Saturday, July 30, 2011

Story vs. Craft

What's the difference between story and craft, and why should you care?

http://www.rachellegardner.com/2011/05/story-vs-craft/

Friday, July 29, 2011

Language Arts Common Core Standards

Find out the curriculum standards for each state.

http://commoncorestandards.com/ela/k-12-curriculum-maps/

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Getting Ideas

Here are lists of brainstorming ideas to kickstart your creativity.

http://www.rickwalton.com/freeu/brains/index.htm#43

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Children's Publishers Links

Here's a list of publisher links to make it easier for you to do your research. 

http://f1rstpages.com/publisher-links/

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Beta Readers

Who's not a good choice to be your beta reader?

http://bigglasscases.blogspot.com/2011/06/beta-omega.html

Monday, July 25, 2011

Google+

Learn how to use this new social network. 

http://mashable.com/2011/07/16/google-plus-guide/

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Novels in Verse

What are they and should your next novel be written in verse?

http://ingridsnotes.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/exploring-the-verse-novel/

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Rebus

Magazines are always looking for people who can write good rebuses.

http://www.institutechildrenslit.com/rx/ws06/nutsbolt.shtml

Friday, July 22, 2011

QR Codes

What are they and how can you use them to market your books.

http://katiedavis.com/blog/marketing/2011/06/qr-codes/

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Going on Submission

What actually happens after your agent submits your novel to editors?

http://betweenfactandfiction.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-to-expect-when-youre-submitting.html

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Editing Checklist

Here's a detailed list of things to look for, from big picture items down to fine-detail areas.

http://theeditorsblog.net/2011/06/07/checklist-for-editors/

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Monday, July 18, 2011

Character Traits Thesaurus

http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/2011/05/introducingthe-character-traits.html  

Another great resource from the folks who brought us the emotion thesaurus.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Interviews

Some hints on being a good interviewee.

http://querytracker.blogspot.com/2011/06/promoting-your-book-dos-and-donts-of.html

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Inexpensive Book Trailers

Don't have much to spend on making a book trailer? Here are some hints.

http://katenoble.com/blog/2011/05/how-to-make-a-book-trailer-for-5/

Friday, July 15, 2011

Nonfiction Proposals

Seven tough questions to ask yourself before you submit a nonfiction proposal.

http://bk-askthepublisher.blogspot.com/2011/04/useful-proposals.html

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Resist the Urge to Explain

After you've shown it, don't then tell it.

http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2011/05/resist-urge-to-explain.html

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Proofreading

Doing a better job of proofreading will lead to a more professional manuscript.

http://www.mywritingblog.com/2011/05/10-actions-you-can-take-to-improve-your.html

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Monday, July 11, 2011

First Books

Why it's unlikely your first book will be published.

http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2011/05/will-your-first-book-be-published.html

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Picture Book Lists by Topic

Lists of picture book by subject matter.

http://cecilybooks.blogspot.com/

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Friday, July 8, 2011

PEN/Steven Kroll Award

This new award honors the author of an illustrated picture book.

http://www.pen.org/page.php/prmID/2144

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Chapter Endings

How do you know when to break to a new chapter?

http://ht.ly/4Uy6K

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Interminable Agency Clause

Why you shouldn't have this as part of your contract.

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2011/04/interminable-agency-clause.html

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Word Count Norms

What's are the standard word count ranges for children's books.

http://literaticat.blogspot.com/2011/05/wordcount-dracula.html

Monday, July 4, 2011

New Agency

Hen and Ink Agency will specialize in children's books.

http://fallingleaflets.blogspot.com/2011/05/agency-alert-agent-move-and-agent.html

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Following Up on a Submission

When and how should you follow up if you haven't received a response to your submission.

http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2011/05/following-up-on-submissions.html

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Character Traits

100 weird character traits to help you brainstorm even more character traits.

http://writeanything.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/35-weird-traits-your-characters-may-have/

Friday, July 1, 2011

Making a Living

Can you quit your day job and make a living from your writing?

http://mandyhubbard.livejournal.com/249542.html