The #PBParty New Draft Challenge & Critique Train runs through 9/20 Eastern. *Write a new PB draft *Hop on the Critique Train doc to receive a crit from the passenger above & give one to the person below NEW: Tips & giveaway with @sylviaichen.bsky.social! mindyalyseweiss.com/critique-tra...

Enter to win a critique of the first 10 pages of your novel by editor Stuart Wakefield! I've heard so many raves about his feedback. He asks for a rough synopsis, too, and often gives suggestions on that as well. You have until 1 am Eastern to enter!

The #PBParty New Draft Challenge & Critique Train starts NOW & lasts through August 23 EDT 🚂Write a new PB draft 🚂Shout 'DONE' on this post 🚂Add your name to the Critique Train Google doc: tinyurl.com/Critique... 🚂CELEBRATE! 🎉 🚂FAQ: tinyurl.com/Critique...#PBParty Good luck ✨

Our weekly big list of kid lit links is up (Aug 15): kidlit411.com/2025/08/the-... Inside: Advice for Selling at Tables, SCBWI mentor programs, KidLitGN pitch event, more. Thanks Mary Pat Kanaley for the illustration, @heatherstigall7.bsky.social @harpercollins.bsky.social for the giveaways.

Here's a chance to win one of three 5-page critiques from Resident Writing Coach and Guest Editor Marissa Graff. She's amazing! Marissa has been a reader for an agent for 5+ years and is an editor at Angelella Editorial. writershelpingwriters.net/2025/07/phen...

The #PBParty New Draft Challenge & Critique Train starts NOW & lasts all of July17 - 19 EDT 🚂Write a new PB draft 🚂Shout 'DONE' on this post 🚂Add your name to the Critique Train Google doc: tinyurl.com/Critique... 🚂CELEBRATE! 🎉 🚂FAQ: tinyurl.com/Critique...#PBPartyGood luck ✨✨

If you're seeking an agent or received an offer and wonder what to do next, my post can help! I include potential questions to ask an agent. Do you have more to add? fromthemixedupfiles.... #MG #kidlit #agent

The #PBParty New Draft Challenge & Critique Train starts NOW & lasts all of June 19 – 21 EDT 🚂Write a new PB draft 🚂Shout 'DONE' on this post 🚂Add your name to the Critique Train Google doc: tinyurl.com/Critique... 🚂CELEBRATE! 🎉 🚂FAQ: tinyurl.com/Critique...#PBPartyGood luck ✨✨

Amazing advice from agent @jenniedunhamlit.bsky.social during a past @picturebooksummit.bsky.social.

Over at the Writers Helping Writers blog, Liz Alterman shares how to begin your novel with the end goal in mind and avoid mistakes she’s made. She’s giving away a query critique and an EBook to celebrate her newest release, Claire Casey’s Had Enough. writershelpingwriters.net/2025/06/begi...

Check out this amazing post from @michellebark.bsky.social, Senior Editor at @darlingaxe.com. The way she shows how to deconstruct novels is brilliant! Enter for a chance to win one of 10 EBooks of Story Skeleton: The Classics. Good luck! writershelpingwriters.net/2025/05/read...

"There's a word for a writer who never gives up: published." ~ Joe Konrath

Enter to win one of 6 prizes of a five page novel critique from @michellebark.bsky.social, Senior Editor at @darlingaxe.com over on the Writers Helping Writers blog. Good luck! :) writershelpingwriters.net/2025/05/phen...

The #PBParty New Draft Challenge & Critique Train starts NOW & lasts all of May 15 – 17 EDT 🚂Write a new PB draft 🚂Shout 'DONE' on this post 🚂Add your name to the Critique Train Google doc: tinyurl.com/Critique... 🚂CELEBRATE! 🎉 🚂FAQ: tinyurl.com/Critique...#PBPartyGood luck ✨✨

2025 #PBParty honorable mentions are up. Congrats everyone! 🎉 I'm happy dancing for those on the list & sending hugs & cyber chocolate to those who didn't make it in this year. 🍫 Keep working and putting yourself out there & I know your YES will come. mindyalyseweiss.com/...

