Thank you all for coming to another #kidlitchat and keeping us informed about how you stay informed so that we can be informed. Looking forward to seeing you you here next week!

After all these years, it's like I don't even know you! #kidlitchat

One way to keep up with #kidlit info right here on Bluesky is by checking the Kidlit Mega Feed! bsky.app/profile/did:... #kidlitchat

You may never know! Though for the record, I prefer to be the exception that proves the rule. #kidlitchat

I hear that's only true when the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter collides with Mars.... #kidlitchat

I note that @hunderdown.bsky.social is a great source of news and commentary on so much of our biz. #kidlitchat

They don't cover #Kidlit much, do they? #Kidlitchat

That is wise. Also, I hear that only thing selling is manuscripts by left-handed Sagitarians who have a name with seven vowels in it, are red/green color deficient and wear glasses. Check back with me next week, though. #Kidlitchat

TOPIC: How and where do you keep up with the news, reviews, and people in our business? Is your work informed by what you learn - trends, gaps, what’s selling or not - or do you just like to keep current? Or… other? #kidlitchat

Doing my pre-#kidlitchat finger stretches and eye lubrication so I don't miss a single thing....

Tuesday again? Well then, it’s #kidlitchat time at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific right here on Bluesky. Join us for an hour chatting with your #kidlit pals! We’ll be glad to see you….

#KidLitChat It's #PoetryMonth, and so I am compelled to share my master list of verse novels with the chat. Because we should absolutely be celebrating poetry this month. And there's some AWESOME stories!

And thank you all for coming to another #kidlitchat and celebrating our strengths together. Strength comes from community, too, so I look forward to seeing you here next Tuesday, too!

I love reading all these strengths, and even more than that, I love the fact that y'all are aware of them. It can be hard to hold on to the fact that we've worked hard, have talent, are good at what we do... particularly since we don't always get outside validation in this biz! #kidlitchat

I think, ultimately, an agent will look at rhyme among other things, too. If we solely write in rhyme, it's harder to get attention. But if it's a calling, you find ways to publish poems to prove credibility, you win contests, you do pitchfests, etc. #kidlitchat

It is. But so are good prose stories. #kidlitchat

The industry does share your enthusiasm for it. The industry does NOT share an enthusiasm for bad rhyme or stories that needn't be in rhyme... and there's a lot of those. So they SAY they don't want rhyme. But look at what's published. IMO. #kidlitchat

That's the best summation of the topic! #kidlitchat

TOPIC: We spend a lot of time revising... fixing... even frustrated with our work. But for this hour of #kidlitchat, let's talk about what you LIKE or LOVE about your own work. SPECIFICALLY. What are you good at? How do you use your strengths when you approach your work?

Well, it is a Tuesday so we're going to plan for #kidlitchat here on Bluesky at 9PM Eastern/6PM Pacific. I hope we see you here then.

Thank you all for joining another #kidlitchat (a perfect warm-up for the rest of your week). We'll see you here again next Tuesday, I hope!

I would make myself a cup of coffee every time I sit back down to write, but at a certain point that would be... jittery. But the writing day starts with that little ritual (even if the cup is an hour before I sit down to write!) #kidlitchat

For a long time I warmed up by writing poetry for a bit. Then it was Fibonacci poetry - the constraints made my brain start up, the brevity made me think about each word... each syllable. I still do this sometimes, actually. #kidlitchat

TOPIC: Do you have warm-up exercises you do before you work? Fast writing? Drawing from a prompt? Reading something? Do you have a startup routine (that involves anything other than eating pie, which is a given when possible)? #kidlitchat

You know what sounds nice? Having a #kidlitchat at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific here on Bluesky. We #kidlit lovers can chat for an hour… enjoy community… maybe share desserts. Yes, let’s do this. See you then!

Thank you all for the great ideas. Will you see one in action next week at #kidlitchat? Will we pull out a shocking surprise? Will we talk about how to keep your readers in suspense? I guess you'll find out next week.... See ya then!

You heard my therapist at a conference???? Wild. #Kidlitchat

That idea is out of this world! #kidlitchat

A good thought! Just one of the only things Bonnie and I have discussed and figured out.... #kidlitchat

We have not tried to line anyone up because don't do special guests at #kidlitchat. It's a salon of equality. We are lucky to have agents and editors who join us, but a guest talking/q+a is not the same as this. Speakers are great. Lotta expertise. I hope someone has a weekly such chat! Not us, tho.