Today in ONE ART, we feature poems by Shawn Aveningo Sanders & Gary J. Whitehead oneartpoetry.com

I've trimmed 5k from this manuscript. At least another 5k to go. Maybe 10k?

What a great writer starter pack!

Thanks, Christy! Reach out if you're looking for feedback to bring out the best in the story you want to tell. Let's see if we can work out something in 2026 that's in your budget! mspitzerfranklin.wixsite.com/mysite/home

@miriamsf.bsky.social has given me feedback on several stories. And it has been excellent each time. She mentored for Pitch Wars back in the day. And she has several MG books out. Check out her great sale right now! If you’re looking for Developmental edits this is a steal!

HELP! 📣 We need published children's authors, illustrators, and photographers to feature on our blog! As a participation perk, we'll list one of your books on our site. WE HAVE AN OPEN SLOT THIS FRIDAY! Please reach out if interested, and keep shining! ✨ www.litkidsmagazine.com/blog #kidlit #blog

I moved the dollhouse back out of the other room and so it is being opened and rearranged more often. And I love it.

I’ve been trying and failing all week to write a poem for my poetry workshop and @katiedozier.bsky.social’s poetry prompt. Finally today both poured out. Now back to revising my verse novel.

There are 11 middle schoolers around my dining room table playing Taco Goat Cheese Pizza with all the energy of a dozen Christmas elves the night before Christmas. It sounds just a little bit painful. But very fun.

Grabbing a few minutes before my nieces and nephews arrive to send out some poetry submissions. You can read a poem about that dollhouse in the background here: www.winnowliterary.org/reframing?fb...

I made these cute Chicken cookies for my neighbor (we love their chickens), and came home with eggs! ❤️❤️❤️

Oh my word. Adorable puppy alert. They had puppies out downtown during a walk this afternoon. Australian Doodles

Jingle Jangle continues to be one of our favorite Christmas movies. The music! The choreography! The heart. ❤️🥰❤️

I really enjoy both Jessica and Bethany’s poetry. (Which likely means I’ll enjoy Nancy’s too!

#KidLitChat I'm not sure that this is recently learned. But it became clearer to me just how much nature and history inspire me to write.

#KidLitChat School Librarian friends!

#KidLitChat On the process side, this is the first time all the kids have been in school. And so I've had some chunks of time to work on my writing during the day. I realize I still write poetry best sitting in car line. Why? I do not know. But for drafting verse novel/research/revising laptop 100%

#KidLitChat I know I've gained poetic skill. I'm very grateful for a poetry class I've been taking from Susan Spears. Learning alongside @chelseamcclellan.bsky.social @bposullivan.bsky.social and others has pushed me poetically in the best way.

Issue 2 Spotlight: a #poetry #art combo! “A Little Thing” by @laurimeyers.bsky.social accompanied by “Dogs Show Love and Care” by Finn Rotert (age 6) Together they highlight the bond of trust that goes both ways between human and pet. epistemiclit.com/nimblewitlit...

Over on Threads I shared thoughts on the names the producers on #WakeUpDeadMan chose and how clever and layered I thought they were. So I'm sharing those thoughts here. Warning! SPOILERS AHEAD!

This is my sweet little lemon tree. When I brought it inside to protect it from frost it dropped all but two leaves and I thought I might have killed it. So I am way over excited with how many leaves it has grown back. ❤️ Like call my kids over to dance with me excited about the new leaves.

Just two more strings concerts, a gingerbread house kindergarten party, and one more choir performance before the schedule calms down. Maybe I'll be able to actually sit down and send out some December poetry submissions.

On a more serious note: One gift idea is to ask your family to make a donation in your name to @penamerica.bsky.social or @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social The fight against book banning is serious and ongoing #kidlitchat

#KidLitChat I think it would be super fun to sent a debut author friend a tea blend based on something in their book. One of our local bookstores/tea shops creates blends! They have a ton of book-ish options! petalsteashop.com/create-a-tea

Last year I sent my literary agent chocolate from here: www.openbookchocolates.com/our-flavors So many fun flavors! #KidLitChat

#KidLitChat On the gift giving side. I’m looking for a cat related PB to gift my niece alongside her present this year. Any recommendations?

