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VIDEO: Helen Landalf’s Tips for Writing & Marketing Young Adult Books

Feb 28th, 2012 | By Laura Backes

Laura interviews our Young Adult Writing Expert Guide about how to get started writing and publishing YA books.

Posted in Expert Craft, expert posts, Middle Grade & Young Adult Sticky | 1 Comment »

Our Expert Craft Guides Answer Your Questions

Feb 28th, 2012 | By Laura Backes

Our Expert Craft Guides Answer Your Questions

This month: how to sell a literary picture book; the keys to creating conflict in an easy reader series; how to make historical fiction appealing to today’s kids and how to write YA dialogue that sounds authentic to teen readers.

Posted in Expert Craft, expert posts, General Writing Sticky | No Comments »

Nuts & Bolts: Word Counts & Age Groups in Children’s Books

Feb 10th, 2012 | By Laura Backes

Nuts & Bolts: Word Counts & Age Groups in Children’s Books

By Laura Backes, CBI Publisher

Here they are: The Rules of the Game for Writing Children’s Books — from Board Books Straight through Young Adult! This is a must-read for all authors.

Posted in Beginners' Corner, Expert Craft, expert posts, General Writing Sticky, The CBI Challenge, The Craft of Writing, The Writing Process, Traditional Publishing Sticky | 50 comments
Tags: basics

Picture Books 101

Jan 24th, 2012 | By Laura Backes

By Laura Backes, CBI Publisher

Here’s exactly the info you need to get started writing picture books!

Posted in Expert Craft, expert posts, Picture Books Sticky | 3 comments

Young Adult Books 101

Jan 16th, 2012 | By Laura Backes

The basics of writing young adult novels, all in one place!

Posted in Middle Grade & Young Adult Sticky | No Comments »

Easy Readers 101

Jan 16th, 2012 | By Laura Backes

Here’s what you need to know to get started writing Easy Readers.

Posted in Easy Readers & Chapter Books Sticky | 1 Comment »

Chapter Books 101

Jan 16th, 2012 | By Laura Backes

Interested in writing a chapter book? Here’s where to start!

Posted in Easy Readers & Chapter Books Sticky | No Comments »

New Picture Books from Three Fightin’ Bookworms!

Dec 3rd, 2011 | By Laura Backes

New Picture Books from Three Fightin’ Bookworms!

We’re pleased to highlight new picture books from three Fightin’ Bookworms: Natasha Yim, Allyn M. Stotz, and Carrie A. Pearson. In this interview they give some of their best tips on writing, revising and getting published.

Posted in Getting Published, Just Posted!, Picture Books, The Craft of Writing | 3 comments
Tags: picture books

Plot Guidelines for Writing in Different Fiction Genres

Nov 16th, 2011 | By Laura Backes

Plot Guidelines for Writing in Different Fiction Genres

From mysteries to thrillers to historical fiction – learn the rules of the road for developing your plot.

Posted in General Writing Sticky, Genre Specific Tips, The CBI Challenge, The Craft of Writing | 2 comments
Tags: plot

Developing Your Book Idea

Nov 16th, 2011 | By Laura Backes

Developing Your Book Idea

Is your story idea ready to be turned into a book? It’s time to find out!

Posted in Developing Story Ideas, General Writing Sticky, The CBI Challenge, The Craft of Writing | 23 comments
Tags: story development

How to Write a Plot Synopsis

Jul 28th, 2011 | By Laura Backes

How to Write a Plot Synopsis

By Laura Backes, CBI Publisher

There is no way around it— if you plan to submit your manuscript to publishers, you’re going to have to write a plot synopsis. Here’s how to do it!

Posted in Brand New on the CBI Clubhouse!, expert posts, Expert Publishing, Getting Published, Submitting to Publishers, Traditional Publishing | 1 Comment »
Tags: query letters and the submissions package

Writing YA for Dummies Author Talks About Her New Book

Jun 27th, 2011 | By Laura Backes

Writing YA for Dummies Author Talks About Her New Book

Get the scoop on writing for publishing’s hottest age group in this exclusive podcast.

