++++ Study Children's Writing at Spalding University ++++

Spalding University in Louisville, KY, is offering a remarkable opportunity:
a brief-residency MFA in Writing Program with a concentration in writing for children.
For information, request brochure FA80: email mfa@spalding.edu or call (800) 896-8941x2423 or visit http://www.spalding.edu/mfa

**************** advertisements from this month's sponsors****************

http://www.inkrethink.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 -  Children's Author's Bootcamp News:  After Colorado, It's On to Omaha!

 

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

Two incredible days of fun, inspiration and learning from a couple of real children's writing pros -- it's the acclaimed Children's Author's Bootcamp.  And now, a second event has been added to the calendar!

We've been telling you about 2008's first Bootcamp, June 7 and 8 at 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.   

Now  the ladies have announced a second Bootcamp for June -- and it's smack dab in America's heartland.  Get ready Omaha -- The Children's Author's Bootcamp is coming June 21 and 22!

It's 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) 

and

June 21 and 22 in Omaha, Nebraska

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.

PS:  The Colorado Bootcamp is limited to 35 participants and it's close to selling out.   Do not delay booking your spot in either of these Bootcamps or you may have to wait 'til 2009!

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>> ITEM 7 - Wi-Fi Hotspot Finder 

One of the great things about being a writer is that you can do it pretty much anywhere.  Charge up the laptop battery and you're ready to go.  But to really go mobile, a "wi-fi" connection to the internet is the only way to travel.

These days, scores of coffee shops, bookstores and even fast food joints offer wi-fi service to their customers.  The tricky part?  Finding them.  I've looked at a bunch of directories, and I've found this one to be very comprehensive and reliable:

http://www.jiwire.com/search-hotspot-locations.htm

And here's one that shows locations on a map:

http://hotspotr.com/wifi

Happy wi-fying!

 

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The Children's Writers Big Book of "How To"

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. Visit http://write4kids.com/bigbook.html to view then entire table of contents!

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>> ITEM 8 - Feature Article: Writing for the English/Spanish Bilingual Market  By Laura Backes, Publisher of  Children's Book Insider

A recent census reported that one in seven U.S. children speak Spanish in the home. Couple this with Spanish as a second language being taught in more and more elementary schools, and you've got a large market for bilingual children's books. Publishers are taking notice. Several publishers specializing in bilingual books now exist, and many other publishers have created bilingual imprints.

True bilingual books (those that show the entire text in both English and Spanish) tend to be picture books, as the shorter text makes it possible to include two versions in one book. For novels and longer nonfiction, publishers will do Spanish language versions of popular books, or create titles in Spanish of special interest to the Latino market, such as the Yo Solo Biograf?as (On My Own Biographies) for grades 2-4 from Lerner Books' ediciones Lerner imprint. Within the bilingual specialist publishers, the range of picture book topics varies greatly. "We do bilingual with a unique focus," said Dawn Jeffers of Raven Tree Press. "We do not produce books with a cultural focus specifically. Our universal, family oriented storylines appeal to bilingual schools, households and neighborhoods. We also find ESL classes, both adult and children, using our books." 

In general, modern stories that take place in the United States seem to be in the greatest demand. Children's Book Press publishes contemporary themes of Latino/Chicano culture, with a special emphasis on stories that encourage critical thinking about social or personal issues. Pi?ata Books, the children's imprint of Arte P?blico Press, produces picture books and young adult novels that accurately reflect the themes, characters and customs unique to U.S. Hispanic culture.

"Books that Latino kids can relate to and are able to be read in both languages, shared with family members, and also shared with English speakers. They create a bond and a foundation of understanding." Jeffers said, "We do not tackle rhyme or word play. They just do not translate as naturally whether from English to Spanish or vice versa." Raven Tree Press has four formats of bilingual books: full text translation (the full story in both English and Spanish); embedded text (an English story with Spanish words sprinkled throughout and repeated in context so the reader learns the meaning of the words); wordless picture books for young children, with bilingual notes to parents; and concept bilingual, in which one concept (such as numbers) is the only word in Spanish.

Publishers will purchase manuscripts specifically for the bilingual format, or reissue popular English-language books in Spanish or bilingual editions. English-speaking authors are not required to provide the Spanish translations. "We have found that the translation is a very market sensitive issue and is best tackled from a more objective perspective,"said Jeffers. Many publishers are accepting submissions for picture books for their bilingual programs, and novels with Hispanic and Latino themes that would work as Spanish language editions.

I've included a list of bilingual publishers; check Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market published by Writer's Digest books for more markets. Jeffers noted that it's important for authors to check publishers' websites before making any submissions, as guidelines may change, and each publisher has a specific slant on the types of books they need.

A short list of publishers of bilingual children's books:

Raven Tree Press, www.raventreepress.com
Pi?ata Books (imprint of Arte P?blico Press), www.arte.uh.edu
ediciones Lerner (imprint of Lerner Books), www.lernerbooks.com
Children's Book Press, www.childrensbookpress.org
Chronicle Books, www.chroniclebooks.com
Scholastic en Espa?ol (imprint of Scholastic), http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/tradebooks/newreleases_espanol.htm
Rayo (imprint of HarperCollins), www.harpercollins.com
Henry Holt & Company, www.henryholtchildrensbooks.com