John Zeleznik

a cartoon character with glasses and a mustache is saying `` coincidence ? '' . ALT: a cartoon character with glasses and a mustache is saying `` coincidence ? '' .

And naturally, I talk about writing my series of interconnected kids adventure short story collection during #kidlitchat and "Stand by Gene" is on tonight.

Late sign off for me. Got distracted. Another good #kidlitchat. All of you make me feel like I have to get my butt in gear!

Also, I'm strongly considering just posting a different YA fantasy project on Royal Road for free. #kidlitchat

I have this idea of doing a series of short stories about one suburban neighborhood and the assorted adventures the kids in said neighborhood get into....I just have to narrow it down to how I want to do it. #kidlitchat

I feel the same way. I just get into this rewriting cycle and I feel like I'm beating myself up over and over. #kidlitchat

Maybe if I make it public, I'll be more apt to follow through:

1. Finish the revision of SPRING'S TEMPEST, the second book in my YA fantasy series

2. Plan and start my next MG project idea.

#kidlitchat

We have the Downtown Writing Center through the Y and I've missed the last two seasons. I may do it this summer. #kidlitchat

I have all kinds of stuff, depending on what you're looking for. DM me your email and I can send you stuff I've used in the past. #kidlitchat

I do this every year with my HSers. I love teaching them how to pitch their ideas. #kidlitchat

I wanted to sign up for a class at the local YMCA writing center, just to be able to talk to other writers but I missed the deadline. #kidlitchat

A bad day writing is still a good day. #kidlitchat

Same boat, five years too long. #kidlitchat

I wanted to work on some shorter works but it hasn't come together the way I want. #kidlitchat

Leaving an agent is so tough. I've lost two, one kind of left me in the lurch, I fired the other acrimoniously. #kidlitchat

It's been so frustrating. I got jammed up at the end of June and haven't been able to find a groove, I'm slowly finding some footing but it's been a struggle. #kidlitchat

I wish I had more but I don't. I'm still fighting this rut that I've been in for months. #kidlitchat

Has it been a quarter? Working on a rewrite of my self published YA fantasy and kind of fleshing out something a little shorter in the MG space. #kidlitchat

It’s kind of funny, you read all these MSWLs and you realize it’s just the whim of these publishing professionals. They’ve never asked a real, honest-to-goodness kid what they want to read because if they did most of their lists would look nothing like most of them do.

I'll be there!

a cartoon of a man with a beard and the words hackin-frackin sassa-frassin dad-burnit ALT: a cartoon of a man with a beard and the words hackin-frackin sassa-frassin dad-burnit

I sometimes read the Query Tracker success stories and find myself inspired. And sometimes I just want to shout into the void.

When I taught film and cinema this was one of the movies I showed. It’s a classic.

If you're a writer, artist, musician or director and you DON'T read HEAVY METAL, your agent should drop you cause your shit is probably weak.

Pearl is everything that was wrong with the NCAA. He's every cliched sleazy used car dealer in a basketball coach's body.

Listened to the podcast Writers With Wrinkles and found a kindred spirit in @fleurbradley.bsky.social! We need more adventure stories for young readers!

This is the old Oklahoma drill on a grander scale.

Do you guys remember how when we were kids there used to be ads in the back of comic books and magazine that promised they could teach us how to be a ninja? Those were halcyon days.

Hmm, did I just find my next MG project?

1973. I have had discussion with colleagues about our students having anxiety….we grew up with the specter of dying in a massive fireball and yet still managed to stay in class for the entire period!

They still talk about that project two years later. I've even given printed out copies of it to several students as "gifts" because they kept asking if I ever finished it.

I love this! A few years ago I did a unit with 10th graders where we read your book then did some additional reading on the free range kids/kids on bikes trope. For the final project I had students develop a pitch for their own novels/tv series/movies. I modeled it for them then wrote the book!

My exception in the War on Cars