edited by Jon Bard     In this special issue of the Update, we'll answer some of the top questions we get from aspiring children's writers!     1.     Our #1 Most Frequently Asked Question: Do I Need an Illustrator? This one’s for the newbies….. I have a story I've written for children. Do I need to find someone to illustrate it before I can send it to a publisher? Nope. In fact, in cases where the author of a picture book is not also an artist, the publisher prefers to find its own illustrator for the book. The reason for this: often a publisher will match up a new author with a more experienced illustrator who has some name-recognition among book stores and teachers. Also, publishers have a stable of illustrators they have cultivated, and are always looking for new manuscripts for these illustrators to work on. Finally, publishers have a certain “look” they have developed for their individual lists, and the illustrator you choose for your manuscript may not have a style that fits with other books already published by that house. If you do know an artist that you want to work with, you can submit illustrations with your manuscript, but be prepared that the editor may like only the writing or only the illustrations and won’t want to buy the entire package.   From Our Sponsor: 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 From Our Sponsor: CALL FOR ENTRIES — 6th Annual ABC's Children's Picture Book Competition  Grand Prize: A Royalty Based Publishing Contract and 1,000 Copies of Published Book Deadline January 31, 2010 — http://www.abcbookcompetition.org 10 Finalists Posted September 2010 for Internet Vote to Pick the Winner See Previously Published Winners — www.ABCsPress.com      2.  Point of View and Picture Books Could you address point of view and the picture book? I’m working on a picture book story, with several characters a lot of action.  It seems more economical word-wise to write it from the omniscient view point, although that is often cautioned against. But in the picture book, there is scarcely enough time to introduce one character well before the end of the story would be near, and the other characters wouldn’t get as fleshed out as they could be. The omniscient viewpoint can work in a picture book, and it’s used there more often than in longer books. If you have several characters who are crucial to the story, it’s probably the best way to go. Also, since picture books deal with action and dialogue, rather than the internal thoughts of the characters, using the omniscient viewpoint won’t be as confusing in this format as in novels where the reader can see inside a character’s head. But still make sure one character takes center stage as your main character. Your readers have to have one character with which to identify, one character to sympathize with, and one character who has a clearly defined problem that he/she solves during the course of the story.       3. Should I Query a Specific Editor?   When sending a query letter, many resources I read say to choose an editor from a market directory and send it to him/her personally. This seems counter-intuitive to me. My first thought would be to send it as the publisher’s submission guidelines instruct–which often does NOT list editors by name. Should a secondary source really be favored over a primary source for this information? This is a tricky one, and most authors go with what feels right to them. Publishers’ guidelines (especially with larger publishing houses), often don’t list the names of specific editors because if that editor leaves or gets promoted to a different position, all the guidelines would have to be reprinted. However, the Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market is updated every year, so the staff names are current at least for a few months after each edition comes out. The prevailing wisdom is to, whenever possible, address your query to a specific editor. So I’d start with the name listed in CWIM, and give a quick call to the publisher just to verify that that person is still there before mailing your manuscript. If the listing in CWIM says to address to “Submissions Editor,” then honor that. Some publishers’ guidelines do state that they don’t want manuscripts addressed to particular editors, but rather to the Children’s Book Department in general, and in those cases that’s what you should do. The bottom line: Do your best to write a professional letter and follow the submission procedures as closely as you can. I don’t think a terrific manuscript would be rejected because you put a person’s name on the letter when it should go to a department, or vice versa.       4.  So, Are You a Fightin' Bookworm Yet?        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 Neewsletter 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 CBI Challenge -- our exclusive step-by-step children's writing course! ...and much, much more!   