The CBI Clubhouse - The Community for Children's Book Writers

Ask Laura

Is it OK to Switch Points of View?

Mar 10th, 2009 | By Jon Bard

In this video, Laura answers one of the trickier questions a writer can face: Is it acceptable to change points of view mid-story?

Posted in Ask Laura, Beginners' Corner, General Writing Technique, The Craft of Writing | 6 comments
Tags: point of view and storytelling, video

“How Do I Find a Publisher?”

Feb 5th, 2009 | By Jon Bard

If there’s one question every author has, it’s this one! In this installment of Ask Laura, learn the ins and outs of finding the right publisher for your manuscript.

Posted in Ask Laura, Beginners' Corner, Getting Published, Submitting to Publishers, Traditional Publishing | 5 comments
Tags: researching publishers and getting ready to submit

“Can I tell an editor how the artwork should look?”

Jan 12th, 2009 | By Laura Backes

In this video, Laura answers a common question from picture book authors: How can I let an editor know what the artwork to accompany my story should include?

Posted in Ask Laura, Beginners' Corner, Getting Published, Submitting to Publishers, Traditional Publishing | 4 comments
Tags: artwork, Ask Laura, illustrations, picture books, query letters and the submissions package, video

“How Do I Propose a Picture Book Series to an Editor?”

Jan 11th, 2009 | By Laura Backes

You’ve written a picture book manuscript intended to be the first in a series of books. How do you let an editor know that without
[continue reading...]

Posted in Ask Laura, Audio and Video, Getting Published, Submitting to Publishers, Traditional Publishing | 2 comments
Tags: Ask Laura, picture book, query letters and the submissions package, series

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Latest Forum Posts

What are you working on?
by: Helen Landalf

Re: Private Critique Groups here on the Clubhouse - what we have in mind....
by: kristi

Re: Childrens Book Publicity: Start Local for Fast Results
by: jonbard

Re: Give magazines a try!
by: kathryn lay

Chat With Other Fightin' Bookworms in Real Time!