The #PBParty New Draft Challenge & Critique Train starts NOW & lasts all of April 17-19 EDT 🚂Write a new PB draft 🚂Shout 'DONE' on this post 🚂Add your name to the Critique Train Google doc: tinyurl.com/Critique... 🚂CELEBRATE! 🎉 🚂FAQ: tinyurl.com/Critique...#PBPartyGood luck ✨✨

This weekend reminded how much I truly adore speaking with writers. So if you're looking for an agent for a writers conference, please keep me in mind. I love them so much! (I do require my expenses to be covered and payment. I can't pay to work or take days off my work for free)

#PBParty honorable mentions update: I've received lots of messages/e-mails asking when honorable mentions will be announced. I'm hoping to get them up by the end of next week, but might need a bit longer. I'll explain more in the PBParty Participants Facebook group. :)

I had the best time with my younger daughter and grandpuppy. I miss them so much already. Can't wait to see them again at the end of the month. I'm counting the days! And OMG--he is so cute, cuddly, kissy and could play 24/7.

Did you see this, #PBParty? @joycekay.bsky.social @seymouragency.bsky.social

An awesome member of my online PB critique group and agent-sibling just joined BlueSky. I hope you'll say hi and follow @julieaugensen.bsky.social. Maybe she'll entertain us with photos of her adorable cats and the amazing crafts she creates. So happy to see you here, Julie! 💖

Yay! What a talented region. 🎉🎉🎉 I'm so glad 3 of your members are in the #PBParty Showcase. :)

Wahooooo! Fingers and toes crossed for you, @staceybyer.bsky.social. You've put in so much time, heart & effort to help judge the #PBParty contest. I hope it will be your turn to celebrate great news soon.

It's #PBParty Celebration Sunday! What has you happy dancing? 🎉I'm so excited for all the PBParty showcase requests. So many agent offers are coming in, too! Fingers and toes crossed for lots of magical matches this year. 🎉Editor feedback that will make a HUGE difference!

Last chance to check out the 2025 #PBParty Showcase! Agents, editors & ADs browse the 55 finalists & Illustration Showcase & request in the comments. mindyalyseweiss.com/...#PBParty Here's a sneak peek at the 10 author/illustrator finalists! #agents #editors #kidlit

Have you checked out the 2025 #PBParty Illustration Showcase? The talent is AMAZING! Everyone is welcome to browse. Agents, editors & ADs request more from author/illustrators by number at the bottom of the post. mindyalyseweiss.com/...#PBParty Hurry! The showcase closes Sunday.

The #PBParty New Draft Challenge & Critique Train starts NOW & lasts all of March 20–22 EDT 🚂Write a new PB draft 🚂Shout 'DONE' on this post 🚂Add your name to the Critique Train Google doc: tinyurl.com/Critique... 🚂CELEBRATE! 🎉 🚂FAQ: tinyurl.com/Critique...#PBPartyGood luck ✨✨

Kidlit people. I need laugh-out-loud funny picture books pubished in 2024 or so far in 2025. What'cha got for me? #scbwi #megakidlit #kidlit #picturebooks

It's #PBParty Celebration Sunday! What has you happy dancing this week? 🎉We have our first 2025 PBParty success. Wahooooo! 🎉The showcase has been extended a week to give agents & editors more time. 🎉I received awesome feedback & can't wait to dive into PB revisions soon.

#kidlit friends, what are some of your favorite picture book page turns? I'm teaching a class tonight and would love some additional examples.

Everyone is welcome to browse the amazing #PBParty finalists! Comments are only for agent, editor & AD requests. We had 199 requests the first day. Last night, we had 310. Wahooooo! We'd love to have even more requests for our talented finalists. 💗 mindyalyseweiss.com/pbparty-2025...

Does anyone want to guess how many agent/editor/AD requests the #PBParty finalists/Illustration Showcase received on Monday (opening day)? What do you think of everything? Going through the showcase is like taking a PB Masterclass. Happy reading! mindyalyseweiss.com/...#PBParty

The #PBParty agent/editor/AD showcase opened early this morning and requests are flying! With 55 finalists and 20 in the Illustration Showcase, we'd love to have even more participate. Everyone may read them & cheer online, but comments are only for requests. mindyalyseweiss.com/pbparty-2025...

