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>> ITEM 6 - Featured Children's Lit Blog: Six Figure Writing

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 a blog that isn't specifically about children's lit, but is certainly useful to all children's writers. Six Figure Writing is a no-nonsense blog that deals strictly with the business end of making a living as a writer. They're currently offering a free PDF report featuring the best places to sell your work online.

http://www.sixfigurewriting.com/blog/

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!

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

>> ITEM 7 - Children's Author's Bootcamp News: Only 3 Spots Left for 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

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. Omama is still up in the air, but the Colorado Bootcamp is still happening -- and boy is it happening!

The Bootcamp is all but sold out. As I write this, there are 3 spaces available. Beautiful Colorado in June and the best, most inspiring children's writing workshop around? No, you don't want to miss out....

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.

Children's Author's Bootcamp is 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!

Visit WeMakeWriters.com for all the details.

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!

>> ITEM 8 - Feature Article: Seven Steps to Success By Laura Backes, Publisher of Children's Book Insider

Feeling a bit discouraged? Burned out? Overwhelmed?

Time to take a step back and recommit to your success. Here are seven things you can start doing now to help get you over the hump:

Write on a regular basis. I'm not going to tell you to write every day, though that's great if you can make it work. But what's more important is to find a schedule you can stick to. If you set the bar too high, it will be easy to give up. So think about what's realistic for your life: three evenings a week, all day on Fridays, every Sunday afternoon. Then do it.

Read trade journals once a month. Keeping up with the publishing industry is an important part of developing a writing career. Set aside one afternoon a month to visit the library and browse through Publishers Weekly, Horn Book, School Library Journal and other trade magazines. Note which books are getting the most attention from reviewers, or are placed prominently in publishers' ads. Also read reviews of books similar to what you'd like to write. If you can't make it to the library, most trade journals have feature articles posted on their web sites, where you can do a search for anything related to children's book publishing.

Read newsletters and publishers' catalogs. It's easy to get behind with reading your subscription newsletters or keeping up with catalogs from publishers. Try leaving a stack of reading material on the table where you eat breakfast, and take 10 minutes a day to read while you're eating. If you commute to work, carry the current issue of Children's Book Insider, The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Bulletin, or a few publishing catalogs instead of the daily newspaper to look at on the bus or during your lunch hour. You can also spend an afternoon once a month in the library studying catalogs from children's book publishers (ask the children's librarian to show you where they're stored).

Read at least one new well-reviewed or award-winning children's book a month. Study the books that are getting attention, especially if they're for the same age group for which you want to write. Focus on the plot structure in fiction titles or the presentation of information in nonfiction, as well as character development, dialogue and writing style. After you've read the book, pick it apart. How many characters did the author need to tell the story? Where did the author choose to end each chapter? How many words are on each page of a picture book? How much description did the author include, and what was left up to the illustrator? Note which elements you'd like to incorporate into your own writing, as well as what you didn't like about the book.

Plan to attend one writer's conference this year. Writing conferences are terrific places to meet editors and agents, learn about new markets and trends, and network with other writers. Many conferences also offer one-on-one manuscript critiques. For conferences in your area, check out the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (www.scbwi.org), or the conference listings in Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market (Writer's Digest Books).

Enroll in at least one writing workshop this year. Writing workshops or classes differ from conferences in that they give intensive, focused instruction on the writing process. Many classes include writing exercises and the chance to have your work critiqued during the sessions. For classes in your area, check with your local community college, continuing education center, or public library. Also visit www.WeMakeWriters.com for information on Children's Authors' Bootcamp workshops held around the country.

Join (or recommit to) a critique group. Meeting regularly with a critique group can be invaluable to writers of any level. Try to find a group of people who are all working on children's books and who are familiar enough with the children's market to be able to give you useful feedback on the quality of your writing. Inquire with your local SCBWI chapter, information desk at the library, or nearby book stores for existing groups in your area. Attending a critique group regularly (even if you don't always have a manuscript to read) will sharpen your editing skills. It also doesn't hurt to have a community of writers to commiserate with when the rejections come, and to help celebrate those hard-earned sales.

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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