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1. Daniel F Rousseau December 30th, 2008 6:21 pm :

   Great information — the Googling — I wasn’t aware of it, but now I’ll surely use it. Thanks.

2. Kathy Berklund December 30th, 2008 6:35 pm :

   Impressive web site! User friendly and fun to look at. I look forward to exploring it more.

3. Nana Vaughn December 31st, 2008 3:19 pm :

   What a great tool!!!! Can’t wait to use it!!

4. laura mcneeley January 2nd, 2009 5:24 pm :

   Thank you!! Your presentation on how to access this great tool is detailed/easy enough even for a computer-challenged person such as myself to sign up! This “Fightin’Bookworm” is looking forward to being a member of the CBI Clubhouse!

5. Shelly Pollock January 8th, 2009 12:54 pm :

   Jon -

   If it were not for your great Google Reader presentation i just finished viewing, i might have put off learning about this great resource. But now you have made me both willing and excited to venture into this Google Reader world!! Great job …Thank you so much !!! Shelly Pollock

6. Lidia January 28th, 2009 2:27 pm :

   Jon, Thank you for showing us how to use google reader and also telling us about it. I’m excited to try it out.

7. Marvin Mayer February 4th, 2009 12:54 pm :

   Jon, You are truly providing a fantastic service for us beginning writers. This Google Reader series of videos is mind-boggling to me, but I intend to review them as often as needed until I can set up my own account and get lots of “smarts!” Thank you for doing what you do.

8. teri lechowski February 11th, 2009 10:27 am :

   Thank you for the information. I am an unpublished, eager, easily distracted novice writer! This should help considerably. Great site and very helpful.

9. Chris Pedersen February 11th, 2009 12:56 pm :

   Jon, Thanks for the GREAT show-n-tell on Google Reader. You are being a wealth of help to the social networking neophytes–that’s me. Will you be doing a show-n-tell on ways to get our own blogs more visibility in the cyber sphere?

10. Jon Bard February 11th, 2009 12:58 pm :

    Good suggestion Chris. I’ll start thinking about that.

    jon

11. Deb Hockenberry February 12th, 2009 6:08 am :

    Jon,
    Thank you for showing me what all I can do with this tool! It’s going to make my researching so much easier. I’m anxious to find out what else Google has!

12. Dorothy Mobilia February 12th, 2009 8:02 pm :

    Very cool, Jon! Thanks.

13. Sherri February 13th, 2009 9:46 pm :

    this is the first that i have heard about this. i am really serious about writing childrens books ages 2 to maybe 15. i will use this to help with my books

    thanks
    sherri

14. Leslie Galliker February 14th, 2009 12:07 pm :

    Thanks, Jon, this seems so great. I am anxious to start researching with it. I just landed a contract to do passages for educational testing, and I am sure that this is going to come in very handy!

    Thanks again, Leslie

15. Tina Cho February 28th, 2009 1:42 pm :

    Wow! I’m so amazed at how fast and easy you can get this info. I will definitely use this as I research for my stories! Thanks!!!

    Tina Cho

16. Jo Kittinger April 13th, 2009 1:57 pm :

    Thanks! I’m a visual learner, so this tutorial was just what I needed!

17. Jennifer April 15th, 2009 6:12 pm :

    Jon you are a WONDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

18. John Broadwater April 18th, 2009 1:45 pm :

    Jon, I had no idea this was available. Thanks for telling us about it and thanks even more for showing us so clearly how to get started.

19. Adnan April 22nd, 2009 11:00 am :

    Jon , Nice tutorial and tool.
    It is good learning experience.

    For info and knowledge and it will be quite surprising for you.

    In our pushto language students are called “Taliban”..

20. Marcus Noel June 10th, 2009 7:47 pm :

    Great Instructional Video !!!
    I’ve already been using the Google Reader through Google Apps on my iPhone.
    Next to my Yahoo Email, It’s probably my 2nd most used app on the iPhone.
    When on the the go, any posts I want to select out for review later can be easily sent to any valid email account.

