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“Do you know of any free mailing list programs Kayleen? I need to do another mailing list but don't want to keep the files on my computer, I'd rather have them stored online somehow. Any suggestions?”

I have been asked about any free mailing list management systems before and it is a good question. It is easy to get free software and free business tools on the Internet but I would like to point out a few things first.

• Always run your anti-virus and anti-spyware software over these downloads before opening them. Downloading freeware can come as at cost. I have a program called Avast which is brilliant. An IT friend of mine put me onto this software. Avast has a free home edition and a professional edition and it picks up on bad downloads often before it even gets to download into your temporary Internet folder. The PC enemy doesn’t even make it to your machine before its sirens go off and tell you to stop the download. It also cleans up worms easily. As with all things that appear free, sometimes they can cost you dearly in sneaky ways so be careful what you download.

I often download trial software which is less likely to have a hidden agenda and if happy with the product, I am happy to pay for it; after all, the person who created should be compensated. Sometimes you get freeware that is clean and works pretty well. The reason for freeware is sometimes the developer is trailing the software and trying to build traffic to the web site to sell other products or later sell the new improved original software.

• Google the exe file names to see if I can find any bad reports on the practices of the individual product download before you unpack the exe file. I have found the occasional bad report of spyware on some products that passed my filter before unpacking and have deleted them before I did after reading the warnings.

• Free Download Web Sites:
  Two places to go to get free downloads are www.download.com and www.tucows.com. You can go to these places and search around for the free software you need. Check the reviews of the software also as you can waist a lot of time on installing clunky, buggy programs that don’t work as they should or later crash on you when you have put time into them and saved valuable data in the program. As I just stated, the trails are most likely to be a better product.

Now back to the question which was: “Do you know of any free mailing list programs Kayleen? I need to do another mailing list but don't want to keep the files on my computer, I'd rather have them stored online somehow. Any suggestions?”

• Free Mailing List Programs
  Yes there is software out there and the most obvious would be to use your hosting account cpanel if you have access to it. You can create lists in there and send auto responders as well.
• PHPLists is a free program for mailing list management and can be easily installed on your server however it is for the technically minded. If you like php then go for it. Another drawback is it is light on reports. I have kicked it around as well as a couple other options but wanted something a bit more thorough and easy to use and why I ended up with an Aweber account. This had all the features you needed, the company keep improving the product and there was all the tutorials and information in there to step me through not only setting it up but how to take full advantage of the Aweber mailing list management. It was like having the program, a tutor and mentors all wrapped in one. It also has an active business community which is a bonus. You pick up quite a bit of info through other successful people.

I hope this has answered your question and been helpful. What is most important is actually getting a mailing list set up and managed well.

Tonight’s the night!

Children’s author Lila Guzman will present a special teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club called “Avoiding Red Flags”!

Learn how to avoid the most common mistakes in your manuscript that send up red flags to editors!

The teleclass starts at 7:00 central time and will last for 55 minutes.

Members are invited to attend this LIVE teleclass, but the teleclass will also be recorded and members will receive a link to the recording tomorrow.

Join the club here!

Come on. You know you want to!

This Thursday, February 28 , 2008, at 2:00 p.m. eastern time, the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will offer another exciting and informative teleclass for children’s writers.

Rita Milios will present session 1 in the Writing for Children’s Educational Markets Series - The Lucrative Educational Market: Where Do YOU Fit In?

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today and find out on Thursday if writing for the educational markets is right for you.

When you join the club you will receive links to these other three teleclasses that were presented earlier this month:

Lila Guzman - Show Me the Money: Writing Biographies for Young Readers

Margot Finke - Picture (Book) Perfect

Simon Rose - Beyond Belief: Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Readers (part 1 of a 2 part teleclass)

Every month, club members are given the opportunity to attend 4 LIVE 55-minute teleclasses about some aspect of writing and publishing for children. Later, the links to these recorded classes are sent to all members, too.

Join the CWCC here.

This week’s teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will take place at 7:00 central time. Author Simon Rose will be the instructor for Beyond Belief: Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Readers. This is part 1 of a 2 part teleclass conducted by Simon Rose.

To take part in the class tonight, join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today, then look for an email this afternoon with the call in information you’ll need tonight.

To learn more about Simon Rose and his books for children, visit his website at www.simon-rose.com

This week’s teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will be presented by children’s author Simon Rose. The teleclass will take place Thursday night, February 21, at 7:00 central time.

