Drafting interview questions for my first nonfiction PB! #kidlit #amwriitng #picturebook #nf #nonfiction

#kidlit creators, join #scbwi #easternup for a webinar with Cherry Mo! The Caldecott-Honor-winning author-ilustrator will be sharing her process and her path to publication. When: September 29, 2005, 6 pm - 7:15 pm EDT Where: Zoom (will be recorded) Price: $15 ($10 for premium) bit.ly/4mtgC0a

Now that I'm in the middle of my novel, I have no idea how many of my scenes will actually stay when I revise. The only way to deal: just keep writing! #kidlit #amwriting #mg #middlegrade #messyfirstdraft #novelsarehard

"If you know what you’re doing in the arts, then you’re doing it wrong... If you don’t know what you’re doing, then you’re on the right track, because you’re open to the whole world of possibilities." - Terry Riley, composer #kidlit #writingcommunity #art #music #quotes #inspiration

Finally cracked a way to draft a PB idea I've been germinating for a year. My mom actually thought up this topic. #kidlit #amwriting #picturebook 🌻🌻🌻🌻

Got word that my flash piece will appear in a literary journal. More details to come. #goodnews #goodpublishingnews #writingcommunity #flashfiction #easternup

Today's fun-to-say word-of-the-day: Ilakaka A major source for sapphires in Madagascar

Just hit 10,000 words in my MG. Yay!!! #kidlit #amwriting #middlegrade

Nonfiction is hard!! I started a PB draft. It is a true mess full of things to research and figurative language to think up. Good thing it's a topic I'm passionate about. #kidlit #amwriting #nonfiction #picturebook

A great writing day today! My first really productive day since travelling. I powered through the bits that were bogging me down and ended on a fun note. #kidlit #amwriting #mg

Do you see the elephant? It started breaking up when I pulled out the camera. #clouds #cloudshapes #animals #sky #nature

When the process of getting accommodations is more punishing than the stuff you're actually trying to accommodate #disabilitysky #cripcoop #actuallyautistic #nd

Received such a sweet champagne rejection today! Well worth the 5 month wait. #amquerying #kidlit #pb

First #PitchDis pitch submitted! #kidlit #writingcommunity #disabilitysky

Tonight's @scbwihouston.bsky.social meeting with @valeriebolling.bsky.social was wonderful! Generating so many ideas got my creative juices flowing enough that I am excited to return to drafting my MG. #kidlit #scbwi #amwriting

#PitchDis Day 21 of 21: One of my favorite lines is: Except...waiting's boring. It captures an important emotion and experience so simply. #kidlit #picturebook #disabilitysky

Just received my fastest query reply ever: only 12 minutes!! And completely personalized. Kudos, Agent! #kidlit #amquerying #writingcommunity

🚨A Few More #PitchDis Reminders -The pitch window will be open Tuesday through Thursday at 8pm EDT. Pitches will be posted in random order, so there's no benefit to being the first or last author to pitch -No requests will be sent before Sept 16. Requests will go out in real time 9/16-9/19 (1/2)

FIRST KISS WITH FANGS by @markersnyder.bsky.social is fabulous! The characters are all so well-rounded and unique I want more of them. 😉 I would totally be friends with vegetarian vampire Ivan. #kidlit #gn #graphicnovel #mg #bookreview #easternup bit.ly/3I8d71f

#PitchDis Day 19 of 21: I think my MC would dress up as a rambunctious puppy dog.

#PitchDis Day 18 of 21: Definitely alone. It's too hard for me to think when other people are around.

#PitchDis Day 16 of 21: This is easy because I am already writing it: contemporary lower MG.

One of my favorite parts of August's @12x12challenge.bsky.social Book Chat with @tashahilderman.bsky.social was listening to Tasha's agent journey. I am in a similar situation with an agent who loves my work but has a full PB list. Tasha's story was exactly what I needed to hear right now. #kidlit

#PitchDis Day 13 of 21: 🌞👩‍🦰🥄🥄🥄🛏🌛🎇🥄

THE MOUSE BUFFET by @dellarossferreri.bsky.social and Tim Bowers is a true feast for the eyes and ears. Rereading this adorable story every year would be such a fun holiday tradition for kids. #kidlit #bookreview #picturebook #easternup bit.ly/3HUYSww

Started a spreadsheet for my MG so I know what happens in each chapter. #kidlit #amwriting

#PitchDis Day 8 of 21: If I’m going for a novel, my default is to underwrite. I'm usually pretty good when I write PB. Low word counts can be a plus there.

I am officially switching the WIP from chapter book to lower middle grade. #kidlit #amwriting

#PitchDis Day 6 of 21: I am a plotter, but I leave space for improvisation.

My hands tell me, "Stop!" The pain demands time and rest. I wish I could type... #HaikuSaturday #poetry #disability #DisabilitySky #cripcoop #eds

#PitchDis Day 4 of 21: I include nature a lot. Also authentic representation.

@kerrymcquaide.bsky.social I did a beach read aloud of your book today for 2 young girls. They loved it! The 6 1/4 year old's reaction: Good thing she didn't die. 🤣

Day 3 of 21 Days of #PitchDis: I will be pitching PB

The monarchs are coming soon! #nature #caterpillar #animals

Publishing has a knack for making me feel elated and devastated at the same time. #kidlit #amquerying

Join Alisa Kwitney and #scbwi #easternup for The 4 Keys to Visual Writing. #kidlit #writingcommunity When: Wed, Sept. 3, 2025; 6 pm - 7:30 pm (EDT) Where: Zoom Price: $25 ($15 for premium members) bit.ly/4oMcFpW

Day 2 of 21 Days of #PitchDis I know I have been querying for 2 years. I think I have been an SCBWI member for 3 years. I'm not sure how many years I was writing before that... Let's say I've been writing for 5-ish years. Heavy on the ish. #kidlit #amquerying

Hi, #PitchDis participants! I am a nd #kidlit writer with the EDS trifecta. I especially love writing lyrical picture books with authentic representation.

Yes! Finished a big dramatic scene in the (maybe) chapter book. Fit in some of the free writing I did at @lynnekelly.bsky.social's Manuscript Marathon workshop. #kidlit #amwriting

Nap time! #pets #petphotos #dog #cat #sleepyanimals #cute

Very excited for next Tuesday's writerly task! #kidlit #easternup

Don't forget to join us here on Bluesky beginning next Tuesday for 21 Days of #PitchDis! There will be a new prompt/question posted every day leading up to the PitchDis pitch window opening. This is a great way to meet other PitchDis participants and make some new friends!

Today, I created a fictional kpop group that I may or may not use in the new project. Even if I do use it, I know way more details than I need. Hahaha. #kidlit #amwriting #writingcommunity

Reached out to a ballroom professional for some research for the new project. A huge step for an introvert like me! Even if it is my old dance teacher ;-) #kidlit #amwriting #writingcommunity #chapterbook

When I read @schaubwrites.bsky.social's post on book-kus (haiku book summaries), I had to try it. Here is my book-ku for TOUCHING THE SURFACE by @kimberlysabatini.bsky.social: Delve into past lives: Revelations connect souls despite bitter truths. #kidlit #writingcommunity #easternup

Anyone know a good way to find agents that take chapter book queries? Is there a better method than scanning the submission info for anyone with children's listed as a genre? #kidlit #amquerying

5,000+ words down in my (probably) chapter book project! #amwriting #kidlit #messyfirstdraft

Upside down kitty! #petphotos #animals #cats

Today I wrote a sentence that delights me. #amwriting #revision #kidlit

There is a certain joy to swimming like a human after swimming like a mermaid. The 2-legged kick is freeing!