Last Message

6 hours, 55 minutes

ago

Jon Bard : February's issue of Children's Book Insider, The Newsletter for Children's Writers is online! «link»
JZ Bingham : Are the distribution lists of POD's like Lightning Source really beneficial for a first-time author, or will my title languish on a list and never make it to the major book stores?
Jon Bard : Elizabeth - the new issue will be online by tomorrow.
Chiquita Ferdinand : I have written a picture book about shapes. In my book I combine rhyme with regular prose. Is it a good idea to mix rhyme and regular prose together in a book for early readers?
Elizabeth Westra : when does the February Children's Book Insider come out? I'm always eager to get the new one and see what's there to help me in my writing.
Laura Backes : Helen: We're limited by the site's template. But now that you know you can see if you're logged in by looking at the bottom right corner of your screen, it shouldn't be a problem. If you move your cursor over the words "Welcome Fightin' Bookworm Helen" you'll be able to log out as well.
Laura Backes : Mary Ann: Please go to main message board and post your question in the middle grade forum «link» Our guides check those at least once a week and Kirby's more likely to see you question there.
mary ann rosswurm : Kirby Larson, I have heard that historical fiction for middle grade is a more difficult genre to get published, esp. for a new writer without an agent. Would you recommend focusing on getting an agent first or could you suggest a few editors who might be more open to such submissions. Thanks.
Jon Bard : Hey Terry - here you go! «link»
Terry Hueffed : John, where do I go on your site to find the CBI widgets to put on my websites?
Deborah Williams : Marlis--I'd try Highlights, High Five, Turtle, Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Cricket and Ladybug. Good Luck!
Marlis Winegar : Need help in finding magazines I can submit short stories to for children 5-9. Does anyone know of any?
Helen McCandless : I truly wish there were an indication at the top of the home page that one was logged in. Or needed t log in. like maybe "Hi Helen" and then a button to log out. I hate having to hunt all over for a way to log in, only to find an indication at the bottom of the page.
Natasha Wing : Has anyone had an editor ask for a manuscript with illustrator notes?
Laura Backes : Great Marian. In a week or so we'll have info up on the Clubhouse as to how to sign up for a critique group, and then I'll start setting them up. So just hang in there a little longer!
Sherri Carpenter : Thanks John, can't wait to get it.
Jon Bard : Terry, go to our eBook Publishing home page at «link» and you'll see a link on the left side that says "Step By Step: How to Create Your Own eBook for the Nook & Kindle" That'll do it!
Terry Hueffed : Does anyone know how to format a children's picture book for the Kindle?
Marian Copus : I would like to be on the list for an online critique group for early chapter books!
Laura Backes : Jean: Click on "Get Your Work Professionally Critiqued" above to get info about our manuscript critique service. Also, we'll be setting up online critique groups here in about another week.
Jean W. Morey : Do you have anyone who can read over my 3 mid-reader historical fiction manuscripts and give me advise? I am a writer illustrator and would be willing to go electronic to reach my readers.
Laura Backes : Sarah, I'm sending you an email with some more info, since this topic is too big for this message board.
Jon Bard : Sarah, here's the link to the Picture Book Forum «link»
Sarah Wynne : Hi Laura, when I click on the picture book forum as you suggested, I'm taken back to the home page. Still curious about payment to our illustrator. Is there an acceptable range for flat payments and/or % of book sales paid to illustrators?Wha t would be acceptable payment terms if we were taking the traditional publishing route? I'm not even sure where to start the negotiations. There still may not be a quick answer - if so, I'll stop bothering you!Thank you!
Sarah Wynne : Thank you so much, Laura!
Laura Backes : Sarah, con't: ....not a quick or easy question to answer. I suggest you post it in the picture book forum of the message board and see if authors who have hired illustrators can give you some advice.
Laura Backes : Sarah: Your question about what to pay an illustrator has many variables. Since it sounds like you're responsible for paying the illustrator (instead of your publisher), you can either pay a flat fee up front, or an advance and then a percentage of sales taken from your own royalty payments you get from the publisher. You also have to work out who owns the copyright on the illustrations. Since this is more typical of a self-published book than one traditionally published, it's not a quick questi
Jon Bard : Hi Louise....we plan on starting a "critique group central" in the next couple of months right here on the Clubhouse, which will feature private forums and age group/experience level crit groups. We're still catching our breath from the redesign, but we'll get on it soon!
louise greene : I am looking for an online critique group. Are there any CBI members interested? Does CBI facilitate that? I am working on an historical middle grade novel and the one group I had disbanded.
Jon Bard : Hi Kathryn. Hav you noticed the bar at the bottom of the screen? If the login boxes aren't visible and "Welcome, Fighin' Bookworm (your name)" appears in the right corner, you're all logged in.
M. Kathryn Ciamarr : It would be much better to have the login up at the top so we could tell more easily if we're already logged in or not.
Sarah Wynne : We are at the stage of negotiating price with our illustrator. What is the typical payment for an illustrator for a 32 page picture book? Should we expect to pay up front or a percentage of book sales? Our publisher has instructed us to get the book illustrated first. Thank you so much!
Evelyn Webb : Love the Clubhouse! Very user-friendly and of course, the info's great as well. Really appreciate the tips and tidbits you offer us.
Felicity Tessaro : I have always enjoyed 'going on safari' to look at all your ideas, tips, articles and so on - congratulations! Love the new look.

Download This Month’s Children’s Book Insider!

The February, 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:

► Submissions Open for Christian Magazine/Fiction Writing Contest
► Promotional Opportunity for Kindle Authors
► New Publisher of Boy-Centered Middle Grade Seeks Submissions
► New Agent Seeks Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction
► 20th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Taking Entries
► Spice Up Your Writing With Tasty Details
► Stop! Read this Before You Publish Your Book!
► Important Lessons From Two Best-Selling Authors
► How To Take Your Online Marketing to New Levels
► Going From Outline to Finished Manuscript

From Laura’s Blog

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!