The right class at the right time. It’s everything a writer needs.
Whether you’re discovering your passion for children’s literature, preparing for graduate study, deepening your craft, or seeking certification to teach creative writing, our courses meet you where you are and provide the guidance, community, and expertise you need to grow.
USF offers continuing education certificates for writers at every stage from beginning to post-MFA. Find out how we can help you grow!
Introduction to Writing for Young Readers
Beginning your journey? This foundational course introduces the essential elements of crafting compelling stories for children and teens. Explore picture books, middle grade, and young adult literature while learning character development, plot structure, voice, and age-appropriate storytelling. Discover your unique voice and build the skills to bring your stories to life.
Ideal for: Aspiring writers new to children’s and young adult literature. Online, synchronous.
Intermediate Writing for Young Readers
Ready to deepen your craft? Build on foundational skills and develop sophisticated techniques through intensive workshops and mentor text analysis. You’ll explore advanced characterization, narrative structure, setting, and voice across age categories. Gain the insights to revise and strengthen your manuscripts with a more refined understanding of what makes children’s and YA literature resonate.
Ideal for: Writers with some experience ready to elevate their craft. Online, synchronous.
MFA Preparatory Boot Camp
Considering graduate study? This intensive boot camp prepares you for the rigor of an MFA program. Develop a strong writing sample, learn to give and receive workshop feedback, explore critical and theoretical frameworks in children’s literature, and navigate the application process with confidence.
Ideal for: Writers planning to apply to MFA programs who want to strengthen their skills and maximize their graduate experience. Online, synchronous.
Certificate in Intensive Study of Children’s Literature
8-day residential intensive | June 12–19, 2026 | USF Campus
Immerse yourself in the craft and business of writing for young readers. Join our faculty and MFA students for eight intensive days of lectures, workshops, readings, and panel discussions with award-winning authors and publishing professionals. Study with established voices like A.S. King, Dashka Slater, David Macinnis Gill, Tracey Baptiste, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Ann Dávila Cardinal while building lasting connections within the children’s literature community.
Through hands-on workshops, craft lectures, and conversations with agents and editors, you’ll master fundamentals of story structure, character development, and genre-specific techniques. You’ll develop critical analysis skills, learn to read like a writer, and practice giving and receiving constructive feedback in supportive workshops led by Michael Leali.
Ideal for: Writers considering an MFA who want to test-drive the program; post-MFA writers seeking continued education; MFA students from other programs wanting specialized training in children’s literature; teachers pursuing CEUs; and any writer seeking advanced instruction with award-winning faculty.
Open enrollment—no application required. In person.
Advanced Studies in Writing for Young Readers
Push the boundaries of your work. This advanced course offers one-on-one advising, intensive manuscript revision, and exploration of the intersection between craft, criticism, and the marketplace. Develop as a literary artist and prepare your work for querying and submission.
Ideal for: Post-MFA writers or experienced authors seeking advanced training and manuscript development. Online, synchronous.
Certificate in Pedagogy for Teaching Creative Writing
Gain professional certification to teach. This comprehensive program provides training in pedagogy, curriculum design, workshop facilitation, and assessment practices for teaching creative writing to all ages. Develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to create transformative learning experiences in academic settings, community programs, or private instruction.
Ideal for: Post-MFA students, writers with master’s degrees, or experienced writers seeking teaching credentials. Online, synchronous.
Your Journey, Our Support
From first explorations to professional certification, we’re committed to your success. Join our community of writers and discover where your path leads.