What takes so long?

What is it about publishing that makes it take year(s) before your book comes out?

http://chavelaque.blogspot.com/2012/08/six-reasons-why-everything-in.html

Ending a Blog

Five things to consider before you pull the plug on your blog. 

http://carmenoliver.livejournal.com/45183.html

Is Your Manuscript Ready to Query?

Here's a checklist to make sure your manuscript is all sparkly and ready to go. 

http://writeoncon.com/2012/08/knowing-when-your-ms-is-ready-to-query-by-literary-agent-lara-perkins/

When to Outline

Even if you don't make an outline before you write, it helps to do so after each draft. 

http://www.bethrevis.blogspot.com/2012/08/writing-wednesday-when-to-outline.html

picture book titles

Two things to avoid when you're titling your picture book. 

http://kidlit.com/2012/08/20/picture-book-titles-to-avoid/

Quiet Books

Even if your book is quiet, it still needs to be interesting. 

http://helpineedapublisher.blogspot.com/2012/08/dear-crabbit-my-book-is-too-quiet-and.html

Writing Contest Scams

Watch out for these red flags before entering a writing contest. 

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2012/08/guest-blog-post-red-flags-of-writing.html

Best-Ever Teen Fiction

NPR (National Public Radio) conducted a poll to choose the 100 best young adult novels. 

http://www.npr.org/2012/08/07/157795366/your-favorites-100-best-ever-teen-novels

21 Plot Shapes

There are many more ways  plot shapes than what you learned in school.

http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=columns&vol=mette_ivie_harrison&article=046

Character Names

Some tips for choosing appropriate names for your characters. 

http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2012/08/whats-in-name-naming-your.html

Small Presses

What are the pros and cons of publishing with a small press? 

http://www.rachellegardner.com/2012/08/pros-and-cons-of-small-presses/

Synopses

How to write a synopsis, using The Wizard of Oz as an example. 

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2012/08/synopsis-writing-101.html

Dialogue Punctuation

Using the correct punctuation makes your dialogue more readable. 

http://www.institutechildrenslit.com/rx/wt03/punctuating.shtml

Getting Critiqued

Give yourself enough time to think about a comment before you dismiss it.

http://beckylevine.com/2012/07/24/critique-comments-remembering-to-give-them-time/

Research

If you're writing nonfiction, and often fiction, you need to do research. 

http://www.institutechildrenslit.com/rx/wt06/getstarted.shtml

Writer's Resume

Every once in a while, a publisher will ask you for your writer's resume. Here's how to do it. 

http://www.institutechildrenslit.com/rx/ws07/resume.shtml

Dialogue Mistakes

Here are eight to avoid. 

http://www.darcypattison.com/revision/8-dialogue-mistakes-to-avoid/

Boy Readers

They don't just want to see boy protagonists. 

http://kidswriterjfox.blogspot.com/2012/07/guest-post-andy-sherrod-on-boy-readers.html

After Publication

You thought your work was done after your book was published. Wrong.

http://rateyourstory.blogspot.com/2012/08/getting-book-published-is-not-end-its.html

Multiple Critiques

How do you synthesize the feedback from multiple sources? 

http://kidlit.com/2012/07/23/synthesizing-feedback/

Beautiful Picture Books

Which picture books have the most beautiful artwork?

http://www.flavorwire.com/306958/the-20-most-beautiful-childrens-books-of-all-time

Strengthen Your Novel

Thirty one-minute tips to make your novel stronger. 

http://www.darcypattison.com/revision/30-days-to-a-stronger-novel/

20 Best-Selling Children's Books

Be prepared for some surprises. 

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/literature/20-best-selling-childrens-books.htm/printable

Children's Fiction Sales Rising

Children's Fiction had the strongest performance of any trade segment in 2011.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/53088-new-stats-show-great-gains-in-children-s-fiction-in-2011.html

Common Core

What the common core educational standards mean to publishers. 

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/53002-what-common-core-means-for-publishers.html

What are E-Books?

The answer is not as simple as you might think. 

http://stroppyauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/how-to-speak-publisher-e-is-for-e-books.html

New MG/YA Publisher

Month9 Books will specialize in speculative fiction for tweens and teens. 

http://www.month9books.com/

Waiting for Your Contract

Why does it take so long after acceptance to get your contract? 

http://www.rachellegardner.com/2012/07/publisher-contract/

Believable Fantasy

Seven trips for writing a fantasy your readers will buy into. 

http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2012/07/7-tips-for-crafting-believable-fantasy.html

New MG/YA Agent

Kathryn Patten, a new agent with Sherre Bykofsky Associates, is interested in acquiring middle grade and YA novels.


http://advicefromacaterpillar.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/new-agent-open-to-mg-and-ya-queries/

New Children's Imprint

Seven Stories has a new children's imprint, Triangle Square Books for Young Readers. 

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/53206-seven-stories-launches-children-s-imprint.html