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Attending my first @kwelijournal virtual conference. Thank you @FineAngeline for an inspiring welcome keynote address!
"Community = a feeling of belonging to something larger than yourself."
"Sometimes 'no' means 'not yet.'"
#Kweli21
"Community = a feeling of belonging to something larger than yourself."
"Sometimes 'no' means 'not yet.'"
#Kweli21
First breakout session at @kwelijournal => Worth A Thousand Words: Unblocking the Power of Picture Books.
"We are experts in our own experiences. Our stories are ours to tell." @TashaSpillett
Picture books are hugs for young children." @NoNieqaRamos
#Kweli21
"We are experts in our own experiences. Our stories are ours to tell." @TashaSpillett
Picture books are hugs for young children." @NoNieqaRamos
#Kweli21
Second breakout session at @kwelijournal => Tips on Crafting a Short Story for an Anthology.
"Read poetry that has characters in it. Zone in on one moment and make that moment profound." @reneewauthor
#Kweli21
"Read poetry that has characters in it. Zone in on one moment and make that moment profound." @reneewauthor
#Kweli21
Third breakout session at @kwelijournal =>
Love as Revolution
Q: How do you define love?
"Love is always evolving. Love is a skill. It's a place where you feel safe to be vulnerable to another person." @ShebaKarim
"Love is a constant negotiation." @misallaneous1
#Kweli21
Love as Revolution
Q: How do you define love?
"Love is always evolving. Love is a skill. It's a place where you feel safe to be vulnerable to another person." @ShebaKarim
"Love is a constant negotiation." @misallaneous1
#Kweli21
@kwelijournal => Love as Revolution
Q: How do you define love? (continued)
"Love is hard work. It critiques, challenges, and pushes you to be better." @reneewauthor
"Love is giving in to spiritual development of self or someone else." @liaratamani
#Kweli21
Q: How do you define love? (continued)
"Love is hard work. It critiques, challenges, and pushes you to be better." @reneewauthor
"Love is giving in to spiritual development of self or someone else." @liaratamani
#Kweli21
Fourth breakout session @kwelijournal => Chapter Books & Early Readers
These gems dropped by @SusanDarraj
"Never underestimate the child reader. They are very savvy."
"Focus on your secondary characters. They are the thread throughout the series."
#Kweli21
These gems dropped by @SusanDarraj
"Never underestimate the child reader. They are very savvy."
"Focus on your secondary characters. They are the thread throughout the series."
#Kweli21
@kwelijournal => Chapter Books & Early Readers (continued)
And this practical tip from @SusanDarraj:
"Make sure you have it written in your contract that you have input on the illustrations. This is still a white industry."
#Kweli21
And this practical tip from @SusanDarraj:
"Make sure you have it written in your contract that you have input on the illustrations. This is still a white industry."
#Kweli21
Fifth breakout session @kwelijournal =>
Historical Fiction
"History constantly repeats itself in these disheartening and startling ways." @VeeraHira
"Know who your narrator is even if your narrator is not a character in the story." @poetweatherford
#Kweli21
Historical Fiction
"History constantly repeats itself in these disheartening and startling ways." @VeeraHira
"Know who your narrator is even if your narrator is not a character in the story." @poetweatherford
#Kweli21
Sixth breakout session @kwelijournal => Reimagining the Publishing Industry
"There's not this scarcity mindset that the traditional white publishing industry wants us to believe." #NamrataTripathi
#Kweli21
"There's not this scarcity mindset that the traditional white publishing industry wants us to believe." #NamrataTripathi
#Kweli21
@kwelijournal => Reimagining the Publishing Industry
(continued)
"It's not enough just to have brown faces in the book. It needs to be more than checking a demographic box." #ChristopherMyers
#Kweli21
(continued)
"It's not enough just to have brown faces in the book. It needs to be more than checking a demographic box." #ChristopherMyers
#Kweli21
The closing keynote address at @kwelijournal was by @mafiasafia
"Home is about love, community and care. I have always felt at home in books."
This has been such an amazing day listening to so many creators of color. Thank you for a fantastic first day of panels!
#Kweli21
"Home is about love, community and care. I have always felt at home in books."
This has been such an amazing day listening to so many creators of color. Thank you for a fantastic first day of panels!