Join Simon Rose for part one of this two part teleclass which explores writing science fiction and fantasy for younger readers, covering such topics as imagining plausible technology, crafting realistic settings, character creation and effective time travel stories.

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club and receive an email invitation to this event. You’ll also receive links to every teleclass this month, so you won’t miss out on anything, even if you join the club in the middle of the month.

To learn more about Simon Rose, visit his website at www.simon-rose.com.

This week’s teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will be presented by children’s author Margot Finke. She’ll talk about what it takes to write a children’s picture book. Just look at what she’ll cover in this fun and informative teleclass:

PICTURE (BOOK) PERFECT

* Good grammar and punctuation
* Tight writing — use a few carefully chosen words to write a “big” story.
* The benefit of bringing powerful verbs into play.
* How to paint word pictures that will stick in a child’s head.
* How to write active paragraphs that easily translate into illustrations
* How to FOCUS on what is important to the story — and cut the rest.
* The art of crafting characters kids will identify with and root for.
* Develop a writing “voice” that is unique.

This LIVE teleclass will take place on Wednesday, February 13, 2008, at 4:00 pacific time.

To receive an email invitation to this event, along with any handouts needed for the class, join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club HERE.

Members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club are in for a real treat tonight with this teleclass at 7:00 central time.

To receive an email invitation to this teleclass (and a link later to a recording of this event), join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club NOW. Join here.

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Writing Biographies for Children: Show Me the Money

Biographies can be a strong revenue generator for children’s authors. What are the secrets to breaking into the field? What are the rewards and the pitfalls? How are biographies different from other non-fiction writing?

Join Lila Guzman, author of nine biographies, in a lively discussion of this specialized field.

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Points of Interest

1. Dead or Alive: special problems when picking a person to write about

2. Trusting your sources: Dealing with conflicting information/Doing research

3. Making it understandable to young readers

4. Word Count and the “Formula” for a children’s biography:
a. 5 chapters
b. Timeline
c. Biography (for kids)
d. Words to Know
e. Pronunciation Guide (To Spanish Words)

5. Getting permission/pictures.

6. How to get a contract.

Lila’s biographies (2nd-3rd grade level):

Famous Latinos (biographies of Cesar Chavez, Roberto Clemente, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Ellen Ochoa, George Lopez)

Forthcoming:

Mohammed
Moses
Jesus

Working on: Dr. Hector P. Garcia: Father of Latino Civil Rights

Lila Guzman, Ph.D.
www.lilaguzman.com
LORENZO AND THE PIRATE (Blooming Tree Press, Fall 2008)
LORENZO AND THE TURNCOAT (Arte Publico Press, 2006) ****WINNER: 2006 Arizona Authors Literary Award****
KICHI IN JUNGLE JEOPARDY (Blooming Tree Press, 2006)
MOHAMMED (Blooming Tree Press, 2009)

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club and enjoy this week’s teleclass:

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Writing Biographies for Children: Show Me the Money

Biographies can be a strong revenue generator for children’s authors. What are the secrets to breaking into the field? What are the rewards and the pitfalls? How are biographies different from other non-fiction writing?

Join Lila Guzman, author of nine biographies, in a lively discussion of this specialized field.

=======================================================

Points of Interest

1. Dead or Alive: special problems when picking a person to write about

2. Trusting your sources: Dealing with conflicting information/Doing research

3. Making it understandable to young readers

4. Word Count and the “Formula” for a children’s biography:
a. 5 chapters
b. Timeline
c. Biography (for kids)
d. Words to Know
e. Pronunciation Guide (To Spanish Words)

5. Getting permission/pictures.

6. How to get a contract.

Lila’s biographies (2nd-3rd grade level):

Famous Latinos (biographies of Cesar Chavez, Roberto Clemente, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Ellen Ochoa, George Lopez)

Forthcoming:

Mohammed
Moses
Jesus

Working on: Dr. Hector P. Garcia: Father of Latino Civil Rights

Lila Guzman, Ph.D.
www.lilaguzman.com
LORENZO AND THE PIRATE (Blooming Tree Press, Fall 2008)
LORENZO AND THE TURNCOAT (Arte Publico Press, 2006) ****WINNER: 2006 Arizona Authors Literary Award****
KICHI IN JUNGLE JEOPARDY (Blooming Tree Press, 2006)
MOHAMMED (Blooming Tree Press, 2009)

If you’d like to learn to write historical fiction for kids, check out this new CD called Bringing the Past to Life: Writing Middle Grade Historical Fiction.