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 Makes a Picture Book Memorable? What are the qualities that make a memorable illustrated children’s book? Many things make a picture book memorable. Well-defined characters with whom young children can identity, and who have a problem or goal that young children can understand and find important. A well-paced plot that inspires the child to turn the page and see what happens next. Lyrical, rhythmic text that sounds appealing when read out loud. Engaging illustrations that contain details not found in the text, and also add another layer to the story. And finally, an original, imaginative story that the child, parent and editor haven’t seen before! If you think about your favorite books from your own childhood, they are probably stories that made you feel something: wonder, joy, excitement, surprise, or even sadness. Those stories that speak directly to a child’s emotions are always the most memorable.   6. What's in October'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!)   Here's a look at what's in the current issue of Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's Writers: Market Tips: *  Publisher Seeks Nonfiction on Nature, Western Culture, History  *  Electronic Publisher Seeks Submissions *  University Press Seeks Picture Books with Regional Themes *  Deadlines Approach for Three Contests *  Exclusive Publishing Opportunity for Fightin' Bookworms! In-depth Articles: * How to Write Supernatural Thrillers * In-Depth with Literary Agent Turned Author Laura Rennert * How to Create a Book Trailer to Promote Your Work * The CBI Challenge, Part 6:  Creating a Strong Antagonist 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     7.    Can I Have an Adult Lead Character in a Children’s Book? Is it possible or advisable to have a lead character who is an adult, rather than a child, in a novel for kids ages 8-12? It seems to me that many successful books involve a lead character who is approximately the same age as the audience, unless the book involves animals as characters. Is it a generally accepted convention or a rule that the character who experiences the main conflict and changes in a children’s book should be a child? Or is it possible to have an adult as the lead character if the supporting characters are children and if the problems faced by the adult involve issues which are relevant to children? Do you know of any examples of any successful books for ages 8-12 in which the lead character is not a child? Your questions are very perceptive. You’ve noticed that most books have children as main characters, and that the conflict needs to be something relevant to a child. As a result, it’s hard to have the main character be an adult, though not impossible. Everything that comes to mind as examples feature a prominent adult character, but the story’s still told through the viewpoint of a child. For example, The Pigman by Paul Zindel is about an eccentric loner, but the story’s told by two kids who befriend him. Even in these books the adult is facing problems that are relevant to the middle grade readers. So to give you a firm answer to your question, I believe it would be difficult to successfully make an adult the main, viewpoint character, though he/she can be a very strong secondary character or even the focus of the book as long as a child is the one telling the story.   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.       From Our Sponsors: Learn how to land a contract BEFORE you write one word of your manuscript -- even if you're an inexperienced or unpublished children's writer! Click Here to Learn More!     Structure your picture books like the pros! Click Here for More Info!     Writing for Dollars! the ezine for writers featuring tips, tricks and ideas for selling what you write. Get our ebook, 83 Ways to Make Money Writing when you subscribe. Email to subscribe@writingfordollars.com -*- www.WritingForDollars.com Celebrate I Love To Write Day. Visit www.ilovetowriteday.org and learn how you can join the world's largest party for writers of all ages. Over 20,000 schools are part of the ILTWD network. Free Copy of Working Writer Magazine! Get your sample copy by e-mailing workingwriters@aol.com  Copyright 2009, 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 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 October 22, 2009 Children's Writing  Update Children's Book Insider, LLC 901 Columbia Rd  Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-495-0056 mail@write4kids.com http://write4kids.com http://write4kids.com/blog http://twitter.com/jonbard http://cbiclubhouse.com for complete listing of our success tools for children's writers, visit http://write4kids.com/collect.html   "I feel like kid in a candy store with permission to eat whatever I want. This site is extraordinary." "Fantastic! This is the best idea I've ever seen on the web!" "Simply Outstanding. This is the most complete site I have ever seen on the topic of writing for children. This is truly a blessing. Thank you!" Ready To Experience The CBI Clubhouse For Yourself?   CLICK HERE!   http://cbiclubhouse.com       Sponsor the Update! Need to reach working and aspiring children's book writers with your marketing message?  We've got more than 44,000 of them!  E-mail us (mail@write4kids.com) and we'll send you all the details.   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 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   And there's more. For a full listing, just go to http://write4kids.com/collect.html Jon Bard, 901 Columbia Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525, United States

Recent Back Issues: