I spoke during public comments... and survived. After a very long 2.5 hour meeting, the book banners' appeal was denied.
So all is right with our district... for the moment.
I'm attending a school board meeting tonight to oppose a proposed book ban in our district, and I'm super nervous about speaking during the public comments. Wish me luck!
I'm attending a school board meeting tonight to oppose a proposed book ban in our district, and I'm super nervous about speaking during the public comments. Wish me luck!
What am I smiling about? I'm out of the querying trenches!
I'm super excited to announce that I have accepted an offer of representation from
@LitAgentKatieM
!
#kidlit
#writingcommunity
The teen is having four of his best buds over tonight... in our small house. It's going to be so noisy up in here.
Tell me I'm a good mom, will ya? I might need the reminders at various points of the evening tonight. LOL
In 2023,
I did NOT land my dream agent.
I did NOT sign a book deal.
I DID survive a tough year, though...
and that is enough. ❤️
#kidlit
#WritingCommunity
My father-in-law replies to every single one of my author update emails with words of encouragement. He replied to last week's email update with the simple-but-meaningful message of "I'm proud of you."
#PBPitch
Update:
No agents expressed interest in my manuscripts but...
I improved my pitches, and I made several new writer friends. I'm calling that a win for me.
One of my biggest frustrations as a stay-at-home-mom in the sandwich generation is the lack of control over my own schedule. I feel as though I have to squeeze anything I want to do for myself into the tiny little spaces of everyone else's combined schedules.
The worst part about being sick on my birthday weekend? I had to cancel all my celebrations/plans.
The best part? I got to cancel all my plans... and watch xmas movies all weekend long while wearing comfy clothes.
Not all bad. Happy birthday to me!
Yesterday, for the first time in my everyday life around town, I claimed writing as my career.
Them: What do you do for work?
Me: I am a writer.
Wow! Isn't it amazing how four little words can feel like such a big thing?
#WritingCommunity
I want to build up my network of
#kidlit
authors. Where would I find (what hashtags should I use to find) picture book and middle grade authors here on Twitter?
#WritingCommunity
Somehow I have never heard of Sanditon before today. It sounds like I've been missing out! I just requested seasons 1 and 2 from the library so I can find out what I've been missing.
#Sanditon
DID YOU KNOW...
In 2023, I critiqued over 100 picture book manuscripts. Some of those manuscripts have gone on to land offers of representation from agents, some are out on submission, and some are even published books found on store shelves right now.
#kidlit
#writingcommunity
For any of my
#kidlit
friends who might find this helpful…
Here’s my process for Twitter pitch events like
#kidlitpit
,
#joypitch
,
#revpit
and
#pbpitch
: How I prepare, how I schedule my tweets, how I support others, how I follow up with agents/publishers.
A thread
1/
Hi
#writingcommunity
! I'm April. I love to travel and go on nature adventures. Also, I'm a total sucker for pretty night skies. 🤩 The
#kidlit
picture book stories I write reflect my love of nature. ❤️
Looky, looky! My author profile is live on the agency website! This is starting to feel really real! I'm so excited to be working with
@LitAgentKatieM
at SBR Media!
I'm sharing a couple of pitches tomorrow in
#KidLitPit
, and I'm especially delighted that they allow mood boards.
Anyway, anyone want to swap support tomorrow? 🙏
You guys! I've starting writing again! After months of no motivation, I started writing a new story yesterday. So far, the words are just flowing out my fingertips and onto my laptop screen. I'm so excited! 😍🎉
#WritingCommunity
#writers
I woke up grumpy this morning. But as I was driving carpool to the middle school, I joined my daughter and her friends in singing a lively rendition of In The Jungle The Mighty Jungle. At the dropoff, one girl said, "This has been the best morning ever."
I'm no longer grumpy.
After taking a break for a couple of months, I am going back in to the
#amquerying
trenches this week. Wish me luck!
Also, please send me ice cream. I'm going to need lots of ice cream.
#kidlit
#pb
#writingcommunity
I was supposed to be writing a grocery list this morning, but... I wrote a new picture book manuscript instead!
#worthit
I can't wait to clean this one up a little and then share it with my CPs! ✨️
#kidlit
#writingcommunity
That moment when you are going through your many PB manuscripts trying to decide which one to use for
#PBParty
and you find a manuscript you had forgotten you ever wrote...
...and you love it!
#kidlit
#writingcommunity
Multiple people have told me that it's difficult to sell lyrical picture books. I loooove reading lyrical picture books. Aren't there other people like me? Is there really no market for that type of book?
#pb
#kidlit
#WritingCommunity
IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN!✨
It's time for another
#MidWeekCritique
giveaway!
I'm giving away 3 non-rhyming PB critiques (up to 700 words).
To enter, comment with a gif about how your day is going. Winners will be announced on Wed 6/7.
#KidLit
#WritingCommunity
My daughter has been asking to dye her hair blue. Thus, I helped her do THIS yesterday. (Thank goodness that temporary hair dye is a thing.) So I'm pretty sure I'm now considered to be a *fun* mom.
Hey,
#kidlit
#writingcommunity
friends.
If you are sitting on the fence about whether or not to participate in
#PBPitch
this week, I say GO FOR IT!
There are so many great reasons to participate.
(a thread)
Hey, friends! Whether you are just starting out or you are a well-established published author of multiple titles, the Kid Lit Meet N Greet team would love to chat with you.
@LoriMKeating
and I are looking for creators from all phases of the
#kidlit
journey. Who's in?
It's official. I am NOT a
#PBParty
finalist. What a worthwhile experience it was, though! 🤩 I've learned so much. I've made new writing friends. I've finetuned MSs, query letters, and pitches.