Posted in Author Interview Podcasts, Brand New on the CBI Clubhouse!, Genre Specific Tips, Instructional Audio Podcasts, Middle Grade & Young Adult, The Craft of Writing | 3 comments
Tags: author interviews, young adult

Editors on the Move: Latest Children’s Publishing News

Jun 24th, 2011 | By Laura Backes

Editors on the Move: Latest Children’s Publishing News

From the ever-changing publishing world, the latest from Highlights for Children, Simon & Schuster, Dial and more.

Posted in Brand New on the CBI Clubhouse!, Getting Published, Market & Submission Updates, Submitting to Publishers, Traditional Publishing | 21 comments
Tags: Market & Submission Updates, new editors, publishers, researching publishers and getting ready to submit

Ask The Author: Lois Lowry

Apr 11th, 2011 | By Laura Backes

Ask The Author: Lois Lowry

Legendary author Lois Lowry discusses her writing process, and the one change she would make to The Giver.

Posted in Ask the Author, Middle Grade & Young Adult, The Craft of Writing, The Writing Process | 6 comments
Tags: author interviews, Easy Readers and Chapter Books, young adult

Victoria Hanley on Writing YA Fantasy

Mar 22nd, 2011 | By Laura Backes

Victoria Hanley on Writing YA Fantasy

In this podcast, Laura interviews popular Young Adult author Victoria Hanley about the ins and outs of writing YA fantasy novels.

Posted in Author Interview Podcasts, Genre Specific Tips, Middle Grade & Young Adult, The Craft of Writing | 2 comments
Tags: author interviews, authors, fantasy, podcast, YA, young adult

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Jon Bard: Hi Chiquita - here's my favorite book on general writing -- I think it will really help you: http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Well-30th-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0060891548

Chiquita Ferdinand: What is the best way to improve grammar?

chris smith: Having my 2 year old granddaughter bring me this book repeatedly I was curious. Thank you for sharing what brings her back to this book. Great lesson! Thank you

Laura Backes: Let's all take a moment today to honor the great talent Maurice Sendak, who died today at age 83. Spend some time reading your favorite Sendak book. Or better yet, read it to a child.

marjorie hembroff: I was wondering if you knew the best way to post photo's in blogs. I am using Word Press and can't find any instructions anywhere.Maybe instructions could be posted somewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if other people have this problem [...]

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Download This Month’s Children’s Book Insider!

The May, 2012 edition of Children's Book Insider, The Newsletter for Children's Writers is waiting for you.

Click here and grab it now!

This month's highlights include:

►. New Agent Accepting Submissions for All Ages
► Book Packager Accepting Original Manuscripts
► New EBook Publisher Seeks Middle Grade, YA Writers
► Publisher Seeks Fiction, Nonfiction with Jewish Themes
► Publisher Seeks Books for Teachers, Parents
► Jane Yolen Establishes Mid-list Author Grant
► The 8 Crucial Steps of the Writing Process
► Exclusive Report: Hot News From the Bologna Book Conference
► How to Kickstart Your Creativity with a Writing Prompt
► Hook Your Reader with a Powerful Ending
► How to Turn a Small Child Into a Compelling Character

Tweets from our Expert Guides!

Welcome to the Clubhouse!

Welcome to The CBI Clubhouse! We're so glad you're here.

Founded in 1990, Children's Book Insider is a family business based in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado.

CBI Publisher Laura Backes has served as an editor and literary agent, and has been published herself by Random House, Writer's Digest and The Writer, among many others. She was Technical Editor of Writing Children's Books for Dummies and is the co-founder of the acclaimed Children's Author's Bootcamp workshops.

Jon Bard owned a New York-based public relations firm and was one of the field's top copywriters before joining Laura in making Children's Book Insider a full-time family effort. He is responsible for the development of The CBI Clubhouse and oversees the day to day operation of the site.

So that's a little about us. But, of course, this site is really all about you -- and all the Fightin' Bookworms!

If you have any questions at all, just use the "Contact Us" link at the top of the page to drop us a line.

Enjoy your stay!

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