http://www.isnare.com/?s=author&a=Laura+Backes Writing Laura Backes Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=376516&ca=Writing When developing a story or article, aspiring authors often hear this writing tip: learn to incorporate the "who," "when," "where," and "how." But what often gets overlooked is the "why." Without examining why a story takes place, or why an article would be of interest to the reader, the entire writi... Writing Laura Backes Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=283543&ca=Writing While the submission process may feel like second nature to experienced writers, it’s easy to forget that newcomers aren’t aware of the specific procedures. And since everyone can benefit from a refresher course now and then, here’s a rundown of the steps: First, collect addresses of appropriate pub... Writing Laura Backes Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=261067&ca=Writing Children love rhyme. The rhythm of the text, the way the words bounce off the tongue can be especially appealing to young children who are mastering language and reading. There are two vehicles for verse in the children’s market: poetry and rhyming stories. Both have special guidelines. * Rhyming St... Writing Laura Backes Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=223010&ca=Writing Rejection is never easy. But some authors can't separate themselves from their work, and take rejection letters very personally. I get many emails from disgruntled writers who can't get past their anger to figure out why their work was turned down in the first place. So before you spend hours sticki... Writing Laura Backes Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=217509&ca=Writing I have a very clean house. I vacuum almost daily, regularly dust my silverware drawer for crumbs, and organize my closets at least three times a year. What's my secret? I'm a writer who works from home. Like many writers, when deadlines loom I circle my laptop, finding excuses not to get started. Bu... Writing Laura Backes Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=173252&ca=Writing Let's face it: some kids just don't like to read. Increasingly, parents, teachers, librarians, and editors are looking for books that will appeal to reluctant readers. When I was writing The Best Books for Kids Who (Think They) Hate to Read (Random House), I read hundreds of children's books, old an... Writing Laura Backes Sat, 31 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=138143&ca=Writing Many beginners believe writing picture books are a breeze, but it requires a lot of skill to pack a story into a few words. If writing a picture book is your dream, here are some tips to consider before you begin: 1. Keep it simple. You should be able to sum up the plot of your picture book in three... Writing Laura Backes Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=98887&ca=Writing In an editorial several years ago, I described a tree house in the backyard of a local restaurant. I wrote, "The entire structure has been pieced together from recycled lumber, much of which still bears the paint, logos or posters of the original walls from whence it came. The generous platform is r... Writing Laura Backes Sun, 20 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=77017&ca=Writing Several years ago, Anastasia Suen sent us this note, which still appears on our web site: “Yesterday’s mail brought copies of Hodgepodge, with my poem on the back page, and an acceptance letter from Babybug for another poem! My poems in Shoofly will be out in April. ALL these leads came from Childre... Writing Laura Backes Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.isnare.com/?aid=65930&ca=Writing Turn Your Idea Into a Book Maybe you're one of those lucky writers whose head is bursting with ideas. Or perhaps you have one idea that's been nagging you for weeks, always at the edge of your thoughts. Either way, you're itching to begin writing. That's good. But before you rush headlong into your...