Scott Rhoades Writes Daily

My agent and I are actually working on my first completed ms, from about 25 years ago. I've revised it a lot over the years, but it's the right length--maybe short--for back then and I need to cut it by about 20%. The cuts are actually going well. #kidlitchat

Hi #kidlitchat! I'm late but I'm here. What's made the biggerest difference? Accepting a challenge back in June 2018 to write every day from one conference to the next, then doing it. Still. It led to my work for the conference, bigger role in my community, lots of manuscripts, and an agent.

There was a major controversy in my hometown when I was a kid. A poet visited the high school before I ever got there, and caused fits with "inappropriate" content and language. That's the only visit I remember even hearing about. #kidlitchat

When I was a kid, we never had an author visit. I wish we had. I didn't even realize authors were real people or that it was something I could do, even with teachers telling me I could someday. #kidlitchat

One of my well-published MG friends spent months on a school visit tour. I asked recently if it helped with sales or anything. He said it didn't help much, and he would have lost money if his publisher hadn't supplied swag. But he had fun, for a while, despite the motels and fast food. #kidlitchat

Good evening, #kidlitchat I did sort of a school visit yesterday, with a guest presentation in a writing class at one of the local universities. Not exactly the same thing, but I like when I get the chance to do that.

My agent was an editor for a long time. She has made some excellent story suggestions and some others that have needed discussion to get to ways to satisfy the reason for the suggestions when maybe the idea itself didn't feel right. We communicate well, so it works. #kidlitchat

Also had to say no recently to a friend I've kind of been mentoring because time is a genuine issue right now while my agent and I dig for treaasure in my manuscript backlog. The one that hurts a bit is reducing my conference time commitment for the sake of my stuff. #kidlitchat

A few months ago, I said no to somebody I've read for before. I felt bad, but I was in the midst of preparing for my conference and there was just no way. This person also has a history of ignoring feedback. #kidlitchat

I often get pulled into reading for people when I don't actually have the time. I'm frequently reminded by a couple of writing friends that, with my experience, I probably shouldn't be reading/critiquing for free. But I like helping and mentoring. #kidlitchat

Joining late. Lost track of time because I was trying to find some books I read as a kid based on the vaguest of memories. Tonight's topic is aimed directly at me, right? #kidlitchat

Right now, I'm pretty good at letting my agent write my queries. She makes me look good, where my own queries felt like, "Um, you don't want to ready this thing I did, do you?" #kidlitchat

Hi #kidlitchat! When creating a query, I'm especially good at the "Dear [Agent's Full Name]" part. I'm less confident with "Dear [First Name]" unless I've met the agent.

Hi #kidlitchat friends! Since June? Signed with my agent in June. Since then, we've submitted three boos from my backlog, and we're getting #4 ready. Then we'll have to pause subs for a bit. While revising to submit, I've also been working on another new project. Plus my conference work.

One hard thing about picturing a reader in kidlit, like your child or niece/nephew or whomever: By the time the book is written and sold and published, that kid has outgrown it. I guess it can still help during the writing, but your intended reader will age out of the audience. #kidlitchat

One quick plug for an event sponsored by my conference this Thursday evening, then I'll get back on topic. Writing the Graphic Novel with author McKelle "Mickey" George. Only $10. Come join us! www.wifyr.com/event-detail... #kidlitchat

Hi #kidlitchat! I don't picture a reader. I've heard of people doing that, but I never have. Often, when I start, I'm not even positive what age I'm writing for, except with PBs. I have a story on sub now for general audiences, which has been both a MG and YA story in its development.

I will be presenting at this event next month! #amwriting #kidlitchat www.wifyr.com/event-detail...

I also updated my website recently...not that it gets a lot of attention. But it's there if I need it for promotion/marketing. #kidlitchat

Hi #kidlitchat friends! Main thing I'm doing to reach my audience? Going through my archive of manuscripts with my agent and submitting to publishers soo I can HAVE an audience to reach! We're currently prepping my 3rd manuscript in about a month. PB, historical general fiction, and MG--so far.