#KidLitChat One of these consultations would be an awesome Author gift: manuscriptacademy.com/consultations

#KidLitChat My friend Aimee has this great blog list that links books with potential coordinating gifts. It's worth looking through for the kids in your life!

#KidLitChat I've sometimes made book jewelry for author friends. Earrings and necklaces with their book covers. And last year I painted a magpie for my secret Magpie Sister in our shiny object gift exchange.

#KidLitChat My most writer-ly daughter has been requesting a typewriter since last Christmas. So I found an Olivetti on FB marketplace... Kind of excited for her to open it.

And my favorite novels in verse I read this year! #kidlitchat

#KidLitChat I just gave a friend a gift stuffed with poetry prompts. And just tonight I was gifted a poetry collection! LULLABY FOR THE GRIEVING. The poetry looks fascinating. And it's a signed book! Eeeep!

Excited to finally be able to join during the actual chat time. #KidLitChat

The hosts of the local poetry live events invited everyone over for hot chocolate and ornament making this past weekend. And even though we had a choir tech, choir concert, Nutcracker performance (oldest), and birthday party(middle), we went a little early to swing by for hot chocolate.

I’m impressed that last night the K5 and 1st graders sang with the music! Last year they were several measures off from the soundtrack! Both performances were, of course, adorable.

During the @highlightsfound.bsky.social Verse Novelist Retreat last year @rajanilarocca.bsky.social gave me some great feedback about the beginning of my NIV. This looks like a great course with her! And one that helps grow your story!

Visiting the local Indie bookstore. Look! Friends! @ryanjamesblack.bsky.social @subity.bsky.social I loved that they had Valor Wings front facing. And I might have left Nimble Nottingham front facing, too. 😄

The nutcracker performances! Friday we went and it was great. Saturday we just did pickup/drop off. But it was the same time as the Christmas parade. I circled for 40minutes trying to find parking or open streets to pick up my daughter! 😱

For those who do care about what's happening in the world, but who sometimes need an #Uplift: bsky.app/profile/debb... Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • acts of kindness • crafty • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text

Today! Make sure you use the correct hashtag (don't forget the ART part in #KidLitArtPostcard). Also try to remember to use alt-text! Not only does it help those who use screen readers & neurodivergent but it can help your post get discovered.

#KidLitChat How has the next quarter already passed?! I started interning with @kaitlynleann17.bsky.social in September. I’m really enjoying that. I love learning! I finished an expansion revision for MG NIV. And now I’m working on trimming it into something manageable.

You should absolutely take a moment to read the work of these brilliant kids! #poetry #LitMag #Kids

It's meaningful to me that @hubcitypress.bsky.social has over 500 individual supporters who donate each year to sustain our work. It's extra meaningful to me that 50% come from outside of Spartanburg. We saw our largest spike in non-SC giving ever after the termination of our NEA grant this year.

Ya’ll. I don’t know how. But the next two weeks are about as cram-packed as possible. I’m talking Nutcracker performances, 2 kids separate string concerts, a kindergarten concert, 2 choir concerts, plus rehearsals and tech, 3 birthdays, ornament making, extra robotics, and a robotics tournament.

I love @redbranchreview.bsky.social. And I’m so glad they included a sonnet of mine in this issue!

The biggest joy was finding a bike seat attachment for my five year old for $35 at the thrift store. And then at the counter it was half off! 😱❤️

Home beside our own Christmas tree is the best. ❤️

How much story trimming can I do in forty minutes…

Spent the morning thrifting. And I found 2 pairs of khakis that fit school dress code and an adorable hooded knit vest the kids are already fighting over for $10. My kind of Black Friday shopping. No big box stores. Still fun perusing. And the thrill of finding items the kids need.

A #PoetryCommunity starter pack featuring @malformed-poetry.bsky.social @wordingway.bsky.social @forgottenpoets.bsky.social and many more. Please follow and repost if you can #poetsonbluesky