#kidlit
#WritingCommunity
Do you ever write with pen and paper?
This week, I wrote a MS by hand (pen and paper). Inspiration struck at a moment when I didn't have my laptop or my phone handy, and desperate times call for desperate measures.
#kidlit
#WritingCommunity
Friends! It has been a heckuva week. Actually, a heckuva two weeks. I'm exhausted. Mentally and emotionally exhausted.
Hug your loved ones, count your blessings, and make sure you occasionally snap photos of the people you love (not just the kids).
Can a person have too many stuffed animals? My daughter would say no. 😂
But, hey, I understand. I feel the same way about books...
and tote bags...
and notepads...
and chocolate.
So fun! I just heard about the
#50PreciousWords
contest. My super wordy self couldn't resist the challenge of trying to tell an entire story in only 50 words. Thanks for the opportunity,
@viviankirkfield
!
Them:
What are you going to do with all your free time when the kids go back to school in a couple weeks?
Me:
Number one, it's not as much free time as you would think.
Number two, I'm going to work on the things I had hoped to accomplish this summer.
And, number three...
Today, I saw a neighbor walking her son to school with their family dog in tow. The little kid started skipping. So the mom started skipping, too. Then, the dog started prancing alongside them. It was the cutest moment and such a great way to start my day! ❤️
At what age can you stop reminding your children that the shower curtain liner goes INSIDE the tub during showers?
If you need me, I'll be mopping up water from the bathroom floor. 🙄😬🙄😬
Woohoo! It's time for another
#MidWeekCritique
giveaway!
To enter, comment with a gif about how your day is going. I'm giving away 3 non-rhyming PB critiques (up to 700 words). Lucky winners will be announced on Wed 4/19.
#KidLit
#PictureBooks
#WritingCommunity
Gossip from the middle school carpool ride this morning:
a boy told my daughter's friend that she is like a gamma ray, because it's the highest on the light ray spectrum and she is highest in his heart.
Rizz level: Pro Charmer
I wish I could spend the rest of the day writing, but... Alas! This house isn't going to clean itself.
Where's my fairy godmother when I need her???
#kidlit
#writingcommunity
I wrote a rough draft for a new PB today. It's not quite right yet, and I'm not sure how to fix it. When that happens, I like to write a pitch for the problematic MS. That's often a gamechanger for me. It helps me clarify/narrow the story's focus.
#amwriting
#kidlit
Today, I read a picture book manuscript so beautiful that I found myself crying. I am so grateful that people trust me enough to critique these precious stories. So very grateful! ❤️💕
In 2023, I provided over 150 critiques. I have read so many great stories, met so many great writers, and made so many wonderful connections! I'm pretty sure my author heart has grown three sizes. (I was never grinchy though. LOL!)
#kidlit
#WritingCommunity
Hey,
#kidlit
#WritingCommunity
friends! It's another
#MidWeekCritique
giveaway! ✨✨
This week, I'm giving away:
⭐️a PB manuscript critique (up to 700 words, no rhyming).
To enter, comment with a GIF about how your day is going. Winner will be selected on Wed 4/17.
Situations only other writers would understand:
Today, my kid and I sat in the school parking lot for an extra 15 minutes after school just so I could finish jotting down the new story idea that had popped into my head.
#kidlit
#WritingCommunity
PSST! Hey,
#KidLit
#WritingCommunity
! It's Monday (aka
#MidWeekCritique
giveaway day)!
I'm giving away 3 non-rhyming PB critiques (up to 700 words). To enter, comment with a gif about how your day is going.
Lucky winners will be announced on Wed 3/22.
Hi
#KidLit
! 👋
For
#MidWeekCritique
, I'm giving away your choice of:
💫 non-rhyming PB critique up to 700 words
💫 critique of a MG excerpt up to 700 words
💫30-min brainstorm session over Zoom
To enter, comment with a gif of how your day is going.
Winner announced Wed 3/20.
I saw a shooting star during my early morning dog walk today.🦮🌠✨️ I wished for all my
#kidlit
friends to have an amazing day.
(Please report back and let me know if my wish came true.)
Hello,
#Kidlit
friends! It's
#MidWeekCritique
time! ✨
I'm giving away one critique (up to 700 words) of a non-rhyming PB or a MG excerpt. ✨✨✨
To enter, follow me and comment with a gif about your day!
Winner will be announced this Wednesday, Jan 17th.
Writing a eulogy is more difficult than I expected it to be. It's so hard to convey how special a person is in only five minutes... and I so badly want to get this right.
My mother-in-law passed away this past week. As we prepare for her funeral, we've been going through pictures and sharing favorite memories. She was such a remarkable person. I'm so sad we didn't get more time with her.
ME: I'm going to take this entire week off from doing
#kidlit
stuff. Then, I can focus entirely on family stuff for all of spring break.
ALSO ME: I'll just read this one craft book. Oh, and this one, too. And, maybe one more...
I'm listening to On Writing by Stephen King on audiobook, and my 12yo just said "that book is really good. I'm learning a lot of stuff for when I write my book someday." 😍
#amreading
#amwriting
b
Happiest of Mondays to all of my
#writingcommunity
friends! I have been busy "decking the halls" for the last couple of days. I hope to be back to all my usual
#kidlit
writing and reading activities by Wednesday, though.
14: I'm your life coach now, Mom.
Me: Great. Here's a question for you, coach. How do I accomplish all my dreams with such limited time?
14: Pizza
I should've known he'd think pizza 🍕 was the answer to all of life's questions. 😂😂😂