Unlock book in you with writing course

THEY say everyone has a novel in them but if you're targeting the children's market, you'll need to do a little homework. Find out what makes today's kids tick and writing a book will seem like child's play

You don't need a degree in English literature to produce a children's book. From Gloria Estefan to Madonna to Sarah, the former duchess of York, writing a children's book is fast becoming the preserve of celebrities looking to diversify their careers. So why not give it a go yourself?

The key element here is a great imagination – and, of course, an understanding of what makes kids tick. There are a huge variety of courses at the Writers' Academy that can be completed online or face-to-face.

Random House offers online courses through the Writers' Academy such as creative writing for beginners, a 10-week interactive creative writing course.

For example, in the sold-out course offered by Henry Sutton or by Julie Cohen, you would interact with published Random House authors as you are introduced to the key elements of writing a story: character, plot, point of view, description, dialogue, voice, setting and beginnings.

Sutton's course consists of a series of weekly creative writing exercises, enhanced by videos and podcasts.

It promises ongoing individual feedback and support from tutors and interaction with your peers within a secure online forum.

It's a bit like going back to school as the combination of writing exercises, podcasts and videos will involve between five and 10 hours of learning per week, but it is at whatever times suit you, giving you the flexibility to balance your writing, work, family and other commitments.

If you feel that your speciality is words and you have an artistically talented friend, you might like to team up and enjoy combining productivity with socialising. Even if you don't manage to create the next hit, you'll still have produced something that the children in your life will enjoy, as well as the satisfying feeling of accomplishment at completing a whole book. – The Daily Telegraph