Brian Todd: Writer of YA fantasy books. Journalist

@michaelschwab13 If the A's only played the Astros, they'd be the '27 Yankees. What did we do to them that they save up all their good play only for us?

Bullpen gave up 8 runs today. You can’t expect to win when the bullpen does that. Against the A’s too

@DanahALLLL Small and independent publishers often take queries directly from writers. Make sure it's not a pay-to-publish vanity press. Some "small publishers" are really just scams. If you have to pay, it's a scam.

A question for writers and agents: If a manuscript isn’t finding the right agent, is submitting directly to publishers a realistic next step, or does that usually lead nowhere? At what point does direct submission make sense? #WritingCommmunity #amquerying

A great package arrived today. Almost 4 years of writing and it’s out in the world 🙏

@AuthorGoodwin @sarabushway I don't even say political things with my phone or computer on. The algorithms can hear you talk.

@sarabushway I avoid interacting with political posts like the plague. I don't want the algorithm to stick em in my feed. I come on here for book stuff, not politics.

I'm doing a lot of unfollowing this morning because I'm seeing nothing but political posts for the past few days. I'm not saying political crap isn't happening. I'm just opting to limit how much time I'm spending on it for the sake of my mental health.

@michaelschwab13 Damn. We get a right shoulder strain and it can't be Christian Javier?

Hunter Brown has been placed on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder strain. Christian Roa is being called up. Um. We can’t have nice things.

@NicoletteFuller You too? I had a lightbulb moment on a character and plot the other night. New fantasy series is swirling in my head. Hey, let me write and publish the first series (planned 5 books) first, brain!

New story idea to add to the millions I already have... hmmm.

@DzintraSullivan I sleep with socks on (95% of the time). I can’t fold the flat sheet — hell, a pillow case — but as for M&M’s, I can eat just one (bag … family size) at a time. I’m just a weirdo.

People who sleep with socks on... I’m convinced you’re the same people who can fold a fitted sheet and eat just one M&M.

@Orangemanround3 Human. It’s called being a normal human being. Just don’t knock the crap out of people. Well, except in your head … just a little. Then confess even that to your priest.

What's it called when you want to follow Jesus but also knock the shit out of people?

@CreatureAuthor There’s also a play in Book 2.

Does your book have songs in it?

@CreatureAuthor Yes. New songs I’ve written. Took three days one time to study Irish pub songs. Themes: A lovely lass, love of Ireland, love of drink, sad song about lost friends/lovers. Book 1: king sings a bawdy song at a funeral. Book 2: man sings a song (all 3 verses) at a bar to pay a bet.

@HSTPodcast Still early, but yes. I like what I’m seeing. Him and LMJ have pulled a “reverse uno” on the preseason pessimists.

Big Time Respect for Christian Walker's Offseason Work. He's the Anti-Abreu. He Lost Weight, Worked on Swing Path & Looks Exactly like the All-Star Caliber Player Dana Brown Signed. Total Pro! 😍

@TGTRTETLTI How much depends on what kind of editing you’re paying for. Copy editing (last step) is less. Developmental editing (the first step) can be more. There’s another kind called line editing (middle). Less about big picture and more about consistency and readability. And yes.

Guys how much do editors usually cost? And are they necessary for getting an agent? Or like are they extremely useful? #writerscommunity

@Chronodendron Because I can. Because I must.

What is the best motivation to keep writing?

@AuthorGoodwin @JasonWMizer Fair enough. Yes, I live in Minnesota where driving an hour is a minor inconvenience at best.

150-200 miles? 😲 Let me guess, you're in the USA, right? If I branch out that far, I have every book shop in the cities of Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Manchester, Liverpool, York, Hull, Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham, Newcastle and shed loads of towns in between. I recon you're looking at over half the population of England in that radius!

Is it worth trying to sell fantasy books at comic-cons? I'm trying to decide if I should shell out on a table...

@AuthorGoodwin @JasonWMizer Contact your local independent bookstores and ask them for contact information of other local authors who have approached them. Reach out to stores within 150-200 miles.

@JasonWMizer Don't have any local author friends...🙁

@LindsayAuthor All three, but a healthy dose of luck.

Do you think traditional publishing has more to do with skill, talent, or pure luck?

@michaelschwab13 I think he needs to spend some time in AAA figuring this mess out.

Are we worried about Christian Javier?

@SleeperAstros 7-6. I’d take that and be happy. Especially if we can split in Seattle.

A great time to look at the upcoming schedule for the Astros: 📍 3 game series at Athletics 📍 3 game series at Rockies 📍 4 game series at Mariners 📍 3 game series vs Rockies Predict their record through these next 13 games 🤔

@ronsterd89 If that child’s parents are not US citizens, then no. If my wife and I flew to … name any country … and had a baby on their soil, that child would not be a citizen of that country. If those parents here later become US citizens, then that child should be automatically.

VOTE: Should a child born on US soil automatically be a US citizen?

@SusanSavageLee1 I thanked him for his input, and I told him his changes weren’t really my story. I don’t think he’ll write his own YA fantasy. He writes nonfiction and has a job where he travels a lot consulting on worlds fairs and expositions.

@PBbtodd Did you tell him that? 😂

Have you ever ignored feedback on your writing? What made you ignore it? #writingq #WritingCommunity