This CD is a recording of a recent 55-minute teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club at the National Writing for Children Center by children’s writer, Suzanne Lieurance. Lila Guzman and Margot Finke also offer tips on this CD.

Purchase the CD here.

Wow! It’s February already!

Time to join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club if you’re serious about starting your own career as a published children’s book author.

This month, members of the club will be learning how to do the following:

1. Apply for assignments with educational publishers.

2. Create a professional resume.

3. Develop an author’s bio.

4. Write winning queries and cover letters.

Membership in the CWCC also includes four 55-minute teleclasses (one per week) providing instruction in some aspect of children’s writing. Teleclasses are led by our faculty members who are all successful, published children’s book authors.

Every Wednesday night, club members are invited to a manuscript critique telesession, where they can HEAR what needs to be done to improve their manuscripts.

All this and MORE each and every month for only $27.00 per month!

Don’t miss out!

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today!

Whether you’re a world-famous children’s author, or you’re just starting to write for kids, you need to have a blog.

Why?

Because a blog will do the following:

1) Help you get in the habit of writing regularly. And even the posts to your blog should be well-written with a little pizazz - which will be excellent writing practice and help you become a more disciplined writer since you’ll need to post to your blog at least 3 to 5 times a week.

2) Help you establish a readership. You’ll be providing readers with helpful and/or interesting information each time you post to your blog. Information people will begin to look forward to reading on a regular basis. If you’re an established children’s book author, children and adults who read your books will look to your blog to find out what’s new with you. They’ll want to know your current writing project(s), new books you have coming out soon, and information about author visits you might offer to schools, libraries, etc.

3) Help you establish yourself as expert in the world of children’s writing and publishing. Even before you are published, you can interview more experienced children’s writers and post these interviews to your blog or write reviews of new children’s books.

****************************

Need help creating your own professional blog?

Then join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club.

Bringing the Past to Life: Writing Middle Grade Historical Fiction, this week’s teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will be presented tonight at 7:00 central time. The instructor for this class is Suzanne Lieurance, author of the upcoming middle grade historical novel, The Locket: Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (to be released in May 2008). Lieurance is currently completing a second historical novel for Enslow Publishers’ fiction adventure series.

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Other CWCC News

Members of the CWCC enjoyed a manuscript critique telesession last night, where everything from picture book manuscripts, writers’ resumes, and nonfiction articles were critiqued. Today, members will receive a link to the recording of this session so they can listen to the critiques of their work even if they were unable to attend last night’s LIVE session.

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club, here, and receive these benefits, plus many more, for only $27.00 per month.

Author Rita Milios has recently joined the faculty of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club.

Welcome, Rita!

Rita Milios, author and workshop presenter, is also a practicing psychotherapist, freelance editor and a former instructor for a national writing school. Rita has published more than thirty books, both fiction and non-fiction, for children, adults, teachers and counselors for publishers including Pearson, Harcourt, Rosen, Glencoe, McGraw-Hill and others. She also writes articles and educational supplements and test assessment materials for educational publishers focusing on science, social issues, language arts, health and character development.

Rita’s books for children include Anorexia and Bulimia, Discovering Positive Thinking, Sleeping and Dreaming. Many of Rita’s books appear on teacher recommendation lists.

Milios is a long-time member of SCBWI, the Association of Journalists and Authors and the National Speakers Association.

Click below to join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club with Rita<!--Begin--->

The Children’s Writers
Coaching Club


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We’re pleased to welcome children’s author Lila Guzman to the faculty of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club.

Lila Guzman writes children’s fiction and nonfiction, young adult novels, and adult-level short stories from her home north of Austin, Texas.

Guzman has won a number of awards, including Honorable Mention from the National League of American Pen Women, The National TCARABook Award, and the Arizona Authors Literary Award. She holds a Ph.D. in Spanish and a commission in the United States Navy.

Her published works include:

Green Slime and Jam (Eakin Press, 2001)
Lorenzo’s Secret Mission (Arte Público Press, 2001)
Lorenzo’s Revolutionary Quest (2003)
Lorenzo and the Turncoat (2006, Arizona Authors Literary Award)
Kichi in Jungle Jeopardy (Blooming Tree Press, 2006)
Famous Latinos Series (2nd-3rd grade biographies for Enslow Publishing, 2006): Cesar Chavez, Roberto Clemente, Ellen Ochoa, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, George Lopez.

FORTHCOMING WORKS:

Lorenzo and the Pirate (Young Adult Novel)
George Lopez: King of Latino Comedy (Middle Grade Non-fiction)
Mohammed (Picture Book)
Moses (Picture Book)
Jesus (Picture Book)

The National Writing for Children Center

Children’s Author Margot Finke

Find out more about Margot Finke on Our Staff & Faculty Page.

