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Brian Kirby

@boringstorybook.com

5.4K followers 4.2K following 5.3K posts

Author/illustrator in the Cleveland area. https://briankirbystudio.com SCBWI Ohio: North | #pbparty Finalist ‘24 & ‘25 | #kidlit booster Represented by @KaitlynLeann17.bsky.social at @Bradfordagents.bsky.social

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Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 27d

Noodle & Goofball discover the worst trick or treating house.
briankirbystudio.com/portfolio

#kidlit #kidlitart

A cartoon of two aghast kids trick or treating as a hand drops toothpaste and a toothbrush into their bags

Reposted by Brian Kirby

Melissa Manlove @mmanlove.bsky.social · 10h

Psst! I am opening up to unagented children's book submissions *just for the month of October*! This is an exciting experiment. The email to send submissions to is [email protected]. You can find out about what I'm looking for at www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/me...

Melissa Manlove – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

www.manuscriptwishlist.com

Reposted by Brian Kirby

KidLitGN @kidlitgn.bsky.social · 13h

#Agents, #editors & #publishers we have SO MANY kids-YA graphic novel pitches at kidlitgn.com! Reply to any pitch you want to see with your sub guidelines, or add your guidelines here: kidlitgn.com/submission-d... #KidLitGN's 2025 pitch event ends Oct. 31 #pitchevent #kidlit

KidLitGN – Hosting Pitch Events For Creators of Kids through YA Graphic Novels

Reposted by Brian Kirby

Brooke Baum @brookebaum.bsky.social · 16h

LATE BIRD is sick of Early Bird getting all the worms--and all the glory. But don't worry, Late Bird has a plan. Forget the alarm clock, this calls for a catapult. Look out world, here comes Late Bird!

THE BAD SEED x THE VERY IMPATIENT CATERPILLAR

#DVPit #ND #PB

Images of LATE BIRD looking for worms and getting increasingly agitated as he doesn't find any. Another image of LATE BIRD sweaty and out of breath saying "I made it!"

Reposted by Brian Kirby

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 18h

If your hashtag searching is not working for #DVpit we created a feed for the hashtag. Please always try to search the hashtag first, but this feed includes all posts under the hashtag as well. We will update during the day as we learn more from bsky bsky.app/profile/did:...

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 19h

#DVpit 2025 has officially begun!
Today, Oct 8, 2025 from 8AM-8PM ET marginalized creators seeking out representation can pitch their completed manuscripts & portfolios to participating Agents & Editors!
Don't forget to use #DVpit in your posts!
Pls read rules before participating: dvpit.carrd.co

#DVPit Rules
-#DVpit (Diverse Voices Pitch) is a Bluesky event for marginalized creators that have been historically underrepresented in publishing to pitch their work to agents & editors
-Post your pitch on Bluesky on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025
between 8AM ET - 8PM ET
-Only post once per hour (6 max pitches per project)
-Must have a polished, query ready manuscript or art portfolio.
-Pitch must include the #DVpit hashtag (illustrators pitching their art must use the #DVArt hashtag)
-A like from an agent = a query request
-A repost from an editor = interest in submission once you've signed with an agent
-A like from an editor = editor who takes unagented submissions
-Please do not like or repost a pitch if you are not an agent or an editor. Support other creators by replying to their pitch or
quote-reposting their pitches
-Visit dvpit.carrd.co for more detailed guidelines.

Reposted by Brian Kirby

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 19h

We're aware the hashtag searching is down right now. We have reports it does work if you redownload the app, but is still buggy on desktop. We've contacted bluesky and will update soon #dvpit

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 19h

#DVpit 2025 has officially begun!
Today, Oct 8, 2025 from 8AM-8PM ET marginalized creators seeking out representation can pitch their completed manuscripts & portfolios to participating Agents & Editors!
Don't forget to use #DVpit in your posts!
Pls read rules before participating: dvpit.carrd.co

#DVPit Rules
-#DVpit (Diverse Voices Pitch) is a Bluesky event for marginalized creators that have been historically underrepresented in publishing to pitch their work to agents & editors
-Post your pitch on Bluesky on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025
between 8AM ET - 8PM ET
-Only post once per hour (6 max pitches per project)
-Must have a polished, query ready manuscript or art portfolio.
-Pitch must include the #DVpit hashtag (illustrators pitching their art must use the #DVArt hashtag)
-A like from an agent = a query request
-A repost from an editor = interest in submission once you've signed with an agent
-A like from an editor = editor who takes unagented submissions
-Please do not like or repost a pitch if you are not an agent or an editor. Support other creators by replying to their pitch or
quote-reposting their pitches
-Visit dvpit.carrd.co for more detailed guidelines.