    Thanks,

    – Marcus Noel

21. Kirby Wycoff July 11th, 2009 4:13 pm :

    Hi Jon,
    Is there any way to group the different subjects that we are researching? For example. I might want to research geo-caching (?) but also skateboarding. Any way to separate out and organize the two?
    Kirby

22. Jeff Sargent July 23rd, 2009 8:29 am :

    Hey Jon,

    I just came from the War Room. Thanks for videos on Google Reader. I just started using FeedDemon and I’m not sure I like it. I think I will test the waters of Google Reader. I also heard about Google alerts a long time ago but never knew how to use it. It looks like something that could be very handy.

    I was searching for blogs the hard way but I am definitely going to do it your way as it will save me tons of time.

    Later,
    Jeff Sargent

23. Warren Contreras August 5th, 2009 7:24 pm :

    Play Audio Comment

24. Liz Springer August 28th, 2009 2:02 pm :

    In Google Reader, once you have a subscription to a blog topic, how do you delete those you don’t want to read or keep those which you want to go back to? Thanks, Jon.

25. Jon Bard August 28th, 2009 3:33 pm :

    Liz,

    There are a couple of options to keep posts in Google reader that you want to hang on to:

    1. At the bottom of the post, click “Add Star”. Now the post will show up under “Starred Items” and will stay there until you remove it.

    2. Use the technique I describe in this new video: http://cbiclubhouse.com/2009/08/follow-up-heres-a-killer-google-reader-tip/