Margot will be teaching a monthly teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club starting in February.

Her February teleclass will be:

PICTURE (BOOK) PERFECT

This teleclass will cover the following:

* Good grammar and punctuation
* Tight writing — use a few carefully chosen words to write a “big” story.
* The benefit of bringing powerful verbs into play.
* How to paint word pictures that will stick in a child’s head.
* How to write active paragraphs that easily translate into illustrations
* How to FOCUS on what is important to the story — and cut the rest.
* The art of crafting characters kids will identify with and root for.
* Develop a writing “voice” that is unique.

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today so you won’t miss any of Margot’s exciting and informative classes. Click the Coaching Club link directly below.<!--Begin--->

The Children’s Writers
Coaching Club


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Members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club are in for a special treat tonight.

Children’s author Margot Finke will be our speaker for a special teleclass about planning and presenting at school author events.

CWCC members can attend this live event and ask questions, make comments, and have fun as they learn from Margot.

The teleclass starts at 8:00 central time tonight and lasts for 55 minutes. Every member of the CWCC will also receive a CD of this recorded event.

If you’ve decided to make 2008 the year you finally become a published children’s author yourself, you’ll want to join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club to get the help you need to do that.

Here’s what you’ll receive as a member of the club:

1. Every month you will be invited to attend a LIVE teleclass with a successful children’s book author and/or illustrator, then you will receive a CD of this recorded event.

You’ll get the “inside scoop” on what it takes to become published in today’s markets.

2. Every Monday morning you’ll also receive an email with a short writing assignment designed to improve your skills in some area of children’s writing.

You can choose whether or not you complete this assignment and turn it in for review.

3. Every week you can submit a children’s manuscript for review. Then, every Wednesday night you can attend a manuscript critique telesession, where you’ll receive constructive comments and suggestions about your manuscript from at least one published children’s book writer.

Your writing career will really start to take off after just a few months in our club.

And, you’ll receive all this help - each and every month - for only $27.00 per month.

But wait, there’s more.

Don’t just take my word for it.

If you’d like a FREE trial membership for the month of January, email [email protected] and put the words, “free trial membership” in the subject area.

Try membership in the CWCC first to see how you like it, without paying a cent. Note: This offer applies to new members only.

But you’d better hurry.

This special offer will only be available today, January 7th. It expires at midnight tonight.

Make 2008 the year you finally DO something to create the writing career you’ve always dreamed of!

See you in print!

Suzanne Lieurance
Founder, Director
National Writing for Children Center

Members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club are going to hit the ground running this month with a series of events early in the month.

First, tonight is our weekly manuscript critique telesession at 8:00 central time. It’s good to see at least a few club members are ready to refocus on their writing now after taking time out to enjoy the holidays.

Children’s Author and Speaker Margot Finke

Second, next Wednesday night, January 9th, at 8:00 central time, children’s author and presenter Margot Finke will present a special teleclass for members of the CWCC about how to design and present a super school presentation.

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching HERE to take advantage of these exciting events.

Did you realize that most stories written for very young children today are written from a single point of view?

If you’re having trouble finding a publisher for a picture book manuscript, and you’re switching viewpoints with every line, that’s probably one of the reasons your manuscript is being rejected.

This week, members of the Childen’s Writers’ Coaching Club are studying point of view and are practicing writing a story from a single point of view. They are also learning how to start the action of the story on the very first page.

Become a member of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club and receive this week’s assignment plus an email invitation to this week’s manuscript critique telesession where we actually TALK about what’s working, and what’s not, in every manuscript we critique.

Become a member of the Club TODAY!

Why wait?

Learn the “tricks of the trade” right now to get your career started as a published children’s book author!

Many people want to become published children’s book authors but they just don’t know how to go about it.

Writing for children is different from writing for adults. There’s more to it than simply featuring children in your stories.

Learn the “tricks of the trade” to become a published children’s book author by joining the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club here at the National Writing for Children Center.

For just $27.00 a month you’ll have the opportunity for weekly writing exercises, weekly manuscript critique telesessions, and a monthly hour-long teleclass with a published children’s writer and/or illustrator.

As a member of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club you won’t need to GUESS at what you should do to write marketable stories and articles for children. You’ll KNOW what you need to do to succeed.

Find out more about the club and join HERE today!

