Hi @jimbenton.bsky.social! My middle schooler and I relate to these panels so much. Catwad has been a big hit with my 4th grader, too! We’ve been reading it nightly! It‘s exactly the type of absurd humor that I would’ve keyed into at 11 as a Ren & Stimpy kid. Love it!

Advice I'd give my younger self: Instead of obsessing about things you can't control and second-guessing yourself, focus on what you CAN control. Be kind to yourself. Find ways to create a safe mental space where you can convince yourself (even temporarily) that you are a good writer. 😁 #KidLitChat

I met this lovely silver lab pup named Miko. I knew she’d inspire photos & poetry. 💜 #haikusaturday #haiku #doglover #dogs

I mean really. Hamilton is every artist and writer ever.

Great question! For an ADHDer like me, recharging is tricky. I’ve been learning what works for my busy brain: 🔋Flow state: junk journaling 🔋Self care: aqua class 🔋Sound rest: silence or ambient 🔋Visual rest: analog boardgames or books 🔋Spirit : copying calming scriptures #kidlitchat #ADHD

Writing poetry is a journey. You skip from idea to idea until a phrase surprises you long enough to pause. That’s what happened to me while writing this haiku. Can you read the wind’s swirling stories in water ripples? #haiku #saturdayhaiku

Hey y’all bluesky #writers, #artists, & #neurodiverse creatives…check out this list of 5 resources to boost your creativity! P.S. My research assistant, Ralph, fell down rabbit holes—so you don’t have to! open.substack.com/pub/melissam... #kidlit #kidlitart #kidlitND

I love it when small moments inspire poetry. #SaturdayHaiku #Haiku #Tea #photography #writing

I couldn’t help myself. Check out these unique resources to learn more about how KPop Demon Hunters is done, done, done. open.substack.com/pub/melissam... #KPopDemonHunters #TheStorySlays #ADHD #SpecialInterests

#KidLit writers, is your funny bone feeling a little out of alignment? Are you stuck giving dad jokes in your MS? Check out ep 6 of the KidLit Deconstruction Zone podcast to add some humor to your story. Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/46jxhyr YouTube: bit.ly/4p7B21j (with @kdzpodcast.bsky.social)

💯 - Scope of Work - Detailed Schedule - Proposed Compensation If you don’t receive all 3 in email #1 it is a 🚩

substack.com/profile/3089... Simplicity + Creativity = Powerful Ideas! This graphic took soooo long to get just right. Creative friends, remember that simple doesn’t mean easy. #writing #art #motivation

Dear #saturdyhaiku & #haiku #writers, I picked up this pocket-sized book of Japanese haiku from a Little Free Library. It’s 70 years old. Ballet in the air… Twin butterflies Until, twice white… They meet, they mate… “Basho’s poem is beautiful!” I’m glad I took this poetry book home.

Happy Monday! My free newsletter for August is up. Check out the communal art and writing prompts. They are fun and sure to stir your creativity. 🔗 open.substack.com/pub/melissam... #writing #art #kidlitart #kidlit

It depends whether you are writing traditional or contemporary haiku. thehaikufoundation.org/contemporary...

When one beloved dies there is no need for rain. Tears will wet the earth Wrote this haiku when I was about 12. #haiku

Saturday Haiku: August 23, 2025 Summer butterfly Orange wings flutter by “Bye, my butterfly!” #melissamwaiscreativelife #haiku #SaturdayHaiku #Butterfly

Using post it flags makes me ridiculously happy. My inner researcher is happy dancing.

Hi #bluesky, I’m a nonfiction author with a library science degree & I love sharing resources Here’s a roundup of resources from my substack page. open.substack.com/pub/melissam... Thanks for reading & sharing. #kidlit #kidlitart #research #writing #artists

Not sure why I feel like sharing this tonight. I took this picture in Isla Verde in Puerto Rico. The hat belonged to my dad, a huge NY Giants fan. I brought it with me because we never got the chance to travel to PR together. The rainbow-colored umbrella felt like a perfect tribute to his memory.

I love research. I really, really do. (An ADHD special interest…) It hadn’t dawned on me until about four or five books in that I *should* be leaning into nonfiction or informational fiction/poetry. Taking info to synthesize it for a children’s story is 💯 a writing superpower! #kidlitchat

Mini slice of life story over on substack. For the full details behind these pictures, check out the link: substack.com/@melissamwai... #writing #minimemoir #parenting #creativity #naturewalk #fairygardens

We will be having #kidlitchat tonight at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific, as we do every Tuesday. If you’re a #kidlit lover (writer, illustrator, editor, librarian, bookseller, agent, designer, translator, reader, etc.), I hope you will join us right here, right then!

@teabowart.bsky.social sending you a gnome greeting hello here.

