R. Mandel

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R. Mandel

R. Mandel

@RonnaWriter

#kidlit writer, #12x12, fmr European ex-pat, ❤️ cats, poodles, purple + chocolate, @SCBWISOCALLA LitMingle coord. Rep’d by @marisacleveland

Los Angeles Katılım Aralık 2013
1.5K Takip Edilen1.7K Takipçiler
R. Mandel retweetledi
KIDLIT411
KIDLIT411@KIDLIT411·
Our weekly big list of kid lit links is up (March 20): kidlit411.com/2026/03/the-we… Inside: Rules for Picking Character Names, YA Webinar, Big Sur on Cape Cod conference, more. Thanks @MirkaHokkanen for the illustration, Annette Bay Pimentel & @TenSpeedPress for the PB giveaways.
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Lizzie Brooks
Lizzie Brooks@_Lizzie_Brooks_·
When author, Susanna Leonard Hill sends you the kindest, glowing email about your writing AND gives you an adorable contest badge, your day is made. THANK YOU! Congrats to everyone involved! #kidlit #picturebook #writingcommunity
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Annette Whipple
Annette Whipple@AnnetteWhipple·
How long is my hotel stay based on books and bottles? I will only be here evenings/nights.
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Alyssa Matesic
Alyssa Matesic@AlyssaMatesic·
In honor of getting 10K followers on here (!), here are the 10 things I wish every first-time author knew — from my 10+ years of book editing: 1️⃣ How you end your chapters matters more than you think. Leave something unfinished so that the reader no choice but to continue into the next (and the next, and the next). Our brains are hardwired to seek resolution. 2️⃣ Your protagonist needs a strong objective that drives them (and the plot) forward. If you don't know it yet, answer: What do they want, above all else? 3️⃣ Your inciting incident should generally occur no later than 10-15% of the way through the novel. Figure out what it is, then audit its location. If there's any room to bring it closer to the beginning, do it. 4️⃣ Relatedly, make sure you give the reader something to invest in from the very beginning. Don't say "well, it gets good 100 pages in." Make it good NOW. Or your reader may never get there. 5️⃣ It doesn't matter how pretty your sentences are if they aren't telling a compelling story. The best writers balance strong craft + incredible storytelling. Practice and learn both skillsets. 6️⃣ Nothing will teach you about craft and story like reading. Make time for it. 7️⃣ POV is everything. It dictates how the reader experiences the story and which characters they connect with. Make sure yours is intentional and consistent. 8️⃣ You probably aren't getting inside your POV characters' heads enough. We read fiction to inhabit someone else's mind. It's what makes this storytelling format different from a show or a play. Write from the INSIDE out. 9️⃣ Hitting a block? It's perfectly OK to take a step back from your manuscript when you need a break. In fact, sometimes it's exactly what your brain needs to return to the story refreshed. 🔟 Feedback is critical, but it's only as good as the person providing it, so be careful with who you ask. And then, remember: this is YOUR story and YOUR name on the cover. You don't have to agree with (or listen to) every suggestion. Thank you to everyone who has followed, subscribed, or watched a YouTube video of mine. I hope your stories are stronger for it. 💪❤️
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R. Mandel retweetledi
ReadYourWorld
ReadYourWorld@MCChildsBookDay·
Welcome to 2026 Author sponsor Dr. Audrey Barbarkoff! Audrey is an author, librarian, & educator. Working in public libraries developed her love of joyful read-alouds that encourage positive interaction between kids & grown-ups. buff.ly/NyXm1XB #ReadYourWorld #ad #kidlit
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KIDLIT411
KIDLIT411@KIDLIT411·
Our weekly big list of kid lit links is up (Jan 23): kidlit411.com/2026/01/the-we… Inside: @PBRisingStars mentor program, Story Stakes, Following Up with Agents, more. Thanks to SJ Winkler for the illustration, Carrie Finison for the PB giveaway.
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R. Mandel retweetledi
Christine Van Zandt. HOT DOG = 2026 JLG gold.
Christine Van Zandt. HOT DOG = 2026 JLG gold.@christinevz·
Thanks for sharing our new #simplemachines #picturebook. Kids will love the fun art by @lesleybreenart. @UnionSquareKids #lever #mightymodels series
GoodReadsWithRonna📚@GoodReadsRonna

The Legendary Life Story of the Lever, a new Mighty Models nonfiction picture book by @christinevz w/@lesleybreenart, traces the history of the lever, a world-changing invention, and includes a build-it-yourself catapult @UnionSquareKids #STEM #kidlit wp.me/p3X25n-bml

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Keşfet

@MirkaHokkanen @TenSpeedPress @MariaMarshall_ @MCChildsBookDay @chanastiefel @Scholastic @RateYourStory @_Lizzie_Brooks_