#Kweli21
Day 2 of the @kwelijournal virtual conference Self-Care Presentation was by @NadiaOwusu1 who provided a visualization and breathing moment to help us start our day.
Also, dropped this knowledge:
"Practicing self-accountability is a form of self-care."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
Also, dropped this knowledge:
"Practicing self-accountability is a form of self-care."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
@kwelijournal breakout session #1 =>
Ask Me Anything: Scene Building
"Write the scene from each character's point of view to determine which works best. It'll help you get yourself out of the scene and your character into it." @FineAngeline
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
Ask Me Anything: Scene Building
"Write the scene from each character's point of view to determine which works best. It'll help you get yourself out of the scene and your character into it." @FineAngeline
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
@kwelijournal breakout session #2 =>
Ask Me Anything: On Voice
Comments by @Areliteration:
"Wherever your audience is, meet them there. Especially in children's books, honor your readers."
"The voice is already inside you. It flows freely."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
Ask Me Anything: On Voice
Comments by @Areliteration:
"Wherever your audience is, meet them there. Especially in children's books, honor your readers."
"The voice is already inside you. It flows freely."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
@kwelijournal Ask Me Anything: On Voice (continued)
Comments by @ArthurALevine1:
"The only way to hear the voice of your writing is to speak it; read it out loud to someone else."
"You don't always have to speak in first person to tell your story."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
Comments by @ArthurALevine1:
"The only way to hear the voice of your writing is to speak it; read it out loud to someone else."
"You don't always have to speak in first person to tell your story."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
Breakout session #3 @kwelijournal => Ask Me Anything: On Writing and Illustrating
"If I am not deeply moved by the words in the manuscript, it is not the best project for me." @juanamartinez
"As an editor: step back and let the illustrator go." @EditorHsu
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
"If I am not deeply moved by the words in the manuscript, it is not the best project for me." @juanamartinez
"As an editor: step back and let the illustrator go." @EditorHsu
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
@kwelijournal => Ask Me Anything: On Writing and Illustrating (continued)
Comments from @jessxsnow:
"Create a cinematic feel to the illustrations." (discussing the picture book The Ocean Calls)
"Hold compassion for all the characters in the story."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
Comments from @jessxsnow:
"Create a cinematic feel to the illustrations." (discussing the picture book The Ocean Calls)
"Hold compassion for all the characters in the story."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
@kwelijournal => Ask Me Anything: On Writing and Illustrating (continued)
"Make what's important to the character (i.e. fear, greatest triumph) relatable to the readers. Answer the readers' question: 'Why should I know [this character]?'" @storiestolife
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
"Make what's important to the character (i.e. fear, greatest triumph) relatable to the readers. Answer the readers' question: 'Why should I know [this character]?'" @storiestolife
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
This Keynote & Closing on Overnight Success at @kwelijournal is absolute 
Knowledge drops by @Meg_Medina:
"Don't be afraid to ask for what you think you deserve to be paid."
"What's wrong is you're not doing this thing. THIS thing that is uniquely yours."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
Knowledge drops by @Meg_Medina:
"Don't be afraid to ask for what you think you deserve to be paid."
"What's wrong is you're not doing this thing. THIS thing that is uniquely yours."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
Keynote & Closing on Overnight Success at @kwelijournal (continued)
@JerryCraft on Imposter Syndrome:
"I had to reposition myself that I do belong and this is what I was meant to do."
AND
Getting into the industry:
"Write what you wished you had as a kid."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
@JerryCraft on Imposter Syndrome:
"I had to reposition myself that I do belong and this is what I was meant to do."
AND
Getting into the industry:
"Write what you wished you had as a kid."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
Keynote & Closing on Overnight Success at @kwelijournal (continued)
Inspiration from @ibizoboi:
"I was writing everything just to get in the door. It gave me the skills to write quickly."
"We are selling heart products."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
Inspiration from @ibizoboi:
"I was writing everything just to get in the door. It gave me the skills to write quickly."
"We are selling heart products."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
What a fabulous first event with @kwelijournal and the amazing panelists.
I learned so much, found new books to check out, and new authors & illustrators to follow.
As @ibizoboi eloquently said, "[We are] taking up space so we leave space for others."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
I learned so much, found new books to check out, and new authors & illustrators to follow.
As @ibizoboi eloquently said, "[We are] taking up space so we leave space for others."
#Kweli21VIRTUAL
