edited by Jon Bard

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1.     To Get Published Fast, Hit 'Em Where They Ain't!

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HIT 'EM WHERE THEY AIN'T:

Get Published NOW By Exploiting the Best Opportunities in Children's Publishing

• Magazines
• The Educational Market
• Religious Publications
• Parenting Publications
• Graphic Novels
• Online Magazines
• Book Packagers
• Freelancing
• Poetry
• Seasonal Needs
• Plays, Greeting Cards, Games .....and much more!

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2.   TakePart.com and The Help Sponsoring Children's Story Contest

As part of the promotional effort for the new film The Help, TakePart.com is hosting a contest seeking the best children's story under 400 words that includes a message with positive values. Children’s book author and former Sesame Street head writer Lou Berger will judge the stories and choose his favorite 

The winner will have their story professionally illustrated and published online as a free download.

Find details about how to enter here:  http://www.takepart.com/thehelp

Check out the rules for details about rights, prizes, etc. here:  http://www.takepart.com/the-help-childrens-story-official-rules

3.  Blog Lets Authors Get in Touch with Teen Selves

Here's yet another innovative way authors are using the Internet to explore their writing and connect with their readers. Dear Teen Me is a blog featuring published and unpublished young adult authors writing letters to their former teenage selves. The posts — some funny, some poignant — show how the details of teen life may have changed, but the angst remains the same. The blog is dedicated to modern teen readers, but it's also a treasure trove for aspiring authors wanting to reconnect with their adolescent voices. Check it out at:

http://dearteenme.com/

4.  Come Hang With the Fightin' Bookworms -- and Get Our Entire Step-by-Step Writing Course Free!  

The CBI Clubhouse is rocking!  We've got lots of new members who are meeting one another on the message boards, plenty of new videos and audios, our free children's writing course (The CBI Challenge), exclusive publishing opportunities just for our members and much more.  

And all of it is free for paid subscribers to Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's Writers!

Here's what Fightin' Bookworm Irene Roth has to say:

Before I joined the CBI Clubhouse, I was completely lost as a freelance writer. I knew that I wanted to write for kids, but I didn't have the first idea about what I should do to achieve this.

I sent out a few articles to magazines, and they all got rejected. This went on for two years. I was devastated and ready to give up! Then I was talking to a friend of mine who suggested that I check out the CBI Clubhouse.  I did. And I have never felt better in my whole life as a freelance writer.

There are weekly instructional videos by Jon Bard on different aspects of the writing process. These are invaluable. There are also videos by Laura Backes.  She has become my personal mentor. I listen to her videos every few days. Some videos I listen to over and over again.

Then there is the CBI Challenge. It is absolutely chock full of information on finding your passion in writing to the nuts and bolts of publishing. I am on Module #2 and I have learned more than I could have ever imagined.

Lastly, if you have any questions or concerns, you can email either Jon or Laura at any time. They are also willing to help and are encouraging. Finally, I don't feel so alone as a writer!

So what are you waiting for?  Join the CBI Clubhouse for a small, small fee every month. Skip one latte and you have your monthly membership which will give you a lot more value that your latte.

Join The CBI Clubhouse now (for less than the cost of a latte each month) and you'll get:

• a fresh issue of Children's Book Insider, The Newsletter for Children's Writers
• audio interviews with top authors
• video tutorials about every aspect of writing and submitting children's books to publishers
• a slew of exclusive articles
• free ebooks
• message boards and chatrooms 
• The Complete CBI Challenge -- our exclusive step-by-step children's writing course!

...and much, much more!

All 20 modules of the CBI Challenge are online, and waiting for you to explore, learn and master:

MODULE 1: Finding Your Passion as a Children's Writer
MODULE 2: Developing Your Story Idea
MODULE 3: Making Time to Write
MODULE 4: Laying the Foundation for Your Main Character & Plot
MODULE 5: Building Your Protagonist
MODULE 6: Creating Your Antagonist
MODULE 7: Ignite Your Plot with a Catalyst
MODULE 8: Perfect Your Pacing
MODULE 9: Build a Strong Middle
MODULE 10: Create a Strong Subplot
MODULE 11: Crafting a Powerful Ending
MODULE 12: How to "Show, Don't Tell"
MODULE 13: Working with Point of View
MODULE 14: Build a Writing Lifestyle
MODULE 15: Sharpen Your Strengths
MODULE 16: Get Feedback On Your Work
MODULE 17: Get Ready to Submit!
MODULE 18: Assembling the Perfect Submissions Packet
MODULE 19: Sail Past Rejection
MODULE 20: Master the Art of Promotion

 
If you're at all serious about writing children's books and getting them published, you really need to hop on board with the Fightin' Bookworms of The CBI Clubhouse.  All the education and inspiration you need to make it is waiting for you for just pennies a day.  Plus, we have lots of fun while we're at it.

Here's the link to the Clubhouse!

http://cbiclubhouse.com

See you 'round the Clubhouse, future Fightin' Bookworm!

5. What's in August's Children's Book Insider?  

If you're new to the Update, you may not know that we publish a monthly subscription-only newsletter for aspiring and working children's book writers that's jam-packed with market leads, advice, inside info and much more.

It's called Children's Book Insider, and we've been sharing it with subscribers across the globe since May, 1990! (And remember, every subscriber to Children's Book Insider gets total access to the incredible CBI Clubhouse website AND The CBI Challenge step-by-step children's writing course!)

Here's a look at what's in the current issue of Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's Writers:

► Publisher Seeks Historical Fiction for Middle Grade and YA
► Publisher Seeks Educational Books with Nature Themes
► Call for Experienced Authors to Speak on Censorship
► 3 New Agents Seeking Authors to Represent
► Online Short Story Contest for New Writers

► How to Develop and Maintain a Winning Theme
► How to Make Writing Your First Novel a Breeze -- with Outlining
► Are You Ready to Publish Electronically?
► How to Reel in Readers with a Strong First Chapter
► 8 Websites That Can Dramatically Free Up Your Time To Write More!

If you enjoy the information offered in this e-mail update, wait 'til you see what we've got in store for you each month in the pages of CBI! 

A subscription to CBI and full access to the CBI Clubhouse and CBI Challenge costs about the same each month as a latte! 

 
For more information and to order, go to http://cbiclubhouse.com/non-members

"If you are "thinking" about subscribing, DON'T!!! Just do it. I waited for almost 2 years before I did, now I'm wondering why I waited so long"  Frederick Claus 

"I won a subscription to CBI at a conference few years ago. I've been renewing ever since -- 450 magazine and 4 book credits later! Thanks for the best information published. I rely on your newsletter!" Lorri Cardwell-Casey

"I knew if I was going to keep getting published I'd need some help so I did some research and discovered your newsletter. It seemed made to order so I ordered it! Five books and over thirty-five articles later, I'm still subscribing and finding Children's Book Insider as useful and inspiring as ever. " Lynne Stover

"If you're not sure whether joining CBI is the right move, consider this: I got a book contract from a lead on the first page of my very first issue of CBI! How's that for results?"  Marci Mathers

http://cbiclubhouse.com/non-members

6.  A Proven Way to Find an Agent

Very often, finding an agent to represent your work feels like a cross between luck, fate, and flipping a coin. But first-time author Allan Woodrow decided to use with a slightly more scientific method. Beginning with a strong manuscript (that's really the most important thing, after all), a stand-out query, and a system for researching, ranking and submitting to agents, he landed an agent within a month and sold his first middle grade novel, The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless, to HarperCollins two months later.

Read all about his secret here, and then put it to work for yourself:

http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/How+I+Got+My+Agent+Allan+Woodrow.aspx

7.   Tips for Pitching and Writing Your Nonfiction Book

by Dr. Catherine DePino, author of Who Says Bullies Rule?: Common Sense Tips to Help Your Child Cope

Before I started writing my book, Who Says Bullies Rule?: Common Sense Tips to Help Your Kids Cope, I knew that I wanted to provide a book for parents with tips that were both practical and easily implemented. Moreover, I wanted to offer ideas that would prove helpful to parents who are striving to help their kids deal with the physical and psychological effects of bullying.

After thinking about my experiences as an educator who witnessed bullying daily, I remembered how common sense could help bring about a resolution to most problems, whether the child was a preschooler or an older student.  

I also thought about how important it was to forge strong ties between the child, parent, and school system so that each important player working to prevent and stop bullying would keep the other informed of the problems the child faced. I believed that if children, parents, and the school system worked together closely, they would have a better chance of ending the child’s bullying dilemma. I also remembered the importance of parents knowing how to navigate the channels in their school systems in order to help their children with their bullying issues.

