Author | Lightnews

Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · 6d

Last week, I got to interview THE @jasonreynolds83.bsky.social ! And I was brave enough to admit I was also a writer in front of 2000 school librarians. 😅I was pleasantly surprised that he feels tortured in it too. I aspire to be half the author he is!

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · 6d

Did some picture book revision today. While I still don’t love it, it’s progress.

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Sep 23

I got adopted into a picture book critique group today. 😍I am honored.

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Sep 20

Home sick with COVID for the second time ever. It's more mild than last time but still a bummer because I had to cancel a lot of fun plans for the weekend. Now that I am feeling slightly better, I can work on my writing from bed. #amwriting

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Kidlit411 @kidlit411.bsky.social · Sep 19

Our weekly big list of kid lit links is up (Sept 19): kidlit411.com/2025/09/the-... Inside: Kid Lit Trends course @hunderdown.bsky.social , Joyful Marketing @juliefhedlund.bsky.social
Reverse Outline, more. Thanks Erin Niehenke for the illustration, Running Press Kids & Scott Lape for the giveaways.

The Weekly 411 (9/19/25)

A one-stop place for all your kid lit information needs.

kidlit411.com

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Sep 14

Trying to soak up as much learning from the SCBWI Virtual Summer Conference recordings before they disappear!🫠 #WritingCommunity #scbwiSummer25

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Sep 13

I had a lovely retreat at Squam Lake w/ NESCBWI last weekend in community w/ fellow writers. I met the fabulous @charlottewenger.com and @puddlereader.bsky.social and learned so much! I wrote ~800 words, caught up on some SCBWI recordings, & found new critique groups. #amwriting

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Sep 7

Spending the weekend at Squam Lake Retreat with fellow NESCBWI writers. #amwriting

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Aug 28

By some miracle, even completely drained of energy, I had the urge to write on the first day of school. It was only 170 words but I will take every one of them. #WritingCommunity

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Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · Aug 26

The latest in arguably Trump-related layoffs, following Charlesbridge, Lee & Low, Astra... (and probably others I haven't heard about).

Children's B🎃🎃kshelf @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social · Aug 26

Layoffs Hit Bloomsbury US Children’s Division buff.ly/Wg499Du

Layoffs Hit Bloomsbury US Children’s Division

Bloomsbury US has eliminated five positions in its children’s division as part of what the company called “a strategic shift toward publishing a more curated list.”

www.publishersweekly.com

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Aug 26

I received my first ever rejection today on my picture book! An agent actually read it! Celebrate with me! #WritingCommunity

a poster that says rejection is redirecting

ALT: a poster that says rejection is redirecting

media.tenor.com

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Aug 16

Created a story revision map for my middle grade WIP. Feeling good about where to go next. Impressed that my third draft is almost 26K. 😊 #amrevising #WritingCommunity #kidlit

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Aug 15

They put a name to an issue I struggle with-proCRAFTination.
resilientwriters.com/podcasts/how...

How to Stop "ProCRAFTinating!"

Rhonda exposes 'procraftination'—the sneaky, writing-adjacent procrastination—and shares how to stop it so you can finally finish your draft.

resilientwriters.com

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Mychal Threets @mychal3ts.bsky.social · Aug 15

If your child is struggling to read at grade level or at all, KEEP READING!

Let them see you read. Talk about what you read, what they read. Reread their favorite books. Read them aloud! Have them read the physical book while listening to and reading along with the audiobook.

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Martha Hickson @sassylibrarian.bsky.social · Aug 14

Today’s vocab: Overbroad and unconstitutional 🥰

Part of Florida's school book law ruled unconstitutional

Siding with publishers and authors, a federal judge Wednesday ruled that a key part of a 2023 Florida law that has led to books being removed from school library shelves is “overbroad and unconstituti...

www.wuwf.org

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Aug 13

Got a picture book idea from camping out to watch the meteor shower last night. And registered for @picturebooksummit.bsky.social in October.

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12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge @12x12challenge.bsky.social · Aug 12

Are your manuscripts lacking oomph? 👎

Get our FREE guide to Layers in Picture Books and add some pizazz! ✨ buff.ly/SeRW1mG

#12x12PB #amwriting #kidlit

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Aug 10

Started drafting a new picture book idea while listening to Paula Yoo discuss nonfiction writing and @lynnettenovak.bsky.social demystify traditional publishing. #WritingCommunity

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American Library Association @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social · Aug 8

Hey #ALAMembers! Did you know you can access digital issues of BOOKLIST READER, the monthly readers' advisory magazine from the editors of @ala-booklist.bsky.social, for FREE?! Start reading now to discover reading recommendations for all ages. Use your ALA Membership ID to login: bit.ly/3jRuX9V

Closeup of August cover of BOOKLIST READER with text DIGITAL BOOKLIST READER READ THE AUGUST ISSUE NOW with burst: DIGITAL VERSION NOW AN ALA MEMBER BENEFIT

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Aug 8

Today I deleted 276 words from my manuscript. (Sometimes it happens.) I felt stuck so I took notes for scenes in different empty cards in Scrivener.
I also did some research for a new picture book idea.
And listened to @torreymaldonado.bsky.social 's awesome session from #scbwiSummer25

Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Aug 8

Yesterday was a 2,000 word day! I skipped ahead in my manuscript to write the climax. Plan to write the middle later.
I also submitted a query for my picture book manuscript. 👀
#WritingCommunity #amwriting

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Aug 7

Only 1,000 words today but I had to go back into my outline to add subplots to my adult piece. Feeling like I set myself up for success tomorrow. #WritingCommunity #amwriting

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Aug 6

Today was a slower writing day (1000 words). But I applied for a writing fellowship, so that’s something. #WritingCommunity

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Shannon Gile @shannongilewrites.bsky.social · Aug 5

I somehow wrote 3K words today while at Putney Summer Arts. Then after dinner I listened to the recording of Soman Chainani’s inspiring keynote. #amwriting #writingcommunity #scbwisummer25

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · Aug 2

Great tips on finding an agent, how publishers handle AI, more on SCBWI Conference Blog:

scbwiconference.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-...

Not too late to register for #scbwisummer25! Recordings avail til Sept. 14, watch at your leisure. #KidLit @pncaldwell.bsky.social @temikatheartist.bsky.social

The Big Picture in Children's Publishing - Kait Feldmann / TeMika Grooms

The Big Picture in Children's Publishing - An Industry Panel Kait Feldmann / TeMika Grooms Warmly introduced by Sarah Baker, TeMika Grooms,...

scbwiconference.blogspot.com

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