Tonight is our weekly manuscript critique telesession for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club. Each member can submit a manuscript for critique today and then listen as other members give suggestions and comments about it tonight.

This week’s practice writing assignment was to write a short, short story in The Core of Three. So we’ll be going over those, too.

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club for only $27.00 a month and get the help you need to become a published children’s book author yourself.

Find out more about the club HERE.

Last night, author Angela Durden presented an interesting and informative teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club.

While I was listening, I think I took at LEAST 3 pages of notes. Angela had some exciting ideas for published children’s book authors and for aspiring children’s book authors, as well. Members of the CWCC will receive a CD of this recorded event in their membership packets early next month.

This afternoon at 2:00 central time, Angela will be the guest author on Book Bites for Kids, LIVE on blogtalkradio.com. Listen to the show via your computer to find out about Angela’s exciting series of children’s books called Mike and His Grandpa.Call in during the show to ask a question or make a comment at 1-646-716-9239.

Angela Durden is not only a children’s writer, she is also a fulltime freelance writer. Tonight, she will be our guest speaker for this week’s Writers on Call teleclass for freelance writers. She’ll talk to us about marketing and promoting our writing and writing services.

I know this is a long post but it is worth reading. After the Artists Business course I did in March this year I started looking into the marketing side of artists and in general. The most important point that stood out for me was that you must have “constant contact with your audience”. In both Alyson Stanfield’s class and in the further research I did, email contact stood out as the dominant

This month, children’s writer Margot Finke will present a special teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club. Margot will talk about How to Self-Edit Your Middle Grade Novel.

Margot Finke is an Aussie who writes mid grade adventure fiction, ghost mysteries, and rhyming picture books. For the past 25 years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family. She began serious writing the day her youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot says, “I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs. You are my heroes!”

Her “Musings,” column can be read monthly in The Purple Crayon and the SCBWI NewsWorthy magazine. Her Critique Service helps writers iron out plot and character problems. “Nothing gives me a greater thrill than to find out an editor bought a book I helped polish.” Early on, many people offered Margot help with her writing. These days, she tries to return the favor whenever she can. Her workshops, at writer’s conferences, are enhanced by the use of a PowerPoint presentation, as are her frequent school visits.

Margot’s series of 6 rhyming picture books are available as downloads or on CD: “Kangaroo Clues” - “Never Say BOO to a Frilly” - “Humdinger Hummers” - “Mama Grizzly Bear” & “Don’t Eat Platypus Stew” - “Prairie dog’s Play Day” - published by Writers Exchange E-Publishing. Fun and educational, they bring kids closer to neat animals in the US and Australia. VIEW excerpts, illustrations and great reviews on her BOOKS page, along with instructions on how to BUY
Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between her writing. Her husband, Alan, is supportive, and their three children are now grown and doing well out on their own. Visit her website for more information about her writing and writing services.

How to Self-Edit Your Middle Grade Novel will take place on Wednesday night, July 25, at 7:00 p.m. (Central time). To join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club and attend this special teleclass, click here.

This month, children’s writer Margot Finke will present a special teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club. Margot will talk about How to Edit Your Middle Grade Novel.

Margot Finke is an Aussie who writes mid grade adventure fiction, ghost mysteries, and rhyming picture books. For the past 25 years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family. She began serious writing the day her youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot says, “I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs. You are my heroes!”

Her “Musings,” column can be read monthly in The Purple Crayon and the SCBWI NewsWorthy magazine. Her Critique Service helps writers iron out plot and character problems. “Nothing gives me a greater thrill than to find out an editor bought a book I helped polish.” Early on, many people offered Margot help with her writing. These days, she tries to return the favor whenever she can. Her workshops, at writer’s conferences, are enhanced by the use of a PowerPoint presentation, as are her frequent school visits.

Margot’s series of 6 rhyming picture books are available as downloads or on CD: “Kangaroo Clues” - “Never Say BOO to a Frilly” - “Humdinger Hummers” - “Mama Grizzly Bear” & “Don’t Eat Platypus Stew” - “Prairie dog’s Play Day” - published by Writers Exchange E-Publishing. Fun and educational, they bring kids closer to neat animals in the US and Australia. VIEW excerpts, illustrations and great reviews on her BOOKS page, along with instructions on how to BUY
Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between her writing. Her husband, Alan, is supportive, and their three children are now grown and doing well out on their own.

How to Edit Your Middle Grade Novel will take place on Wednesday night, July 25, at 7:00 p.m. (Central time). To join the Childrlen’s Writers Coaching Club and attend this special teleclass, click here.