#kidlitchat #wifyr #kidlit #amwriting

Unfortunately, I have to miss the next one (like the last two). I always feel an emptiness when I can't make it. Talk about a great resource for info and encouragement!

#kidlitchat

My grandad used to poke our bellies and find a space just the right size and shape for dessert. #kidlitchat

It's tough. You're supposed to follow everything in the industry, network, read all the latest books plus know the classics, write constantly, market endlessly, experience life, and still maintain a bit of sanity and support yourself and your family. A great info sourcse is gold. #kidlitchat

I get it. And it's likely the agent might not know some of your comps, so the titles won't mean anything. Contrary to what we want to believe, they haven't read every book out there. #kidlitchat

Not just larger, but the show that you know the market and didn't just find some titles of books with similar plots or themes. #kidlitchat

I'll have to try that one! #kidlitchat

I love how Vicky ended her post. Paraphrased: "Things are hard, but we need you to keep writing those books!" #kidlitchat

Here's one of my own:

This story blends the emotional resonance of The Crossover with the father-son arc of The Wednesday Wars. It will appeal to fans of The Thing About Jellyfish and Ghost.
#kidlitchat

Sure! For comps, don't just say something like "Book A meets Book B." Say "It combines the emotional family drama of Book A and Book B with the bonkers historical background of Book C." #kidlitchat

I saw Vicky's post. It was excellent, but that's to be expected. She's great. She totally changed my perspective on queries and comps one evening over dinner. #kidlitchat

I just polished off an over-stuffed, over-large burrito, but those cookies might help me find a bit of appetite waiting in there somewhere. #kidlitchat

I'm dusting one off too. I was chatting with an agent friend about it and she suggested a fairly significant change to raise the coolness factor a notch. So I'm trying that. So far, it's difficult but promising. #kidlitchat

The downside of the conference work, though, is that between that and my daily writing--oh, and that whole day job thing--there's not a lot of time left for chasing down the industry news. Not if I still want time to read books, which of course I do. #kidlitchat

In my position with my conference, I get to make some decent contacts, but things are different since the days of having a kajillion blogs. Podcasts are great, but I haven't found favorites. And that other blue birdie tweeting place isn't worth hanging out like it once was. #kidlitchat

I get the newsletter from QueryManager, which helps me track agent movement. I also hear some publishing news through conference connections. But I feel a bit less in touch than a couple years ago. #kidlitchat

Nice to be back with #kidlitchat after missing for conference planning stuff last week--and again next week.

I wouldn't be that guy. That whole thing sounds like a big no. #kidlitchat

Definitely something to be said for their food purity laws.

Living in Austria and Germany spoiled me for U.S. chocolate. #kidlitchat

I wish they'd use chocolate coatings that tastes like chocolate instead of oil and wax. #kidlitchat

I have one about a "meteor" that unleashes all kinds of mayhem on a school. I call it my "b-movie in print." At least, I hope it will one day be in print. #kidlitchat

I have a couple male author buds who keep very busy on the school visit circuit. They share great stories about their visits, so I envy them tremendously. #kidlitchat

I love research! This topic would fascinate me. #kidlitchat

Hitting the little heart seems like the wrong response, but it's what we get. #kidlitchat

"Just"...

#kidlitchat

But at least somebody who's as creative as you are in the kitchen has control and can avoid allergens. #kidlitchat

There's another group I participate in called Middle Grade Community Challenge. #kidlitchat

The peanut butter patties might be my current favorite. #kidlitchat

Growing up in an all-boy house, I don't have the nostalgia that makes things taste better by n%. And that allergy sounds awful! #kidlitchat