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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Often, a suggestion is the wrong solution to a real problem. Identifying the problem is the important part. #kidlitchat

Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

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

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

When I was freelancing full-time, it was hard to do my own writing. It was hard to do anything that wasn't work, actually. I worked steadily but was always nervous about the next assignment. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I was in a group that included a woman whose more literary historical fiction writing I adored, but the rest of the group was solidly sci-fi/fantasy and they gave her the wrong feedback for her stuff. I usually had to talk to her outside of group. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

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

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

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

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

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

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

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

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Thank you for your query. While I find your characters particularly fascinating and your premise intriguing, this doesn't feel like a project I could champion in the current market. Keep in mind that every response is subjective and another editor might feel otherwise. Best of luck! Yours, Editor.

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Definitely not realistic--unless they've promised feedback. Reality is, we can't even expect a reply to every query, much less feedback. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

You don't have to query for long to start getting stories like this, sadly. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I've had a conference agent recommend another agent from her agency who, it turned out, was closed to queries and stopped agenting a little while later. Hey, I didn't chase her away, at least. I never got to query her. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I've talked with conference agents who told me "this meets that" isn't effective as a comp, but the "heartfelt family drama of x meets the mysterious museum quest of y" works best. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I've also found that a touch of humor helps, as long as it's well-placed and appropriate. Maybe a bit of personality makes us more human, and so many queries are nearly identical with different details, almost like MadLibs. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

That, and "This has a lot going for it, but I don't love it enough to champion it in a tough market." Uh...thanks? #kidlitchaat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I've pitched in person several times and have had good experiences. I find it helpful to have us both be present as real people, not as another unknown writer pitching to a faceless arbiter of dreams. #kidlitchat Speaking of Farley: "Remember when you were in the Beatles? That was awesome."

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I think I'd rather query than pitch, and I've run and judged conference pitch contests. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

She's a fairly new agent, but was an editor at a publishing house for a long time. That experience has been very helpful. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I have a backlog of manuscripts. My agent and I chat regularly, so we've talked about what to work on next. We're about to put a 4th story (different markets) on submission, after which we'll have to back off of submitting for a while. But we'll keep working through my backlog. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

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

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

One of the best parts of finally finding an agent is not having to query. I got OK at it after 300 or so, but never felt good at it. I still find it strange not to do my frequent agent research. I keep wanting to see who's doing what, but I hope I never actually have to again. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

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.

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

It's pretty typical to see my bare footprints in the snow on the walk in front of my house. And I'm still usually in shorts. Gotta admit, though: Ice melt doesn't feel great on bare feet. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

That seems like an excellent ambition, though I'd go with tacos. And sometimes pizza. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Socks are even more rare than shoes. I do wear pants, though they're usually shorts. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I still have to get there. My motto for eight years has been: My streak will end and that's OK. Just not today. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I work from home. Shoes have become a rare accessory. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

That's why I'm afraid to skip a day. Coming up on Day 3000 in a couple weeks. It has created a chain of events that has led to a pile of manuscripts and an agent and a nice place in my community. Plus, I feel like an actual writer. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I've learned that writing every day doesn't kill the imposter syndrome, but it does overcome the resultant writer's block. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I've also learned that the way to kill the Gen Alpha slang is to learn enough to throw it back. They should know what happens when they use slang with a word nerd. I enjoyed the research and the practice. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Yeah. 13 and almost 16. It's mostly the 13yo girl who calls me bro. Well, bruh, mostly. Which I think is funny. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

If my grandkids can call me bro, I suppose anyone can. :) #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I don't know if they're still around, but I've published in a publication called Spaceports and Spidersilk. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

So much revising that I can't spell anymore. :) #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

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.

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

And they might grow back into it when they're older. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

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

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Same! That question is hard. My understanding is that they're looking for whether you know the market, but it's so hard to answer. "Kids who read stuff..." #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I tell myself a story I want to experience. But since I don't write beginning to end, I don't really get to experience it until later drafts. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

In most cases, I figure out my audience pretty early, though it has changed in a few manuscripts as I get to know the story better. But it's always a general age group, not a particular reader. #kidlitchat

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Scott Rhoades Writes Daily @scottwrites.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I'm my first reader. If the story doesn't excite me, I won't write it. If it excites me, I believe it will excite somebody else. But I don't write it for a specific person I do have a manuscript inspired by somebody important to me, but it's not written with him in mind as a reader. #kidlitchat

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