TOPIC: It's time to check in with what's been going on in your creative world since June. (Yes! Another quarter gone!) Victories large and small, plans, goals--it's all part of the journey worth sharing and celebrating! #kidlitchat

TOPIC: Do you have an ideal reader in mind when you're working on a manuscript or illustration? Is it you or someone you know... or is it just an idea to help guide you? If you don't, what helps you guide your work for its audience? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: We know your TBR stack keeps growing! How about old favorites? Are there books you read as a child/teen that you keep coming back to, that never disappoint "older you"? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: What are you doing these days to maintain a professional presence that also reaches your audience? Is it... websites? Social media? Newletters? Video? Text? ESP??? All or some or... what is working for you? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: Continuing our celebration of 17 years chatting, tonight we're re-upping the very first topic from the first #kidlitchat: "Why children’s literature? What excites you about it, whether it’s reading, writing or ???"

TOPIC: #kidlitchat is 17 this month! Which is . . . REALLY OLD in social media years! How do you use milestones to shape your characters? How do all the "firsts," the annual celebrations, and the rites of passage provide opportunities to define character?

TOPIC: When you're pitching your manuscript (in any form - query letter, elevator, pitch contest), how do you communicate how the reader is going to FEEL when they're done, not just tell the story of what happens? What are your tips to finding the way to give a reaction to your pitch-ee? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: What books, from board books to YA, have you read recently that you think should be a movie or a TV show? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: What are your favorite and LEAST favorite parts of your creative process? And how do you keep a balance between "want to" and "have to"? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: Let's talk serendipity and happy accidents. How have these impacted you and your work? How do you keep yourself open to them? Hard work matters, of course, but do these other things ever factor in? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: How do you see a work-in-progess with fresh eyes when you're deep in it? Share your tips and tricks for seeing your work anew... #kidlitchat

TOPIC: The kidlit world lost one of its brightest lights recently, and it has prompted us to ask: whose work inspires you? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: Now that you have THE WHOLE SUMMER to catch up on your reading, what's at the top of your TBR list? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: When you're developing a main character, what are the things that you think of beyond the physical (Music they'd like? Colors they'd wear? Recipes they'd love?)? Do you make mood boards or...? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: What are your favorite craft books, podcasts, and videos? And... why are these the ones you turn to? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: Let's talk about feedback - both navigating the feedback you get and crafting helpful feedback when you give. What works for you on either side of the equation? Tips? Strategies? Best pie to soothe unexpected feedback? We want it all.... #kidlitchat

TOPIC: Due dates, expenses and subs . . . oh, my! How do you keep track of everything? Software, whiteboards, legal pads? Or do you just wing it and hope for the best? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: How many pitches do you have on hand for your manuscript? Do you have different pitches for contests, online pitchfests, queries and random meetings in elevators? How are they the same/different? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: What are you best tips and tricks for seeing your manuscript anew when it's time to revise, re-envision, edit, or work on a draft again in any way? #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

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?

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

TOPIC: It's Spring here (allegedly), the time of new growth and new ideas. So, what are YOUR ideas for new topics you'd like to suggest for #kidlitchat?

TOPIC: Do you use contests, conferences or challenges to help you move forward with your work? What makes that kind of external motivation helpful--and are there any you would particularly recommend? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: What’s the biggest, boldest, or wildest thing you’ve done for or to one of your stories? Think theme, characters, setting, format . . . Or if there's something you *want* to try, but haven't, WHY HAVEN'T YOU? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: Guess what? It's time for another quarterly check-in . . . already! Share what you've accomplished in the past three months: baby steps, or giant leaps, full landings or near misses . . . celebrate whatever has carried you FORWARD. #kidlitchat

TOPIC: What are you celebrating of a #kidlit nature these days on an industry level, a personal level, a reading level, a creating level, or any other level you want to go to? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: Let's talk names. We're #kidlitchat, which seemed spot on. But how do you come up with your character names? Place names? Or even... <gasp>... project names (aka titles!)?

TOPIC: The Olympics are full of plots/drama: ticking clocks, one-on-one competition, team competition, changing weather, too much available pasta, and more. So, how do you think about and add plot drama to your work? As a reader, what dramatic events hook you in and carry you along? #kidlitchat

TOPIC: Yesterday was Groundhog Day in the US. Taking a cue from the movie, let's talk do-overs--aka REVISIONS. How many revisions do you typically go through on a story or art? And do you sometimes keep revising to avoid . . . finishing? (Extra points for honesty.) #kidlitchat