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.
NaNoWriMo
-
Recent Posts
Login
Archives
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- January 2018
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- July 2016
- May 2016
- March 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
Category Archives: VCFA MFA WCYA
Finding My Own Inspiration
Last weekend many of my writing friends returned to VCFA for residency. I did not – for the first time in two and a half years. It was harder than I expected to view the social media posts about the … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Creativity, Home Improvements, Jennifer, MFA, SCBWI, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing
Tagged Art Space, Creativity, Inspiration, Jennifer, NaNoWriMo, SCBWI IL Prairie Wind, VCFA Residency
3 Comments
Post-Grad Revelations
Last month I checked a few major writing milestones off my bucket list: 1) Delivered my graduate reading of my young adult science fiction work-in-progress, Eraser. 2) Presented my graduate lecture, Shift That Narrow Trend Line into a Scatter Plot of … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Engineering, Family, Jennifer, MFA, Nature, RVC, SCBWI, Teaching, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing
Tagged Goals, Graduation, Jennifer, MFA, RVC, Teach, VCFA, Writing
3 Comments
The Open Question
My first revelation of 2018 is that MFA programs have magical time slip powers. I last blogged in September when my third semester at VCFA was just getting started and I had taken on the challenge of writing a pretty … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Jennifer, MFA, Nonfiction, Reading, SCBWI, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing, Young Adult Books
Tagged Deborah Heiligman, VCFA MFA, Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers
Comments Off on The Open Question
Talking Slower and Thinking Deeper
My twelfth packet of MFA homework was due earlier this week. For once it was submitted without any all-nighters, drama, or emotional meltdowns. I had plenty of time to do the quantity and quality of work I knew I had in … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Jennifer, MFA, Poetry, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing, Writing Excercise
Tagged A Poetry Handbook, Bernard Friot, Jennifer, Mary Oliver, Poetry, The Aspiring Poet's Journal
Comments Off on Talking Slower and Thinking Deeper
Rebirth
(Photos by Matt Hussung) Solar Eclipse fascination escalated to total frenzy in the days leading up to August 21. Who had solar glasses? Were they off the right list? Which schools would watch the eclipse? Would my home be … Continue reading
Posted in Jennifer, MFA, Nature, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing
Tagged Eclipse, Kwame Alexander, Matt Hussung, Rebirth, Writing
Comments Off on Rebirth
Cleaning Up The Trailer Trash Stereotype
Tomorrow I depart for my third residency at Vermont College of Fine Arts WCYA. The dreaded critical thesis semester is about to consume my life – except I’m not really dreading it. I’m a structural engineer. Critical analysis and technical … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Jennifer, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing
Tagged Fighting Stereotypes, Jennifer, Monica Roe, Trailer Park
4 Comments
Can Kids Relate to Structural Engineering?
I never thought my day job as a structural engineer designing bridges would ever intersect with my dream job writing for children. Right-brain pursuits never cross paths with left-brain projects. Yet somehow they have, with a little help from my … Continue reading
Moody Edges
I just finished my first packet of my second semester of VCFA WCYA. (Insert virtual high five’s all around). My new advisor’s feedback was very insightful. No surprises there. I have even more work ahead of me for my second … Continue reading
Posted in Jennifer, MFA, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing
Tagged Cynthia Leitich Smith, Maggie Stiefvater, Moody Edges, Rita Williams Garcia, VCFA WCYA
Comments Off on Moody Edges
The Rule of 10,000
I’ve finally made it back from Residency, recovered from the stomach flu that hitched a ride home with me, and dug my way out from under the To Do List avalanching my desk. And now, to relax, I’ll dive into … Continue reading
Posted in Jennifer, MFA, VCFA MFA WCYA, Writing
Tagged 000 Hours, 10, Cynthia Leitich Smith, MFA, Residency, VCFA WCYA
Comments Off on The Rule of 10,000
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
Comments Off on New Year! Same Goals!