Haiku Saturday: August 16, 2025 Lost poet last seen counting syllables under moonlight

Art Collages by Ronnie Spiewak spotted in University of Maryland. I love when l look at an art piece and it seems like the artist had so much painting it. www.ronniespiewak.com/gallery/work... Take a moment to acknowledge some art around you. How do you feel?

We refer to this type of #kidlitchat as either the "hit the library" chat or the "very expensive" chat, depending on your book appetite!

I love recommending children’s books! 📘The Story of Gumluck the Wizard by Adam Rex: comedy gold + a sassy narrator 📘Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell: word building + funny, poignant one liners 📘Lia & Beckett’s Abracadabra: Romeo & Juliet meets dueling stage magicians #kidlitchat

Made this art PSA yesterday! #kidlitart #artists

#saturdayhaiku #poem The sun inspired me today. What about you?

Happy Saturday, Bluesky and #kidlit friends. Here’s some sunshine and flowers from my side of the world.

substack.com/@melissamwai... Some micro musings on stories, role playing, and group creativity. #writing #stories #creativity #roleplaying #d&d

K.M. Weiland is one of my favorite story craft experts. Plan to catch her and others at this free event. #kidlit #kidlitchat worldshift.manyworldswriting.com

I have so been there. What works for me (usually): to get away from the computer / Internet / other people's eyeballs. Sometimes I have to set a timer to keep myself honest, because doomscrolling headlines was such an automated thing for me at one point. Not good. #KidLitChat

I always remember what Shaun Tan said at his #scbwisummer25 keynote yrs back, advising creatives to do what they can to create a "Bubble Of Delusion" in which they are able to do their best work & at least temporarily convince themselves their work is GOOD. 😁 #KidLitChat

Hey #KidLitChat, if you have 15 min, check out a KidLit Deconstruction Zone podcast episodes? Our first 5 eps cover story foundations, writing tips, & book talks! ➡️ bit.ly/40Obwnt Let @kdzpodcast.bsky.social know what topics/books you’d like to see! (Posted w/permission: @gregpincus.bsky.social)

Today, I spent some time doing an outdoor workout with friends. It was so refreshing. Then I returned home and had this haiku waiting inside of me! Writing Tip: move your body to help creativity flow! #saturdayhaiku #writing #poems

#KidLit Deconstruction Zone Podcast #Writing Tip (ep 5: bit.ly/46U6vh9) An ending that comes too easily, seems like it comes out of nowhere, or has too many unanswered questions may leave readers unsatisfied. So what makes an engaging ending work? Simple: the journey needs to feel earned.

Dear #bluesky #kidlit writers: If you need inspiration to finishing out your story, check out the KidLit Deconstruction Zone Podcast. Our new episode airs July 31! linktr.ee/kdzpodcast Which #children’sbooks would you love to see the KDZ crew dig into next? #writers

The city of my heart. 💜

Love it when photos inspire poetry! Great use of spiritual imagery, @jsteggert.bsky.social!

Here’s my #Saturdayhaiku on Sunday. Proud of the poetic imagery in this one. It hits my ADHD brain just right. Clouds float lazily across wide open blue driftwood in the sky. Saturday Haiku: June 27 2025 by Melissa H. Mwai #haiku #poetry #clouds #nature

#SUNWRITEFUN It’s time to enter July 25th to Aug 5th A 200 word NF or INFO FIC complete story ONLY Thanks Karen M. Greenwald, Jenny Buchet and Stephanie Wildman www.karengreenwald.com/sunwritefun24 @buchetbooks.bsky.social @kmgreenwald.bsky.social‬ @swildmansf.bsky.social

I love secondary characters in picture books, there is a lot of creative freedom on the illustration side to really let them have their own humor or even side quests. #kidlitchat

dog days lolling on the porch languid tongues #DailyHaikuPrompt #HaikuSaturday #haiku

Haiku Saturday: July 12, 2025 by Melissa H. Mwai Writing (verb): ideas slowly limping     forward word by word by word #haikusaturday #writing

@kidlit411.bsky.social is a fantastic resource…check the articles plus the book giveaways. Honored to be the featured artist!

Happy anniversary, #KidLitChat! I've been part of the #KidLit community for a while now. I am such an Internet dinosaur 🦕 that my personal home page was featured in the 1st ed of HTML & CGI UNLEASHED back in 1995. Note the mention of my Children's Writer Resources. Yes, things have changed. 😁

#saturdayhaiku #haiku #summer bit.ly/40285Jr

I'll be hitting the switch tonight to open submissions for July 1–10. Remember, this month I'll only be accepting queries from BIPOC authors and author-illustrators, who can use this link to submit: querytracker.net/query/michel... General submissions open again in Sept.