The 2025 PBParty Agent/Editor Showcase is open & requests are already coming in. Wahoooo! I can't wait for you to see these amazing entries. Comments are only for requests, but you're welcome to gush about ones you love on social media. Happy reading! mindyalyseweiss.com/...

It's #PBParty Celebration Sunday! What has you happy dancing this week? 🎉The Illustration Showcase is DONE & I'm working my way through formatting the 55 finalists. I can't wait to share them with you tomorrow. 💖 🎉I'm enjoying all the cuddles & play with my grandkitties.

Fill in your answer, #PBParty! I am a WINNER because... 🎉Create a graphic for it 🎉Shout it out, loud and proud 🎉Put it near your desk, laptop, or studio 🎉CELEBRATE! 🌟I'm a winner because I read so many amazing #PBParty entries that I hope will be out in the world soon!

I want everyone to feel like a winner from our #PBParty discussions. Please share great conferences, workshops, classes, mentorships & other awesome events for PB writers & author/illustrators so more creatives can discover them. @pbrisingstars.bsky.social mentorship applications are open NOW!

The list of 2025 #PBParty finalists is live! I'm cheering for the finalists and sending tons and tons of hugs to those who didn't make it in this time. (((Hugs))) Huge thanks to all the amazing judges - they put so many hours into this contest. 💖 mindyalyseweiss.com/...#PBParty

The #PBParty finalists will be announced soon. Wahoooo! Congrats to them...& everyone who entered. You worked hard on your entry & sent new hope out. That makes you a winner! If a 'no' gets you down, what helps take the sting away so you can dive back into PBs? 1/2

How do you celebrate good news, #PBParty? 🌟Publishing can be a long journey. It helps to celebrate good news along the way - not just big things like signing with an agent or selling a book. Celebrate... *Writing a new draft *An 'aha' moment 1/2

What do you wish you knew when you first started writing or illustrating #PBParty? 🌟That my manuscripts didn't have to be super-strong before attending conferences. Attending makes such a HUGE difference. 🌟I wish I discovered the amazing, supportive kidlit community sooner.

It's #PBParty Celebration Sunday. What has you happy dancing? 🌟I finished voting on #PBParty entries. Wow--such talent, humor & heart. 💖 🌟I fought my laptop for 2 days & finally can work again. Whew. 🌟Loving every second living with my grandkitties 🌟I revised 2 PBs!

How have contests helped you or your critique partners, #PBParty? 🌟They motivate me with deadlines 🌟Kidlit, agent & editor connections 🌟Publication is such a long journey...it's amazing to have contest wins to celebrate 🎉 🌟Contests with low word counts inspire streamlining

My post is up on the Mixed-Up Files...of Middle-Grade Authors site: How to Find a Great Agent. 🌟Ways to Research Agents 🌟Tips 🌟Writing Awesome Queries I love having @joycekay.bsky.social as my agent--and hope you'll have an awesome agent soon. 💖 fromthemixedupfiles.... #MG #kidlit

How do you decide if an idea is good enough to turn into a manuscript #PBParty? 🌟I gather tons of ideas during #StoryStorm. 🌟I flesh out my favorites & move them toward the top of my file. 🌟I consider which might be the most marketable--but also listen to my gut & dive in!

What are your writing/revision/illustration roadblocks? Let's help each other, #PBParty! 🌟Early on, I submitted WAY too early. 🌟Later, I had trouble knowing when a manuscript was truly ready and waited too long (luckily, that hasn't happened since I signed with my agent).

We now have 1 author/illustrator and 3 writers who signed with agents and needed to withdraw their #PBParty entry. Wahooooooo! It's raining agents. ☔ Who's next?

We'd absolutely love for you to join the #PBParty showcase fun, @michellewitte.bsky.social. Can you message me your e-mail so I can send you the official invite now & a link to the showcase on March 10? Thanks for the shoutout, @emmaapple.bsky.social. Yes, all are welcome to participate. :)

Share your best tips & resources for writing PBs. What surprised you about writing & revising, #PBParty? *Read, read, read! *Join supportive groups like SCBWI, 12x12PB & take workshops *Great critique groups are priceless *Don't get stuck on 1 PB - keep writing new ones, too

I laughed so hard at an interactive #PBParty entry. Especially at the end. It's doing fantastic so far! Humor alone isn't enough...but this has so many fun layers. Fingers and toes crossed!