Shay Fan | kidlit writer chaos monster

It… is insane to me how this isn’t an Onion article

Latest lunchbox note

It’s official: our love for Claudia Kishi is generational and a reminder that representation matters 🥰 and this is why I love #kidlit so much

Just chiming in to say if anybody here likes talking #kidlit #writing #books #popculture #creativity #parenting #dogs and is prepared for some occasional chaos and emo grief because life is hard … hello 👋🏼

Just bopping back in here to see how this party is going in this slice of the Internet

Someone lost a tooth recently (glad it wasn’t me) so that was the inspiration for this quick sketchy sketch. One day I’ll learn how to complete drawings more fully. Maybe. 😅

Sometimes I wonder if I’m actually improving as a writer. Or is it as if I’m practicing to get better at soccer and all I’m doing is running around in circles and falling down a lot?

I gave myself a week to write a short story. Is it good? No. But does it have words, a beginning, middle, and muddy ending? Yes. And that’s good enough for me.

This social media app is likely where I’m going to lament long and hard about all my failed writing attempts.

Consider this my blanket and perpetual “thank you, I’m sorry, WRITING IS HARD AMIRITE and I appreciate you.”

I was listening to a podcast about finding ways to stay creative when you don’t have time. So I challenged myself to write a short story in a week. Tomorrow marks that week.

Is there a German word for panic at a false deadline you set for yourself?

My kid wanted me to work on a book with her this morning. So far she’s told me all my suggestions are bad, refused to plan out the story and wanted to get started already.

As an objective editor the story is thin, slightly chaotic….but the illustration is top notch. #kidlit

🥹❤️

Kid: “When I grow up you won’t be the boss of me anymore.”

Me: “That’s right.”

Kid: “But I’ll take suggestions.”

Me before: oh boy I woke up early and I have time to write and exercise!

(Proceeds to scroll social media faster and type random updates for no reason)

Me later: I wish I had more time to write and exercise.

Gasp it’s back?! AHH

Sometimes I look at a drawing and think: someone did that. With their brain and their hands. It wasn’t there, but now it is. Then I simultaneously feel awe, envy, joy, and want to lie down. So yeah look at these drawings and feel things with me too.

My reactions to:

CEOs: 😐
Celebrities: 😐
Kidlit authors and illustrators: 😀😃😄😁😆🥰🤩

Animals I wish spoke our human language in no particular order:

Dogs
Quokka
Hummingbird
Wombat
Rat
Honey badger

Kid: “Mama, do you take tests at work?”
Me: “No. People don’t take tests at work.”
Kid: “Then why do people hate work so much!”

Because we are constantly tested, kid.

Spooky season is heeeeeeeere

Whelp I’ve unlocked the “cry while reading Charlotte’s Web aloud to your kid” achievement tonight.

Me: We have too much junk! We need to donate! Trash stuff! Get rid of it all!

Also me: I got a new fwend

I just want to be a hermit crab and leave my old clutter filled junk shell behind 😂

This place feels like a safe space to drop my nonsensical doodles 🥲

I’m in the “can I just move to a new clean apartment and leave this all behind” phase of cleaning…

Whenever I’m rushing somewhere on a weekday and I see people leisurely eating breakfast or lunch I have to fight the urge to interrogate them about their lives. How do you do it? What are your secrets? TELL ME.

oh right generational wealth gotcha

It’s National Daughter Day which is basically every day over here

Me: “I can’t help you today, I’m too tired.”

Kid: “Mama! You’re always tired! You’re going to be tired until I’m eighteen!!”

The accuracy 🎯😅

Once this app has gifs it’s over* for all of you

*I’m gonna be so elder Millennial annoying

These are the types of stats I live for; spare me the wunderkind stories of <10 rejections and they got signed, got a deal, etc etc