Improve Your Writing

Nine ways to challenge yourself and grow your writing skills. 

http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2014/04/9-ways-to-grow-in-writing-skills.html

Free Trailers

How to make a great trailer for your book without spending any money. 

http://www.adventuresinyapublishing.com/2014/04/craft-of-writing-how-to-make-killer_4.html

Do You Have a Good Agent?

Having no agent is better than having a bad agent. 

http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2014/04/8-ways-to-know-if-you-have-good-agent.html

Secondary Characters

What role do secondary and minor characters play in your novel?

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1016917725611909564#allposts/postNum=11

Revision Strategies

Here are some quick and easy revision strategies. 

http://writersrumpus.com/2014/04/08/quick-and-easy-revision-strategies-for-days-your-brain-isnt-working/

Query Letters 101

Include all the information needed in a query letter, but make it short.

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2014/03/query-letters-101.html

Writing Tips

Here are some tips (not rules!) about the creative writing process. 

http://writerunboxed.com/2014/03/31/10-tips-about-process/

Alphabet Books

Writing an alphabet book isn't as easy as A,B,C. 

http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2012/05/guest-post-eric-pinder-on-x-files-why.html

Formatting Your Manuscript

Using standard manuscript formatting won't get you published, but it will help.

http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/writing-basics/how-to-format-your-manuscript/

Unlikeable Protagonists

A main character doesn't have to be likeable to be interesting and complicated, worthy of knowing better.

http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2013/10/guest-post-sarah-aronson-on-its-okay-if.html

How to Write a Query Letter

The purpose of your short query letter is to attract an agent's interest enough to request more of your work. 

http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2014/03/25/how-to-write-a-query-letter-2/

Writing is Seeing

Author Kate DiCamillo tells us writers see and pay attention. 

http://www.katedicamillo.com/onwrit.html

School Presentations

Tips to get you invited back to schools. 

http://writerunboxed.com/2014/04/03/presenting-to-school-students-top-tips/

Emotional Anticipation

Build tension to build your character's emotions. 

http://kidlit.com/2014/03/24/building-emotional-anticipation/

Picture Books

Author George Shannon blogs about all things picture book. 

http://georgeshannon.wordpress.com/

Synopsis Checklist

Make sure your synopsis covers all these points before you send it out. 

http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/synopsis-check-list/

Social Media Platforms

Agents weigh in on whether you need one or not. 

http://www.adventuresinyapublishing.com/2014/04/do-you-need-social-media-platform.html

Middle Grade Nonfiction

Here are some tips for writing nonfiction for the middle-grade level. 

http://middlegrademarch.com/2014/03/23/writing-middle-grade-non-fiction-by-carmella-van-fleet/

Slush Pile

Here's how a first reader describes the reality of the slush pile.

http://katiaraina.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/the-realities-of-slush/

Inspired Openings

As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a good first impression. 

http://www.adventuresinyapublishing.com/2014/03/inspired-openings-make-your-first.html

Rhyming Nonfiction

Sometimes a poem is just what you need for your nonfiction topic. 

http://www.teachingauthors.com/2014/03/www-rhyme-nf.html

Money

How much money can you really make as a children's book author? 

http://scbwi.blogspot.com/2014/03/laura-purdie-salas-talks-money-and.html

Tension

Learn how to ramp us the tension in your novel. 

http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2010/12/guest-post-april-henry-on-just-add.html

Crafting a Series

Even if you're a pantser and not an outliner, there are techniques you can use when writing a series.

http://www.adventuresinyapublishing.com/2014/01/craft-of-writing-crafting-series-by.html

1,000 Words Or Less

It's not easy to write with the low word count of the picture book. 

http://metro.nyscbwi.org/news/a-story-in-a-1000-words-or-less/

50 Tips to Better Writing

From general tips to editing, here are suggestions to improve your writing. 

http://joshuakeith.net/50-quick-tips-how-to-write-better/

Writers' Conference Tips

Five simple tips to improve your experience at a conference. 

http://junesmalls.blogspot.com/2014/02/writers-conference-tips-and-advice.html

Transitions

Transitions help the reader switch from one idea/setting/time/person to another. 

https://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/transitions/

Pitch Sessions

What do agents think about when they listen to your pitch? 

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-are-we-thinking-about-during-your.html

Tips on Writing a Synopsis

Here are some things to consider when writing a synopsis. 

http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/tips-on-writing-a-synopsis/