My dream is to write somebody's favorite book, even if it's just for a day or two, even if that person buys the only copy that gets sold. I was on a BART train in Oakland, and I saw a mother and child reading a PB by a writer friend in Utah, completely engrossed in it. I want that. #kidlitchat

Middle grade voice feels natural to me. I'm an 11yo at heart, maybe 12 when I'm feeling grown-up. And I love that time when kids are discovering the world and how they fit in it (a common theme in my stories), and even the smallest, everyday, thing can be an adventure. #kidlitchat

I've always gravitated toward kidlit. I've published short fiction for adults and am actually working on an adult novel submission, but my brain just goes to kidlit. I identify with it, love it. Even as a lit major, it feels like so much of the best, most pure writing is for kids. #kidlitchat

It feels like anything is possible in kidlit. Genre doesn't matter--the world is a magical, wonderous, and sometimes frightening place, perfect for stories. In adult fic, even fantasy, worlds are grounded by reality. In kidlit, anything is possible. #kidlitchat

I've had at least two characters achieve their dream (they thought), only to be disappointed. #kidlitchat

As one of those who came late to #kidlitchat while participating in other communities, HUGE congrats for being here so long, and thank you!

Hi #kidlitchat Good topic. Can't wait to see the answers. Maybe this is writer-mean, but I like to have something the character is looking forward to become a major disappointment. It's one of my least favorite real-life things to witness, but I love it in stories.

One thing I've noticed in pitch events is how much alike many of the pitches look. Somehow, you want to stand out, but not in an obnoxious or gimmicky way. You have to play the game by the rules, but still be unique. Not easy! #kidlitchat

When I read my agent's pitch a couple weeks ago, I came away thinking, "I wrote that? I'm good!" She said what I said, but magnified. Time will tell whether her pitch is successful, but she sold me on me. #kidlitchat

Sometimes, a catchy phrase might help. I try that for my "b-movie in print." But the reader has to like b-movies for that to help. #kidlitchat

This is something I think about. For example, I have a humorous sci-fi/horror, so I need to show both laughs and creep factor in a short space. Saying it's funny and creepy is meh. Showing it might get attention. Been a struggle for sure. #kidlitchat

Good evening, #kidlitchat chums! The shorter the pitch, the harder it is to make the reader feel. (Obvious, right?) I pay close attention to nouns and verbs and try (try!) to convey the mood.

How about a Muppets version of Captain Underpants, starring Gonzo? I'd be all over that. Or the Muppets do Goosebumps. #kidlitchat

Has anybody turned Maus into a movie? That might be pretty good. #kidlitchat

Hi #kidlitchat friends! Tough question. I don't watch much, and almost never think of books in terms of movies or TV. So I'm going to see what recommendations come up tonight.

For me, revision is where the craft comes in. I love watchingg something very rough turn into something I can be proud of. #kidlitchat

Revision's my favorite. The initial draft is probably my least favorite on most projects, though it depends. Doing both right now. Want to vs have to? I write because I love it. So far, I haven't felt like I've had to. But I'm used to a writing job and can write when I don't want to. #kidlitchat

Hi #kidlitchat friends. Big day yesterday. My agent officially submitted my first PB to an editor who expressed interest at my conference last month. Favorite part of the process? That's easy. Revising!

It's been a long time since I've really been stuck. Writing daily for a long time helps. So does having multiple projects. And having a professional writing job for almost 40 years where I often write about things that I'm not that interested in has also trained me to keep going. #kidlitchat

Anybody else ever try to freshen things up by writing something intentionally bad? Not ungrammatical or misspelled, just awful writing? I've done that before. It's been a long time, but it was fun and it got things flowing. When I felt like I was writing badly, I wrote REALLY badly. #kidlitchat

I've also freshened things up by introducing a new sublot, character, or location. #kidlitchat

Often, when I jump to a scene and then come back, I discover I don't even need the scene that had me stuck anymore. #kidlitchat

Another trick I use--I don't write all my scenes in order, start to finish. I skip around. If I'm stuck or need to look at the work a new way, I jump to another scene in a different part of the story. #kidlitchat

I usually have more than one project going. As others are saying, when I need fresh eyes, I put one away for a while and come back after a break. #kidlitchaat

Nice to be back at #kidlitchat after last week's conference. I like the topic. I see a lot of revisions and "fresh eyes" in my future, since one of the things that happened at the conference is I got myself an agent.