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• Lillyjane : Hello everyone! I am a new member and am already appreciating the wonderful information available on this site. I write poetry in the vein of Shel Silverstein and also have a headfull of possible children's stories. I have much to learn and am taking those first baby steps to a lifetime's dream of being an author. Thank you for pointing out the road for me to follow.
• Emma Bladen : Great - looked everywhere and it was right under my nose. Thanks Laura!
• Nancy Graves : Laura, thanks so much for that insight. I hadn't thought of that! I will certainly read about "pacing" too, to make sure my story is where it should be before sending it to a book publisher. I can't say enough good about CBI - It's been a GREAT encouragement! Thanks!
• Laura Backes : Hi Dr. Peter: Generally, a 12 point font is good for your manuscript submissions. If you're talking about finished book design, then a bit larger (14-18 point, depending on the font) is usually good. These books are meant to be read out loud while holding the book up so kids can see the pictures, so a slightly larger type is easier to read.
• Laura Backes : Hi Emma: My video "How to Read Like a Writer" is in Module 1 of The CBI Challenge. Enjoy!
• Laura Backes : Sheryl: Thanks for the nice words on my sub-plots article!
• Laura Backes : Carolyn: I suggest you send two versions in your submission. 1) A typed, double spaced manuscript without illustrations. 2) A dummy that has the photos placed with appropriate text on each page, and stapled together so the pages turn and are read like a book. It's best to scan the photos and print out the pages with photos/text from your computer. Don't send anything that you can't afford to get lost or damaged. Good luck!
• Laura Backes : Cathy: The easiest way to handle postage when submitting to foreign publishers is to ask them to recycle your manuscript, and reply to you by email. You can also get International Postage Reply Coupons at the post office, which can be redeemed at the foreign post office for stamps. Larger publishers probably won't like this, though, so email replies are best.
• Laura Backes : To Nancy: Many publishers want exclusive rights to material, so if it's been published in a magazine that would mean you're selling reprint rights to the publisher, not exclusive first rights. I suggest you first submit it to book publishers, and if you don't have any luck, then go to magazines. Be sure it's right for a book though. Magazine stories are often paced differently than picture books.
• Dr. Peter J. Shiel : Is there a prefered type size and font for childrens picture books? Please.
• Dr. Peter J. Shiel : Thanks Jon, I have an interesting item for you. As an author new to children's writing I monitor very closely all my web sites (I have 13) I use 'Feedjit' on all my sites which gives me real time information on who's visiting my site and when and even more important how they got to my site (search engine or referring site) Yesterday I say a hit on «link» from Brisbane Australia. As my family live there I was not surprised until I looked at the referring site...it was yours! (
• Emma Bladen : But now I can't find the section on reading like a writer. Could you point me in the right direction? Thanks
• Emma Bladen : Hi Jon and Laura - I have been working my way slowly through your great website, thankyou.
• Sheryl Crawford : Hi, Laura (o; Your piece in the Feb issue on developing sub-plots, was extremely helpful. Just what I've been needing. Once again−-−amazing!
• Carolyn Bartlett : Hi Laura, Thank you for your response. I do want to be considered as the illustrator for my picture story. I have 3 x 5 photos or I can get them printer larger. The manuscript is ready to go sans final editing. Should I paste the art in the flow of the story, or make bracketed notes and paste the art in the back? Or is there a better way to get both the story and the illustrations considered? Many thanks, Carolyn
• cathy collinson : How do you handle postage when sending an SAE to a country other than your own?
• Nancy Graves : If I’ve written a children’s fiction story with the goal (dream) of eventually having it published as a children’s picture book, would I ruin my chances of a book publisher picking it up if I submit it to a well-know periodical (i.e.: Pockets) and they except and publish it - even though I retain the rights?
• Laura Backes : Con't from previous message: You can say you got the publisher's info from CBI as long as you target the appropriate publishers for your manuscript! A friendly reminder to everyone: if you send submissions that don't match what editors are looking for, and it gives them unnecessary work, they'll stop talking to me and letting me run their guidelines. Thanks Fightin' Bookworms!
• Laura Backes : Con't from previous message: For Mark Reed: When submitting by email, format your query as you would any business letter -- single spaced, Times New Roman or similar type, about 12 point size. Most publishers do not want attachments, so all material must be pasted into the email message. There's an article in the Feb. CBI about email submissions. And Amy, yes the CBI guidelines supersedes the publisher's web site, because I've gotten the info from the publisher directly. You can say you got the
• Laura Backes : Hi everyone, sorry I haven't answered questions in a few days. Was getting the Feb. CBI out. For Shelley Corwin: We list changing editors in "Editors on the Move" here on the Clubhouse. I try to update it about once a month. We often don't have guidelines right then because editors have just taken new positions, but we'll list them in CBI as we get them.
• Mike Harrison : Thank you for the CBI reading list. I am reading my 4th book from the list.
• Jon Bard : February's Children's Book Insider is up! Get it here: «link»
• Dr. Peter J. Shiel : Thank you Jon - have done! The book is available on line on my web site (you'll have to rotate it!) «link»
• Jon Bard : Peter - send an e-mail to «email» and info about our critique service will be sent right back to you.
• Dr. Peter J. Shiel : I'm looking for someone with editorial background to comment on my first attempt at a Childrens Picture book
• Jon Bard : Wow -- thanks for all the nice words everyone! the February issue will be up tomorrow, by the way....
• Amy : Thanks for your site, and especially for the newsletter!
• Amy : When responding to a call for submissions featured in the Insider, do those instructions typically supersede those on the publisher's website? Should we mention in the cover letter that we're responding to a CBInsider story?
• Deborah Cotnam : thank you Jon and Laura!
• Mary Rudzinski : I was skeptical about starting a children's book but this site is truly helpful, and giving me the courage to push ahead. !
• Kristin Tobaben-Sm : When does the Feb. Newsletter come out? Just wondering. Jan. was my first month and I LOVED the newsletter. I copy it and read at my leisure.
• Linda : I am always getting more and more info. from this weg-site. Hope you enjoy it also.
• Debbie Gunn : Hi Everyone! My name is Debbie and I am a brand new member and anxious and scared at the same time. I have been told for years by many people that I should write. I however am totally clueless about what to write about. I am praying that this course is able to bring it out of me because I really believe that writing is why I was put on this earth. I am hoping that I can also learn from you, so if there is anyone out there that wants to help a novice, let me know. I'm a quick learner and a
• Hema : Please visit my blog «link» and browse, comment and subscribe away. I am hoping that my fellow bookworms will give this novice blogger the courage to finally "let go of her writing", as Jon and Laura always advise us to .
• Marilyn Faulhaber : I'm new to CBI and am looking forward to fininshing my novel. I've been published in magazines; now my target is getting books published. I'm excited!

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