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>> ITEM 5 -  Featured Children's Lit Blog: Shrinking Violet Productions

In the past couple of years, there's been an explosion in wonderful blogs about children's books and the writing process.  Now, in each issue of the Update, we'll profile a unique and helpful blog.

This issue, we highlight Shrinking Violet Productions, a writer's blog devoted to "Marketing for Introverts".  If you need to promote your book, but you're not a natural salesperson, this blog will really help you get the word out -- and help you get out of your shell while doing it.

http://shrinkingvioletpromotions.blogspot.com/

PS:  If you have or know of a blog that should be featured in the Update, drop Jon a line at jon@write4kids.com   Also, if you happen to come across a children's writing blog or site that doesn't list the Children's Writing Update or Write4Kids.com among its links or resources, why not send a friendly note telling them about us?  We'd really appreciate it!

 

 

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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 at http://write4kids.com/aboutchi.html

• 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

• Want to have an incredible amount of "How To" wisdom right at your fingertips? The Children's Writer's Big Book of How To has the solution to more than 100 of the trickiest issues faced by children's authors. From coming up with great ideas right through signing the contract, this amazing volume is packed with insight. http://write4kids.com/bigbook.html

• 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

• Looking to self-publish a picture book? Could You, Should You Self-Publish a Children's Picture Book? is the perfect step-by-step guide for anyone who's considering the self-publishing route. Don't spend a dime of your precious funds before reading what Anne Emerick has to say! http://write4kids.com/could.html

• Need to know how to write a killer query or cover letter that gets noticed? Author to Editor collects actual letters used by top authors that resulted in publishing contracts. Full analysis and lots of easy-to-apply tips help make writing the perfect query or cover letter a breeze. http://write4kids.com/a2e.html

• Having trouble developing a plot? Crafting strong characters? Coming up with good story ideas? Our In-Depth Workshop Series goes in-depth to make you a stronger and more confident writer. http://write4kids.com/indepth.html

• Care to hear -- first-hand -- the best advice superstar authors have to give for aspiring children's writers? In Their Own Words offers exclusive insight from Lois Lowry, Judy Blume, R.L. Stine, Chris Crutcher and many, many more. This is pure gold and available nowhere else. http://write4kids.com/itow.html

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

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>> ITEM 6 -  Just Announced: The FIRST Children's Author's Bootcamp of 2008 is in....Colorado!

 

Children’s Authors’ Bootcamp was the most worthwhile investment I’ve made in my writing career. No single class or workshop I’ve attended has offered as much concrete, usable information. Thank you, Linda and Laura!
Lisa McCourt, bestselling children’s book author

Bootcamp is the best workshop I've ever attended. I came to this conference hoping I would learn more about writing magazine stories for children. I never imagined I would come away with an outline for a middle grade book -- and solid ideas on how to write it! Thank you! You've exceeded my expectations and given me hope for a children's writing career.
Jeni Bell

You've saved me years of sending stories that wouldn't have been looked at by publishers. I feel privileged to have attended.
Jill Moore

Glorious Colorado in June.   Two incredible days of fun, inspiration and learning from a couple of real children's writing pros.

Yeah, I'm pretty certain you want to be part of this.

The first Children's Author's Bootcamp of 2008 is coming to the Centerra Promenade in Northern Colorado.  It's right off I-25 and easy to reach for anyone in Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins, Cheyenne, Loveland and Greeley.  And it's only 45 minutes from Denver International Airport and has many lodging options.

And, oh yeah, it offers a spectacular view of and easy access to the magnificent Rocky Mountains.  So get your hiking boots (and thinking caps) on and participate in a children's writing weekend you'll never forget --  a step-by-step journey to children's writing success that's fun, fast-paced and packed with advice you'll never hear anywhere else!

Join Laura Backes, Publisher of Children's Book Insider, and Linda Arms White, Christopher Award-winning author of Too Many Pumpkins, Comes a Wind and many other great children's books, for the ultimate children's writing workshop:

June 7 and 8 at the Centerra Promenade, Loveland, Colorado (right off Interstate 25) 

CAB features two full exciting days of world-class instruction and exercises on writing fiction for children of all ages, with emphasis on character and plot development, dialogue, descriptive writing, point of view, writing strong beginnings, editing your own work and submitting manuscripts to publishers. If your dream of writing children's books needs a shot of adrenaline, this is the place to get it.

Because it's a step-by-step program, CAB is great for beginners! No previous experience is needed to benefit from this workshop, and you'll leave on Sunday with everything you need to know to write your masterpiece!

For a complete class outline and registration information (including information on booking hotel rooms), see WeMakeWriters.com, or contact Linda White at (303) 747-1014, or CABootcamp@msn.com.

Reserve Your Spot Now -- Children's Authors' Bootcamps fill up quickly

Visit WeMakeWriters.com for all the details.

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>> ITEM 7 - Great Promotion Idea -- Start Your Own Social Network!  

Here's a terrific way to get the word out about you and your writing.  Thanks to ning.com, anyone can create their own free social networking hub, where likeminded visitors can post messages, photos, videos, music and more.  It's like having your very own mini-Myspace.  Great for keeping in touch with readers, parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else you'd like to include.  Very cool, and quite easy to set up.

Have a look at http://www.ning.com

 

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>> ITEM 8 - Feature Article: How to Think Like a Kid  By Laura Backes, Publisher of  Children's Book Insider

One of the toughest tasks for writers is to get inside the brain of a child. Sure, we all have our own childhood memories, but those can be spotty at best. And even accurate recollections reflect a different time and a different mindset. The standard advice is to observe and interact with children. Being around kids can give a window into the language and interpersonal dynamics of today's kids. But even this is far from foolproof. Youngsters are thoroughly aware of an adult's presence and may simply be trying hard to be on their best behavior. There is another way, however, that is remarkably efficient and is a surefire way to get an accurate picture of the likes, dislikes and passions of kids: read some magazines.

As the periodical market has become more niche-oriented, editors and publishers have become--by necessity--geniuses in understanding their slice of the audience. The people who put out Boys' Life, for example, spend a great deal of time and money working to master the mindset of the grade school boys in whose life Scouting and outdoor adventure play a vital part. Page after page of the magazine reflects this understanding. The vocabulary, pacing, subject matter, article length and design are all tailored specifically to suit this audience. If you hope to write for this niche, becoming familiar with Boy's Life is as valuable as attending a dozen Scout Pack meetings--and probably a lot more peaceful.

So here's the plan--for whatever age, gender or special interest group you hope to write for, find their magazines and read them, cover to cover. When you do, consider these points:

* Note how the magazines target a narrow age group and sometimes just one gender. Compare a magazine for early elementary readers to one for ages 9-12, and see how the tone, humor and attitude of the writing changes.

* Some magazines have an educational focus, and others are for entertainment. Notice how the educational publications still capture readers' interest by using jokes or making the topics relevant to kids' lives. On the other hand, the entertainment magazines also strive to profile people who are good role models, to showcase activities that are worthwhile, and to work within age-appropriate boundaries of good taste.

* Notice how the slant of magazines for girls is different from that for boys. Girls' publications often feature more fiction and poetry; boy's magazines might contain jokes or comic strips. As an exercise, read some "boy" magazines and "girl" magazines for the same age group, and pinpoint their differences. This will help you in creating boy and girl characters for your fiction.

* Peruse some of the actual articles in recent issues. Many magazines have excerpts on their web sites, so you can easily get a sense of what kids are reading (look in the magazine market section of Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market published by Writer's Digest books for lists of magazines and their web sites), though there's no substitute for thumbing through a hard copy of each publication. This will help you understand not only what kids care about, but what they're learning at school. Educational magazines in particular want articles that can be applied to what children are reading in class. And if you're writing fiction that centers around a character's school experience, you want to get the teacher's lesson plans right.

As a fiction writer, reading children's magazines can help you zero in on what your characters care about, what's going on in their world, and even what they find funny. If you're writing nonfiction, magazines will show you the breadth of interests enjoyed by your target audience, and perhaps point you toward a niche you can fill. So visit your local newsstand and start your research. You may get some funny looks when you're reading Jack and Jill at Starbucks, but the publishing contracts will be worth it.

Want more great information just like this? Check out Children's Book Insider, The Newsletter for Children's Writers. Visit now for more info and a special offer.

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See You Next Time!

Jon and Laura
Children's Book Insider, LLC
Fort Collins, Colorado
http://www.write4kids.com

PS: Remember, you can view a complete listing of our success tools for children's writers at http://write4kids.com/collect.html

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Copyright 2008, 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.

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