A blank page is an opportunity.

<<WHAT IF SHE CANNOT>> see her wheelchair know her mom is dead trust her own mind <<WHAT IF SHE CAN>> confront & accept her past find love see herself for the first time again  E OLIPHANT x WHAT ALICE FORGOT #questpit #Q #A #DIS

She didn't know about the accident.  She didn't know about her paralysis.  She didn't even know about her dead mother.  But what if they told her? E OLIPHANT x WHAT ALICE FORGOT #questpit #Q #A #DIS

🦽A woman who can't remember the accident.  💭A mind she no longer trusts.  🇫🇷A deep-dive into Paris.  ♌️A lioness.  👁️A blind man who helps her see the truth.  But only if she's brave enough to see herself for the first time again.  #questpit #Q #A #DIS

I keep telling myself that I'm not going #questpit... but, c'mon, who am I kidding?!?! Comment here so I can make a support thread!🫶

Behind every great book is a writer who never gave up. 💪❤️

Admittedly querying has got me down, as I'm continually reminded my writing style is *different* from that commercial beat all agents are seeking. But today, a stranger stopped me and said he's reading my memoir. He said he loves my writing style most of all. ❤️

@drenderturmaud.bsky.social is amazing, and @ryanraeharbuck.bsky.social is also amazing... so you know that this episode of @ymwjpodcast.bsky.social was absolute 🔥🔥🔥! I highly recommend you listen to it right away. Trust me, you're going to find it inspiring. ✨️

Between ghosting agents and editors and vanishing words and manuscripts, being a writer is the SPOOKIEST. Happy, Halloween, friends! 🎃👻🎃

Querying is like The Wizard of Oz. It's got you searching for a brain, a heart, some courage... but those things are already there inside of you. You've got this.

My mind is full of revising, querying, saving cats, punctuation, pacing, socials, metaphors, critiquing, comps, syntax, wishlists, marketing, and goo... ...but then I hear, "MOMMMMM!!!" And it all disappears.

My kiddo picked out the coolest pumpkin in all of the land.

I want to write the words of bird songs. Words that swirl in your mouth and linger like wine. Birthing life on a page and the power to taste sounds and smell feelings. But the world just wants a beach read.

It's clearly Halloween time at my writer's desk...😱🎃

Rejections mean you're trying. Rejections mean you're trying. Rejections mean you're trying. Rejections mean you're trying. Rejections mean you're trying. Rejections mean you're trying. Rejections mean you're trying. Rejections mean you're trying.

Today I said hi to a 1st grader with a new haircut. "Wait, you still recognize me?! You know who I am??!!"

If at first you don't succeed... Try 797,839,847 times again (if you're a writer.)

Sometimes being a writer feels like raking the leaves in the middle of the fall in the middle of a w i n d s t o r m m m m

There's only one other wheelchair user at school, and she's 7. Today, she was eager to show me her brand-new, shiny purple chair, and was even more eager to point out the duct tape on mine. That sass will serve her well, no doubt. 🥰🥰🥰🥰

It's Monday late afternoon, and we're all running out the door to make it to swim practice on time, when a man arrives with a package. It's addressed to me and I have no idea. But when I cut open the tape, I can recognize that unmistakable scent of a book. 1/2

A Revision Poem It takes but only one sentence, not three. We don't ever need felt or seemed. We don't even need suddenly or began. All we need is a little courage to d e l e t e.

I know our manuscripts are ready to submit when we have done everything we can to polish it. But what if you're a perpetual tinkerer???

Be the ✨writer✨ you wish to see in the world. 🫶

When brand new toys don’t reflect Mavis or her friends, she sets out to be a wonderful toy un-maker. But when challenged by people’s opinions of her taking apart new toys, will she be able to show the world that different isn’t bad? #DVPit #PB #DIS

A paralyzed woman who can't remember her past must confront it or risk losing everything she never knew she wanted. #DVPit #A #DIS

MAVIS THE UN-MAKER has a vision. She has a purpose. She knows exactly what she's doing. But when others hide from her ghastly un-made toy creations, will Mavis be confident enough to keep un-making toys for her friends who need them most? STRICTLY NO ELEPHANTS x THE INVISIBLE BOY #DVPit #PB #DIS

A journey of self-discovery and acceptance, but when your mind is a t h i e f and you can't even trust your own reflection. It's the THINGS WE CAN(NOT) E. OLIPHANT x WHAT ALICE FORGOT #DVPit #A #DIS

