• Riveting Reads for Boys: http://is.gd/x7Xw
• New site suggest books,connects you w/other readers: http://short.to/7s9e
• New book blog from NPR: http://is.gd/vL9t
• Silent auction to help YA author w/medical costs: http://snipr.com/hgnbz
• The 48 Hour Book Challenge: http://is.gd/x7WL
• Ricky Gervais’ Flanimals book coming to Big Screen: http://is.gd/x7Te

• top authors pick their fave kids books: http://is.gd/wYXA
• Great way to teach kids about science: http://snipr.com/hf7t2
• The latest literacy roundup – always great stuff http://is.gd/wYU8
• Why Wolfram Alpha may change the world (or not): http://is.gd/wdkD
• Children’s book awards roundup: http://is.gd/wYRo
• Summer programs for young writers: http://is.gd/wYZp
• New @ the Clubhouse: Podcast interview w/bestselling author Jeff Stone http://cbiclubhouse.com #
• How to save $$ buying kids books: http://is.gd/wYSw
• New Pub Weekly Kids Book reviews: http://snipr.com/hf753

• New free video! “4 Rules Beginning Children’s Book Writers Should Never Break” http://short.to/73jx Please RT if U like. #
• vibrant book/writing community from @rawsistaz http://is.gd/wEWT
• Great blog from @GottaBook http://is.gd/wEUb A real labor of love.
• YA author needs our help. See what you can do here: http://tinyurl.com/cecwqn
• Direct links to kids book publishers: http://is.gd/wvJm
• Random Book Title Generator http://is.gd/wvvO My best: “Slithering Heat”
• Busting your writing rut: http://is.gd/wvsN
• Where to get free online data storage for backups: http://is.gd/wvrq
• Getting your books reviewed by bloggers: http://is.gd/vHyo
• Children’s book authors on Twitter: http://snipr.com/ha4bc
• Great research tool for writers: http://lii.org/

• 10 Obscure Google Search Tricks: http://is.gd/4sg0

Entering writing contests is a great way to get your foot in the publishing door.  To help you get started, here are some useful links:

http://www.bauuinstitute.com/Marketing/BookAwardsList.html

http://www.freelancewriting.com/writing-contests.php

http://www.pw.org/grants?apage=*

Ten Tips for Contest Entries By Jan Fields

For writing tips and more information about writing for children, visit The CBI Clubhouse – Home of the Fightin’ Bookworms!

• Writing Tip: Creating Characters for Tween/Teen Readers http://is.gd/wdJh Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Come Join the Fightin’ Bookworms! #

From picture books to young adult novels, there are certain rules newer children’s book authors should never break. Here they are!

Enjoy!

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• Excellent writing wkshop in CA: http://is.gd/vR2g Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Home of the Fightin’ Bookworms! #
• Author Avi’s Five Secrets to Good Writing: http://is.gd/vR0z Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Come Join the Fightin’ Bookworms! #
• Highlights from LA Times Festival of Books: http://is.gd/vQY3 Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, The Essential Children’s Writing Resource #
• Jane Addams Children’s Book Award winners: http://is.gd/vQWB Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Home of the Fightin’ Bookworms! #
• Interview w/Children’s Author Jeannine Atkins: http://is.gd/vQUb Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Where Children’s Writers Meet #
• Tips for writing in rhyme: http://is.gd/vQSr Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Come Join the Fightin’ Bookworms! #

• RT @CherylRainfield: New PBS #kidlit blog will help a wider audience discover good children’s books http://ow.ly/4CLD #
• Apparently it’s Nat’l Picture Bk Writing Week! http://is.gd/vL0z Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Where Children’s Writers Meet #kidlit #
• Just joined a twibe. Visit http://twibes.com/kidlitosphere to join #
• Folks rallying to help a young lady w/Hodgkins disease – and no insurance. If you’d like to help, go to http://macyjohns.com/ Pls RT! #
• Stephen King´s 7 Tips for Better Writing: http://is.gd/vJoV Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Come Join the Fightin’ Bookworms! #
• Resubmitting a Rejected Children’s Book Manuscript: http://short.to/6pci Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Come Join the Fightin’ Bookworms! #
• What are the ‘classics’ of children’s lit? http://snipr.com/h3nzu Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Come Join the Fightin’ Bookworms! #
• Big list of Children’s Book Review blogs: http://is.gd/vFFD Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Where Children’s Writers Meet #
• Big list of UK’s Children’s Laureates: http://short.to/6pcl Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Where Children’s Writers Meet #
• Adventures in Bookselling: http://snipr.com/h3nn4 Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, The Essential Children’s Writing Resource #
• Five Best URL Shrinkers: http://is.gd/4RQw Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, The Essential Children’s Writing Resource #
• Kerouac’s 30 tips for writers. Fuzzy stuff, but cool. http://is.gd/vFCi Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Come Join the Fightin’ Bookworms! #
• Free ice cream @Carvel’s today!(3-7 PM) http://carvel.com/ Did they do this ’cause it’s my birthday? Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com #
• Jumpstart your writing by asking “Why?” http://short.to/6ojp Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com, Home of the Fightin’ Bookworms! #

• 4 Rules Beginning Children’s Book Writers Should Never Break
  Posted on Monday, April 13th, 2009 in writing tips – Comments: (1)
  I often talk about the “rules” of writing for kids, citing proper page lengths and story types for different age groups. A better term would probably be “guidelines”; these rules exist only to tell you what, in general, editors like to see in the manuscripts sent to them. And, of course, for every rule there are numerous exceptions. But while we’d all like to think our book is strong enough to override the guidelines, this is usually not the case.
• FAQ: I Want to Package a Toy w/My Book. How Do I Explain This To An Editor?
  Posted on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 in Uncategorized – Comments: (1)
  I have an idea for a toy to be packaged with my picture book.  How do I explain this to an editor?Most book-and-merchandise packages are created after the book itself has gained a wide audience. Picture books alone are very expensive to produce, and an editor won’t want to spend even more money on a product that doesn’t have a proven sales record (not to mention that consumers won’t want to pay for a book and toy unless they already know and love the story).
• FAQ: Resubmitting a Rejected Children’s Book Manuscript
  Posted on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 in business of publishing – Comments: (1)
  (Note: the following is excerpted from our acclaimed eBook Improving the Odds, Insider Secrets that Can Help You Get Published! by CBI Publisher Laura Backes.  To read another excerpt and get more information about this eBook, visit http://write4kids.com/odds.html)Here’s a fascinating question I received a while back. It brings up an interesting dilemma faced by writers who receive personal (as opposed to form) rejection letters.
• Jon’s Twitter Updates for 2009-04-07
  Posted on Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 in Uncategorized – Comments: (0)
  Need an agent? Here’s where to find one: http://www.agentquery.com/ Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com , Where Children’s Writers Meet # Good media interview tips for writers: http://jijr.com/5Sn Jon, http://cbiclubhouse.com , Where Children’s Writers Meet # Folks – If you think I add value to your network, do drop me a recommendation at http://mrtweet.net/jonbard?gr Much appreciated!
• Video: A Crash Course in Submitting a Manuscript to a Publisher
  Posted on Friday, April 24th, 2009 in Write4Kids Podcast – Comments: (2)
  Here’s our brand new video “Writing Children’s Books: A Crash Course in Submitting a Manuscript to a Publisher.”  Enjoy!