About Jennifer Kay
Jennifer Kay is a KidLit author and Structural Engineer. She has a VCFA MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, is an SCBWI Rockford Network Rep, edits the SCBWI IL Prairie Wind, and belongs to Mystery Writers of America. Jennifer works as a writer, freelance editor, literary agency reader, and creative writing teacher.
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Category Archives: Publishing
Be A Maker
Engineer Jennifer has always been a builder. LEGOs were a right of passage for me – probably for most kids headed for a career in Civil Engineering. Among my peers, there were two schools of thought regarding those LEGO kit … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Engineering, Jennifer, Middle Grade Books, Nicole, Parenting, Picture Books, Publishing, Reading, Writing
Tagged Andrea Beaty, Be A Maker, Builder, Engineer, Goldie Blox Toys, Katey Howes, Keva Maker Bot Maze, Legos, Made by Maxine, Maker, Rosie Revere, Rube Goldberg, Ruth Spiro, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Scott
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Social Media for Middle Graders
Recently I’ve noticed an increasing number of authors on Facebook asking what social media 12-year-olds use. Writer Jennifer understands the question. These authors want to keep their writing relevant to modern kids by incorporating the methods of communication being used … Continue reading
Posted in Jennifer, Middle Grade Books, Parenting, Publishing, Reading, Social Media, Writing
Tagged Middle Grade, Musical.ly, Snapchat, Social Media, Writing
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Working As A Reader To Improve My Writing
For the past four months I’ve been sneaking a peak behind the scenes of a New York literary agency. Yes, I was snowed in at my Midwest writing office most of that time. I’ve been working remotely as a middle … Continue reading
Posted in Jennifer, Publishing, Reading, Revision
Tagged Literary Agency, Manuscript Reader, Publishing, Revision, Writing Tips
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New Year! Same Goals!
This weekend I’ll be packing my bags to return to VCFA, also known as Hogwarts. Can’t wait to be reunited with this group of amazing and talented writers. Really excited for my first Focus Workshop: Writing the Other taught by … Continue reading
Posted in Jennifer, MFA, Publishing, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing
Tagged Cynsations, Cynthia Leitich Smith, New Year Resolutions, Own Voices, VCFA WCYA, We Need Diverse Books, Writing the Other
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Super Hero Writers
Last weekend Super Heros flew to Chicago to gather for SCBWI Prairie Writers & Illustrators Day. This year my conference posse grew from two writers to four, including one of my VCFA classmates. We happened to sit in the Maw-ha-ha section … Continue reading
Posted in Jennifer, MFA, Prairie Writer's Day, Publishing, Reading, SCBWI, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing
Tagged Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Cynthia Ward, Daniel José Older, Diversity, Don Tate, John Parra, Kendra Levin, Kirsten Cappy, Linda Pratt, Nikki Garcia, Nisis Shawl, Prairie Writers and Illustrators Day, SCBWI, Writing the Other
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Wild, Wild Midwest
Last weekend 500 Wild, Wild Midwest children’s authors and illustrators gathered in Chicago for the SCBWI regional conference. The faculty list was a who’s who of awesome children’s authors, featuring keynote speeches by Lisa Cron, Sarah Aronson, Linda Sue Park, … Continue reading
Posted in Jennifer, Publishing, SCBWI, Writing
Tagged A Long Walk to Walter, Linda Sue Park, Sarah Aronson, We Need Diverse Books, Wild Wild Midwest
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Sample Illustrations
Where has Jennifer been for the past two months? Attached to my new digital drawing pad. It’s become a third limb. After only three hours of online webinars on how to use Manga Studio 5, I’ve reached below average functionality … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Graphic Novels, Jennifer, Middle Grade Books, Nicole, Publishing, Writing
Tagged Graphic Novels, Illustration, Jennifer, Kelly Sonnack, The Shooting Stars
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Writing Characters Who Don’t Look Like You
Last weekend my critique partner and I journeyed into Chicago for SCBWI Prairie Writer’s Day. Once again it was an event filled with awesome people in the publishing industry (or aspiring to be), invaluable knowledge, and heaps of inspiration. This … Continue reading
Posted in Jennifer, Prairie Writer's Day, Publishing, SCBWI, Writing
Tagged Diversity, Jennifer, Prairie Writer's Day, SCBWI, Writing
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