I've looked but.....

MistOfShadows · Mar 17, 2007

Ok... so here's da issue heheh....

Years ago when I decided to start writing Children's stories, It was because of this thingy in the mail...

"The Institute of Children's Literature"

I filled out the little aptitude test and of course they contact me and praise me in many forms and fashions of how wonderful my submission was.

Anyway... upon all the gimicks that I saw... with we will give you a course in writing and by the time you pay us $500+ dollars we will guarantee you, a completed manuscript blah blah blah...

well... since I had already had one.. I felt that paying $500+ dollars to learn how to write one was a loss if I took the oppotunity.

So here's the deal (though I have rambled)... I just received another letter from them telling me not to give up on myself.

I am wondering if any of you had any insight into these people?

I would like all good and bad stuff you may have to offer... it would be appreciated.

I have still failed to take that next step due to funds. I have plenty of things written and am working on an adult novel... but .. I don't know why other than funds I am so hesitant to submit anything...

If you all had briars or beating sticks I would say whip me into the right direction hehehhe.

eric11210 · Mar 17, 2007

I can't say for certain, but I seem to recall reading somewhere they were a scam. Certainly asking for $500 for a writing course after you sent out an aptitude test doesn't bode well. I would venture to guess they say that about everyone.

If you want to check them out, check with prediters and editors (I think that's how it's spelled) and writers beware (just google for both or I'm sure someone here will point you in the right direction).

Good luck.

Eric

TnTexas · Mar 17, 2007

eric11210 said:
I can't say for certain, but I seem to recall reading somewhere they were a scam. Certainly asking for $500 for a writing course after you sent out an aptitude test doesn't bode well. I would venture to guess they say that about everyone.

If you want to check them out, check with prediters and editors (I think that's how it's spelled) and writers beware (just google for both or I'm sure someone here will point you in the right direction).

Good luck.

Eric

No, they're legit. Lots of people have taken their course and found it very helpful - especially beginners. I took about half the course and was then dropped from it because I was taking waaaaaaaayyyyyy too long to complete the assignments. (That was between 10 and 15 years ago.) The advice I got on the assignments I did do was very helpful.

Susan Flemming · Mar 17, 2007

I took two of their courses, though that was almost twenty years ago now, long before the information explosion of the internet. I had only just started writing children's stories and the instructors I had were great. They each gave detailed suggestions for how to improve the stories I submitted as part of the lessons.

In addition to teaching me how to improve my writing, the courses also offer lessons in researching markets, as well as, how to write effective query letters for non-fiction articles.

Thanks to the encouragement I received from my instructors and with the information contained in the lessons, I began submitting my stories and before I had even completed the second course, I sold my first short story. Other sales followed; both articles and short stories.

In my opinion, the courses were worth every penny I paid for them and I would recommend them to anyone wanting to write for children.

Dancre · Mar 17, 2007

MistOfShadows said:
Ok... so here's da issue heheh....

Years ago when I decided to start writing Children's stories, It was because of this thingy in the mail...

"The Institute of Children's Literature"

I filled out the little aptitude test and of course they contact me and praise me in many forms and fashions of how wonderful my submission was.

Anyway... upon all the gimicks that I saw... with we will give you a course in writing and by the time you pay us $500+ dollars we will guarantee you, a completed manuscript blah blah blah...

well... since I had already had one.. I felt that paying $500+ dollars to learn how to write one was a loss if I took the oppotunity.

So here's the deal (though I have rambled)... I just received another letter from them telling me not to give up on myself.

I am wondering if any of you had any insight into these people?

I would like all good and bad stuff you may have to offer... it would be appreciated.

I have still failed to take that next step due to funds. I have plenty of things written and am working on an adult novel... but .. I don't know why other than funds I am so hesitant to submit anything...

If you all had briars or beating sticks I would say whip me into the right direction hehehhe.

I suggest you save your money and read the "Writing with Uncle Jim" thread. Also, check out the critiques under Share your work. I've learned a lot from both those threads.

kim

eric11210 · Mar 17, 2007

TnTexas said:
No, they're legit. Lots of people have taken their course and found it very helpful - especially beginners. I took about half the course and was then dropped from it because I was taking waaaaaaaayyyyyy too long to complete the assignments. (That was between 10 and 15 years ago.) The advice I got on the assignments I did do was very helpful.

In that case, I stand corrected. I remember something with a similar name being mentioned as a scam. I think it was supposed to be some kind of an agency with Children's Literature in the name. . .

And the "we will guarantee you a completed manuscript, etc." thing sounded very scammy to me. . .

Eric

TnTexas · Mar 18, 2007

eric11210 said:
In that case, I stand corrected. I remember something with a similar name being mentioned as a scam. I think it was supposed to be some kind of an agency with Children's Literature in the name. . .

And the "we will guarantee you a completed manuscript, etc." thing sounded very scammy to me. . .

Eric

I think you may be thinking of The Children's Literary Agency. From what I've heard, that one's a scam. I can understand why you mixed the two up, though. I get similar names mixed up all the time.

As for the manuscript, my understanding is that they do help you develop one that's of publishable quality by the end of the course. I wasn't with them that long so I didn't wind up with one, but I know others who have.

eric11210 · Mar 18, 2007

TnTexas said:
I think you may be thinking of The Children's Literary Agency. From what I've heard, that one's a scam. I can understand why you mixed the two up, though. I get similar names mixed up all the time.

As for the manuscript, my understanding is that they do help you develop one that's of publishable quality by the end of the course. I wasn't with them that long so I didn't wind up with one, but I know others who have.

Yeah, that's the place I heard of previously. But promising a publishable manuscript at the end of the course? I just have a problem with that. Some people no matter what just do not have the ability to write a publishable manuscript. Some of it is skill. I'm learning that I still have much to learn about the skill of writing (things like grammar, watching POV, etc.). But a good portion of it is also talent, which cannot be taught, no matter how much you try.

Eric

myscribe · Mar 18, 2007

I know several people who teach (or have taught in the past) for the Institute of Children's Literature, so they are legit. Very good and qualified people.

A lot of it is what you want to get out of it, especially since it is a correspondence course. If you put a lot of effort in, you will get a lot out of it (and vice versa). I have also heard that if you are not happy with your instructor (too easy on you, etc.) that they will work it out if you contact them.

I've looked but.....

MistOfShadows

eric11210

TnTexas

Susan Flemming

Dancre

Just have fun.

eric11210

TnTexas

eric11210

myscribe

Who's the ninja now?!?