She didn't know about the accident. She didn't know about her paralysis. She didn't even know about her dead mother. But what if they told her? E OLIPHANT x WHAT ALICE FORGOT #DVPit #A #DIS

What if there were toys made for everyone, no matter how different we are or what we can’t do? Mavis is on a quest to be the best toy un-maker she can be, but just as long as those whispering onlookers don’t get in the way first. STRICTLY NO ELEPHANTS x THE INVISIBLE BOY #DVPit #PB #DIS

🦽A woman who can't remember the accident 💭A mind she no longer trusts 🇫🇷A deep-dive into Paris ♌️A lioness 👁️A blind man who helps her see the truth But only if she's brave enough to see herself for the first time again. E OLIPHANT x WHAT ALICE FORGOT #DVPIT #A #DIS

<<WHAT IF SHE CANNOT>> see her wheelchair know her mom is dead trust her own mind <<WHAT IF SHE CAN>> confront & accept her past find love see herself for the first time again E OLIPHANT x WHAT ALICE FORGOT #DVPit #A #DIS

When all the new bright and shiny toys in the world don’t reflect Mavis or her friends, she sets out to be a wonderful toy un-maker. But when Mavis is challenged by others’ thoughts of her taking apart brand new toys, will she be able to show the world that different isn’t bad? #DVPit #PB #DIS

Jolie can't forget what she can't remember. But once confronted with her past, she flees to Paris. With a little help from Ali, a blind ex-pat refugee, she might just be able to accept her disability. But only if she's brave enough to see her past for the first time again. #DVPit #A #DIS

MAVIS THE UN-MAKER takes apart toys. She cuts them and hammers them, she glues them and sews them just for her friends. But when others gasp at her dismantled creations, will they keep her from showing the world that not everyone is made like a brand-new toy? #DVPit #PB #DIS

E OLIPHANT x WHAT ALICE FORGOT She cannot forget what she can't remember. When a paralyzing accident takes her mobility & her mom, Jolie must be brave enough to confront her past & see herself for the first time again or risk losing her future entirely. It's the THINGS WE CAN(NOT) #DVPit #A #DIS

Getting ready for #DVPit? I'm feeling a bit 😮‍💨🫠🙏🥴💃😭, myself, as I finalize pitches. (Comment below and I'll use this to help support on Wednesday!)

"I cannot forget what I can't remember." - first line of THINGS WE CAN(NOT) #DVParty

#DVParty day 2: JOLIE means "pretty" in French, but she cringes to hear it. She's strong and determined, but can't remember, so she doesn't feel it. She CAN'T feel it.

I made a thing. Layered with an able-bodied woman and wheelchair user. Layers of the Venus de Samothrace and a lioness gaze. Layers of a highway road. This is THINGS WE CAN(NOT)✨

Can you think of another job where your occupation is primarily spent NOT doing the thing? HI, I'm Ryan, and I'm a writer. 🤦‍♀️

If anyone wants some 👀 on their pitches from yesterday, let me know! I'd love the same!🫶

Who's in? Drop a comment or like if you want some eyes on your sample pitches today!🫶

Who's joining in?! 💃🙏☺️

6yo: "Mom, why do you write so many books?" Me: "I just have so many ideas! And when I have an idea, it makes me want to make something." 6yo: "Why?" Me: "Because people want to create things. That's a cool part of being human." 6yo: "I like making mac and cheese."

Eek! I won a scholarship to a local writers conference this coming weekend. It'll be my first one ever! I'm so excited, but also 😵‍💫🥴😮‍💨 I'd love to hear your tips from dress, to mingling, to agent pitches, and overcoming introvert stress...

Iwokeupthismorning |somethingiswrong| Mymindisa t h i e f ButIcan't forget whatIcannot remember <don'tremember> #UnhingedPit #A #Q #DIS

#UnhingedPit #A #Q #Upmarket #DIS

Sunday mornings are for causally freaking out about having a table at an adult book fair later this afternoon... ☕️😮‍💨🫠

I need some sort of jam session but for writers, where you join in, with maybe only a spark of a story, and strum and pluck your ideas with other writers until you've got something solid to really start playing with...

Writers are like: I want to write a best-seller that everyone will read! Writers are also like: I hope I don't run into anyone I know at the grocery store.