Laura Backes reveals her passion and knowledge of writing for children.

Laura Backes, Editor for Children’s Book Insider, overseer of Write4Kids.com, and author of ‘Best Books for Kids Who (Think They) Hate to Read, ISBN 0-7615-2755-9, has joined us and what a pleasure it is to have her. Laura, first I’d like to find out more about Children’s Book Insider, America’s most popular newsletter. It has been going strong since May 1990, and is filled with writing articles and author interviews, receiving glowing reader reviews.

Where did the idea for Children’s Book Insider begin and how did you and your husband, Jon, build this idea into the successful venture it is today?

I started CBI when I was a literary agent in New York City, representing children’s book authors and illustrators. I realized there needed to be a monthly source of information for children’s book writers, especially those just starting out. I was getting the same questions over and over from my clients, and as I edited their manuscripts I realized that many beginning writers make the same mistakes. So I began CBI on a shoestring (I believe it cost $100 to start up the business), and took out an ad in Writers Digest magazine. I was thrilled and a bit surprised when people actually responded to the ad and sent me money for subscriptions! CBI has grown steadily since May 1990. I’ve kept the editorial slant very specific: solid writing tips, articles that don’t contain any fluff, advice that writers need in order to navigate the often confusing business of publishing. I try to put myself in the place of the person reading the article, who wants information that’s easy to pick out of the content and put to immediate use in his or her manuscript. I also try to be realistic about the amount of work it takes to become a published author, and the odds against getting published. This has discouraged a few people in the past, but I feel it’s best to be realistic and up front about the business. Only those who are passionate about what they do and are willing to constantly learn and improve their craft will be successful. Those who aren’t dedicated should know what they’re up against so they can put their energies somewhere else. In 1993 my husband Jon Bard sold his public relations business and joined me in the family business. At that point we expanded CBI to include how-to books for children’s book writers. Jon’s been the driving force behind CBI’s growth. He’s the creative (and technical) guru of our website, and is always looking ahead to develop new products for our catalog. I know without his input CBI would still be just a newsletter, because I think in creative terms, and Jon has the business mentality. As an aside, it took three years for CBI to become a full-time business. If any of your readers are thinking about starting up a newsletter or any other small business, I think the key to success is to grow slowly, establish a specific market, and learn to sell to that market. I worked several part-time and freelance jobs while CBI was in its infancy. Overnight success, even in the age of the Web, is not realistic.

Tell us more about the newsletter’s content and any future plans you have in store for it? Our editorial focus will remain pretty much the same, but I’d like to include more articles on the electronic end of publishing: ebooks, ezines, etc. Publishing has always been slow to embrace technological advances, so the primary vehicle for getting published is still the old fashioned print book. But editors are thinking more globally, so articles on bilingual imprints, books that are published simultaneously in the US and abroad, or simply writing for the world’s children rather than just America’s children will be of interest. I think since Sept. 11 everyone in publishing is very conscious on creating books for children that show them how to live in a vast, multicultural world, and tolerate differences between people. I’m always open to getting queries on article ideas. The author doesn’t have to be published. Often unpublished authors have developed wonderful ways of doing research for nonfiction, have gained insight into a particular market, or have access to a well-known author they can interview. If anyone is interested in receiving our guidelines, please email me at Laura.write4kids.com.

You also have an affiliate program with CBI. Can you explain how that works to our readers? The program allows anyone with a website to earn money for each new subscriber they send us. We have a library of articles and eBooks that any webmaster can use to create a children’s writing section on their own website. When one of their visitors clicks on our link and subscribes to CBI, the webmaster earns a percentage of the sale.

Regarding your incredible website, Write4Kids, www.write4kids.com, what is your ultimate goal and function for this site? Our website is constantly improving and evolving. Our goal is to give visitors some solid information on writing for children, offer them a networking community of other writers via our message board, and of course to introduce them to CBI and our books.

Has writing for children always been a passion with you? I’ve always felt that writing a children’s book is the hardest kind of writing there is. This is one thing many beginners don’t understand. They think, ‘Oh, it’s short and it’s for kids. How hard can it be?’ It’s very difficult to create a multidimensional character, a full-blown plot and a satisfying resolution in 1000 words! And do it all with sensitivity, humor, and in a way that doesn’t talk down to the child. Middle grade and young adult books must embody the sensitivities and concerns of pre-teens and teens, and many adults have forgotten exactly what it felt like to be 14 years old. I think a well-written children’s book beats an adult book any day. I also think children deserve the best writing and illustrations we can give them.