I’ve found that before beginning to write your proposal, you’ll need to be sure about the main points you want to stress in your book. If you have narrowed down the topics you want to deal with before you begin to write, you can structure your proposal around these important points.

Keeping all this in mind, I outlined sample chapters for the book, did a review of the related literature (what was out there already and what gaps needed to be filled), and sent the proposal out to the same editor who had published my teacher resource book about bullying.

Before you flesh out your proposal, first think about some new angles for a subject that interests you. Then write out a tentative table of contents. Summarize each chapter in a few words. Make it conversational and practical. Once you have a working table of contents with chapter summaries, rearrange it into what you think is the best order, and the book will easily take shape from these brief chapter summaries.

After the editor accepts your proposal and you begin to write your nonfiction book, you’ll find that you have to make many decisions. One is what tone you plan to use to get your information across. I’ve found that a one-on-one conversational tone (the same one used in the proposal) works for me. I like to pretend I’m talking to my audience (in this case, parents) in a relaxed manner, offering my best advice as I would at a parent/teacher conference.

If you plan to present case studies or opt for fictitious examples, you’ll have to decide whether you want to use real life situations or fictitious examples based loosely upon your personal experiences with the subject matter.

If you decide to use actual examples, you’ll need to obtain permission from your sources, which may prove time-consuming, and possibly, expensive. However, if you use fictitious examples, you’ll have to make them sound realistic enough that readers will be able to apply the information to their unique situations.

It’s also important to represent a variety of ethnic groups and lifestyles in your examples. Offering this variety gives more people the chance to identify with the people and situations in your examples. (In my book, for example, not all of the children come from two-parent families. Some parents are divorced, a grandparent is raising a child, one child lives in a group home, and a father is the custodial parent in another anecdote.)

The last part of writing your book, and one of the most important, involves editing. For tips about editing by using self-talk, see my upcoming article in the September issue of Children's Book Insider.

Remember to make writing decisions about subject matter and style before you begin your proposal and you’ll be one step ahead in writing a best-selling book.

------------------------------------------------

Dr. Catherine DePino, the author of Who Says Bullies Rule?: Common Sense Tips to Help Your Child Cope, has written many books for children, teachers, and parents. Her chapter book, Blue Cheese Breath and Stinky Feet: How to Deal with Bullies, is widely used in bully prevention programs. For many years she served as an English teacher, department head, and disciplinarian in the Philadelphia Schools and as a student teaching supervisor for Temple University. Access her website at www.catherinedepino.com.

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Copyright 2011, Children's Book Insider, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, without the express written consent of the author. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. This information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or any other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the service of a competent professional should be sought. Therefore, the Author and Publisher expressly disclaim any liability for the use of any information contained herein, and this publication is provided with this understanding and none other.

Additionally, Children's Book Insider, LLC is not responsible for the availability of external sites, offers or resources mentioned in advertising or in editorial content, and does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any content, advertising, products, special offers or other materials on or available from such sites or resources. Children's Book Insider, LLC shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, goods or services available on such external sites, offers or resources.

We make every reasonable effort to verify the legitimacy of the publishers and magazines we include in our market listings. However, we assume no responsibility for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with readers' associations with such publishers. For information about investigating publishers before conducting business with them, see our special report "How to Tell If A New or Small Press is Legitimate" at http://write4kids.com/legit.html

August 11, 2011

Children's Writing
 Update

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We've Got Solutions to Aid Your Resolutions!

Need insider secrets and fresh markets for your manuscript? Check out Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's Writers + The CBI Clubhouse at http://cbiclubhouse.com/non-members

Just getting started and need a friendly, step-by-step guide to becoming a children's author? Check out Career Starter, The Beginner's Guide to Writing for Children at http://write4kids.com/starter.html

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Have you written a story but don't know what to do next? I've Written a Story, What Do I Do Now? tells you what you need to know about submitting your manuscript to publishers efficiently and professionally.

http://write4kids.com/nowwhat.html

Tired of getting rejection letters? Improving The Odds reveals the manuscript-revision secrets of top authors that help push them over the top. http://write4kids.com/odds.html

And there's more. For a full listing, just go to http://write4kids.com/collect.html