YAMGWriMo

June is YAMGWriMo--like NaNoWriMo, but for writers of young adult and middle grade novels. http://thefiverandoms.livejournal.com/

Pitch Your Manuscript

Hints on pitching your manuscript to editors or agents.
http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/to-pitch-or-not-to-pitch/

Children's Bookshelf

Free E-newsletter is about children's books & the world of children's book publishing.
https://www.publishersweekly.com/subscribe.asp?screen=pi8

Brenda Bowen to Become Agent

Brenda Bowen, formerly of HarperCollins, will join the Greenburger Agency, representing authors and illustrators of children's books for all ages.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6660730.html?nid=2788
http://www.greenburger.com/

Children's Book Council

The members' listings for this children’s trade book publishers association include: a website link, contact information, number of titles published annually, and whether the publisher is open to unsolicited queries.
http://www.cbcbooks.org/about/ourmembers.aspx

Writing Mistakes

Ten common writing mistakes that are often overlooked but are easy to fix.
http://www.holtuncensored.com/hu/the-ten-mistakes/

Indie Booksellers "Next" List

Independent Booksellers recommend kids' books. "Great reads from booksellers you trust."
http://www.indiebound.org/kids-indie-next-list?edition=200905k

Borders to Increase Children's Books

Within 90 days, Borders will roll out larger children's book sections and will relocate young adult and teen books away from the younger titles.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6660128.html?nid=2286

Authors Now

A searchable database of books from debut children's authors.
http://www.authorsnow.com/

RUCCL One-on-One Plus 2009

Here's an opportunity to share your work with professionals. This event is sponsored by the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature and scholarships are available.
http://www.ruccl.org/One-on-One_Plus_Conference.html

Hans Christian Andersen Award

IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) announced nominees for the 2010 award. http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=962

Online Networking

Written for booksellers, but equally relevant for authors, this ebook explains the many different options available for networking on the internet
http://www.scibabooks.org/SocialMediaforBooksellers.pdf

Lee and Low New Voices Award

Open to writers of color who are residents of the United States and who have not previously had a children's picture book published. Deadline September 31, 2009.

http://www.leeandlow.com/p/new_voices_award.mhtml

Emotion Thesaurus

Show, don’t tell, your characters’ emotions.
http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/2008/01/introducing-thesaurus-thursdays.html

Work-in-Progress Grants

SCBWI offers grants to support your work-in-progress. The deadline for the next grant request is June 10, 2009
http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/Introduction

SLJ's Day of Dialog – May 28, 2009

School Library Journal will present a free, day-long program during BEA where librarians, editors, authors, and vendors can meet to discuss the changing world of books, reading, and libraries.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/info/CA6645306.html

Katherine Paterson Prize

$1000.00 and publication in Hunger Mountain Online. PB, MG, and YA. Entry deadline: June 20, 2009. Entry fee: $20.
http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2009/04/hunger-mountain-presents-katherine.html

Twitter

Children's book writers tweet--
PICTURE BOOK:
http://taralazar.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/childrens-picture-book-authors-on-twitter/
MIDDLE GRADE:
http://taralazar.wordpress.com/2009/05/08/middle-grade-authors-on-twitter/
YOUNG ADULT:
http://www.mitaliblog.com/2009/03/ya-authors-on-twitter.html

Scam agents

Don't get scammed. Check out potential agents on the Preditors and Editors website.
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubagent.htm

Book Expo America - May 29-31, 2009

With 1,500+ exhibitors and 500+ authors, BEA is the premier event for the North American publishing industry.
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/

Write-a-thon - May 16, 2009

Spend a day writing in New York City. The fourth annual write-a-thon, sponsored by the New York Writing Coalition, is a fund-raiser to support programs for formerly voiceless members of society to be heard through the art of writing.
http://www.nywriterscoalition.org/2009/04/the-4th-annual-write-a-thon-is-right-around-the-corner/

Rejections

No one likes to receive a rejection letter, but it helps to know you're not alone.
http://www.rejectioncollection.com/

Children's Book Week - May 11-17, 2009

Since 1919, schools, libraries, bookstores, and families have celebrated children's books during Children's Book Week.
http://www.bookweekonline.com/

Publishers Weekly - Children's Bookshelf

Sign up for a weekly email newsletter from Publishers Weekly. Get an inside view into the children's publishing world with breaking news, interviews, featured reviews, bestseller lists, photos, and a cartoon--Tales From the Slush Pile.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/enewsletter/CA6655445/2788.html

Highlights Foundation Workshops

The Highlights Foundation offers workshops in many areas of writing for children, such as: historical fiction, editing for writers, non-fiction, writing from the heart, whole novel, poetry, biography, picture books, and more. A limited amount of grant money is available.
http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/pages/current/founders_top.html

SCBWI - L.A. Conference, August 7-10, 2009

Registration opened today for the 38th annual L.A. conference. One workshop has already sold out, so register early if you'd like to attend.
http://www.scbwi.org/Conference.aspx?Con=2

Word Counts

Find out the number of words in a book at Renaissance Learning:
http://www.renlearn.com/store/quiz_home.asp#quicksearch
Search for a title, click on the it, and get the word count.

Contest - Middle Grade Mysteries

The first Bloom Award, for unpublished writers, will be awarded for a middle grade mystery. Submissions window: May 18 - October 31, 2009. First prize: publishing contract with "Tire Swing," the children's paperback imprint of Blooming Tree Press.
http://apublisherslife.blogspot.com/

Choosing Character Names

The Behind the Name website lists the popularity of first names by year and shows common names for different nationalities. It also gives the etymology and history of the names.
http://www.behindthename.com/

NJ SCBWI Annual Conference - June 5/6, 2009

Two keynote speakers (Richard Peck, EB Lewis), 24 publishing professionals (publishers, editors, agents, art directors), and you, if you register by May 15, 2009.
http://www.newjerseyscbwi.com/events/090605.shtml