I have one child who can’t put a book down and one who simply refuses to pick one up. How can we as parents encourage our children to read? Your book, ‘Books for Kids Who (Think They) Hate to Read,’ offers suggestions as to how parents can locate books for reluctant readers. Tell us, please, how this book idea originated and what research you did. Actually, the publisher (Prima Publishing) came to me with the idea, which is always a nice way to sell a book! It was a very rough concept, and I shaped it into the form the finished book finally took. I put myself in the shoes of the busy parent who wants desperately to find books her reluctant reader might like, but has no idea where to start. The beginning chapters focus on qualities of books that will appeal to reluctant readers (such as humor, fast-paced plot, concise chapters, visual appeal, etc.), and instruct parents on how to learn to recognize these qualities for themselves. Then I give ten tips for getting kids interested in reading. Most revolve around matching the book to the child, not vice a versa. Many parents (and teachers) make the mistake of trying to force the reader into a certain reading level or type of book. Let the child lead. Finally, I chose 125 of what I feel are the best books for reluctant readers in grades 2-8, and gave an in-depth synopsis, said why this book appeals to reluctant readers, and offered suggestions for other similar books if the child liked this book. I wanted to keep the list short and specific. It’s meant to be a springboard for parents and kids. All the child really needs is one book that speaks directly to him, that opens up his imagination, and the love of reading is born.

Relative to marketing, can you offer suggestions as to productive and creative ways to promote material, and advise our readers as to what methods utterly fail? Publishers are relying more and more on authors to promote their books. The best (and easiest) thing to do is start locally. Virtually every bookstore will be glad to host a book signing or talk by a local author. Whenever you pass a bookstore, go in and try to locate your book. If it’s on the shelves, offer to autograph stock copies. Autographed books often carry a special sticker on the cover, or are placed in a special display. This draws attention to your book. If the store doesn’t carry your book, talk to the buyer. Most stores will automatically carry works by local authors. School visits are another way to promote your book locally. Contact the media specialist at your local schools and ask how she books upcoming author visits. You’ll have to come up with a presentation built around a theme (maybe it has to do with the subject of your book, or perhaps you can give a mini workshop on writing or illustrating to the kids). Send a press packet to local newspapers. If you can come up with a hook that’s unique to your book or yourself, you’ll have a better chance at being interviewed for a feature article.

You also conduct Children’s Author Bootcamps. This sounds fascinating and exciting. Tell us about that and how readers can get involved. I teach the Children’s Authors’ Bootcamp writing workshops with Linda Arms White, the author of 11 books. This weekend-long workshop is designed for beginning writers of children’s fiction, or those who have completed a manuscript or two but are still getting constant rejections. It’s very nuts and bolts oriented. We spend a lot of time on developing characters and plots, which are the foundation of any fiction. Linda has a copyrighted method of plotting fiction that I’ve never seen anywhere else. If you use her method your plot will be virtually foolproof. We also go into dialogue, point of view, description, editing your own work, and submitting the manuscript to publishers. Participants break into small groups each day for exercises and feedback on their own manuscripts. You can find out more about what’s covered in Bootcamp, and our upcoming workshops around the country, by going to www.WeMakeWriters.com

In closing, can you offer our readers a bit of advice on how to write without getting discouraged? The primary criteria for any successful writer are that you need to love what you’re doing. The process of writing itself has to bring you joy. If it does, you’ll stick with it. You’ll look forward to revising your manuscript, you’ll enjoy attending conferences and workshops and improving your craft. You also need to put your audience first. Don’t write books you think children need; write books that they’ll love. In other words, don’t make preaching or teaching your main objective when you sit down to write. Finally, you need to be passionate about each story. It has to touch something inside of you. It has to be a story you want to tell. Do don’t worry about trends, what’s selling, what gaps you may perceive in the market. If your passions correspond to the market gaps, great. But if they don’t, write the book you want to write. That’s the only way you’ll develop an original voice as a writer, which is really what editors are always looking for.

Thank you, Laura and I’m looking forward to the next issue of Children’s Book Insider.

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to speak with your readers!