Reposted by Brian Kirby

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 1d

TOMORROW (Oct 8th) is #DVpit! Any unagented Marginalized writer or artist seeking out representation is invited to participate from 8AM - 8PM ET!
Please make sure you review our rules & guidelines before the event: dvpit.carrd.co#faq

#writersky #booksky #artistsky #weneeddiversebooks

#DVPit Rules
-#DVpit (Diverse Voices Pitch) is a Bluesky event for marginalized creators that have been historically underrepresented in publishing to pitch their work to agents & editors
-Post your pitch on Bluesky on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025
between 8AM ET - 8PM ET
-Only post once per hour (6 max pitches per project)
-Must have a polished, query ready manuscript or art portfolio.
-Pitch must include the #DVpit hashtag (illustrators pitching their art must use the #DVArt hashtag)
-A like from an agent = a query request
-A repost from an editor = interest in submission once you've signed with an agent
-A like from an editor = editor who takes unagented submissions
-Please do not like or repost a pitch if you are not an agent or an editor. Support other creators by replying to their pitch or
quote-reposting their pitches
-Visit dvpit.carrd.co for more detailed guidelines.

#DVpit 2025 has 70+ Agents & Editors committed to participate & boost marginalized creators from the following literary agencies and publishers:
Andrea Brown Lit
Ash Literary
Azantian Literary Agency
Dystel, Goderich & Bourret
Folio Literary Management
Gallt & Zacker Literary
Gelfman Schneider Literary
Hachette
Grand Central Publishing
Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Harper Collins
Harlequin
Hanover Square
HG Literary
Inked in Gray Press
Jill Grinberg Literary
Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency
Macmillan
Feiwel & Friends
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Roaring Brook Press
Saturday books
Wednesday books
Mad Woman Literary
Neighborhood Literary
New Leaf Literary & Media
Open Book Literary
Page Street Publishing
Park, Fine & Brower
Penguin Random House
Ballantine
Berkley
Delacorte
Labyrinth Road
Penguin Workshop
Viking
Root Literary
Simon & Schuster
Aladdin
Atheneum
Atria
McElderry
Sheldon Fogelman Agency
Sourcebooks
Stonefruit Studio
Triada US
Writers House
Zando

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

There is so much resistance. And unwillingness to put the effort in to start over. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

Clerks on skis…? 😆 #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

Everyone is tired. Library systems and schools are not migrating. They are clinging to 19-year investments even though it is a husk of what it was. Decision makers don’t use social the way creatives do. Media paints Bluesky as too liberal. Etc. Etc. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

LATE is your thing. 😄 #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

Impossible to know, it could always find people that love the reference. But probably good to pair obscure with a widely recognized item. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

Every person who reads a comp will filter it through their own tastes and expectations, so picking widely known works with easy pop culture recognition is probably a good plan. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

It’s also a red flag that there is a certain lack of richness to their frame of reference, I would think. not a unique vision. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

One thing I keep in mind when using a recent comp that might not be immediately recognized by even industry pros - does the title itself communicate something important or relevant to my story? Some titles cue you in and let you gather the theme immediately. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

right? One big swing of a classic to set the tone and another recent comp to show you are aware what is current seems a great way to communicate who your book might appeal to. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

Yes! I think you need to use cultural touchstones that most people would be aware of. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

There is a lot of advice flying around the internet about using ONLY recent comps, but I think that is unhelpful, and pairing a classic, universally known property with something more current that shows you are keeping up is a good move. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

details that would probably go in an intro - genre, age range, etc. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

the pitch party panel was throwing out these very examples as the type of shorthand they use in acquisition meetings. and you need to use titles EVERYONE has heard of. cultural touchstones, but nothing as obvious as “DOGMAN MEETS HARRY POTTER!” #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

yes. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

Right? Although I think there was a disconnect between the 2-sentence “elevator pitch” that people submitted and what the panel was expecting. but that was very informative in itself. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

yes - just tell them the story, quickly and concisely. give away the ending. plainly state the conflict. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

the panel at the pitch party I attended this weekend was 100% in favor of non-book comps. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

I suspect comps are more important in-house at publishers, a sort of shorthand at acquisition meetings with a lot going on. Anti-comp talk seems to be coming from a few agencies. #kidlitchat

Brian Kirby @boringstorybook.com · 1d

I think the approach to crafting pitches has had to evolve because people are coming into the office with 10,000 emails in their inbox, with a ton of AI slop in the mix, and the joy of discovering something unique or clever has given way to craving simple, earnest directness. #kidlitchat