Holy Anniversary, Batman! I’ve officially been running this blog for ONE YEAR! On August 11th, 2025, I uploaded the first post: Welcome to… Keep Writing Kidlit! Days later, on August 13th, I posted an example interview with myself. Then, on August 27th, I started sharing interviews with creatives! Over the last year, I’ve interviewed seven writers, two author-illustrators, and two first year literary agents. I’m really proud of all the conversations, and grateful to the interviewees. Though I considered a number of different ways to mark the occasion, I ultimately decided to share a few lessons and reflections I’ve learned over these past twelve months. Thankfully, I am not interviewing myself this time. I enlisted a little help from fellow kidlit writer Annie Lawn!
This is a full circle moment because Annie and I were both students in a class called “Build the Brand Before the Book” taught by Ebony Lynn Mudd. After it ended, we kept in touch. We bounced ideas off each other. We chatted on the phone. It took months of brainstorming and planning, but we both started endeavors. Annie knows a lot about what it takes to create and sustain a new project. I’m so happy she agreed to ask questions that truly helped me reflect.
Thanks so much and take it away, Annie!
Q: MEGAN! IT’S BEEN SO FUN WATCHING YOUR BLOG GROW. TELL ME, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO INTERVIEW KIDLIT CREATORS?
There were a few reasons. Firstly, I wanted to meet kidlit writers. I know a lot of television writers, but writing picture books is different than writing a script. And querying is such a unique process. It’s hard to understand all the emotions involved unless you’re going through it. I wanted community, especially in this digital age. I love webinars and online classes, but you don’t always get the chance to make a meaningful connection. But by interviewing people, I could really get to know them!
Secondly, many creatives wait SO LONG for publication. But they’re talented. They’re funny. They know a lot about a variety of topics. They’re generous, sharing that knowledge, sharing their time, and sharing advice. I wanted to celebrate them! And I couldn’t really find anyone else who was talking to pre-agented, pre-published writers. I wanted to give them a moment in the spotlight, a moment to shine! (As a side note, I’ve always been inspired by the kidlit community. They’re out there – running contests, and blogs, and mentorship programs – trying to help their peers stand out. I wanted to contribute to that, even in a small way.)
Finally, I thought interviews would be quick and relatively easy. All I had to do was compose the questions, right? And I’d mostly be using the same questions every interview, so I’d only need to compose them once. I thought it would be less time consuming.
Q: WAS IT LESS TIME-CONSUMING?
No, it was not! Haha.
These interviews are extremely collaborative, almost like a group project. I pose the questions and wait for the answers. And then the interviewee is waiting on me. I review their comments, edit, ask clarifying questions. Sometimes, I add more questions. Sometimes, the interviewee gets inspired to add more details. It’s a back-and-forth process, and we’re both ensuring that everything makes sense. It’s flowing, conversational, and easy to read. At the end of the day, there’s a lot that goes into it.
And that doesn’t include the hours I spend finding people to interview, which is another aspect that takes up a lot of time.
Q: HOW DO YOU FIND INTERVIEWEES?
It’s a mix of creatives I know, people I’ve found online or through social media, recommendations from friends, and people who have applied through the website.
I’m hoping one day most of my interviewees will come through that last category. Right now, I’m doing a decent amount of research to find people who can speak about specific topics. I know these people exist. But a lot of them are backing away from social media. Or migrating to different platforms. Or taking breaks from being online altogether. This is all completely understandable, but it means I have to put in a little extra legwork.
However, I also recognize the interview parameters are a bit narrow. I wanted to connect with creatives who were in the same place as me – pre-published, pre-agented picture book writers. But sometimes I find a person who would be awesome to interview… only to realize they’re agented or they don’t write picture books. They don’t fit the criteria. So, I am thinking about opening it up. Maybe to chapter book writers next.
Q: GOOD TO KNOW! ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR SUBJECTS YOU’RE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING?
I’d like to learn more about book bans, interviewing a creator who is fighting book bans in their community. It’d be great if they could walk us through different actions to take, like speaking at a school board meeting. It may seem easy to research online, but the amount of information can quickly become overwhelming. I’ve also generally wanted to connect with creators who are fighting back against the current administration, creating art for children while standing up for them. (Channeling their inner Ms. Rachel!) It’s heartening to see the kidlit community come together, like they did earlier this year raising money in Publishing for Minnesota and Kidlit4Ceasefire (for which I donated a screenplay critique)!
And further down the line (though hopefully not too much further), I’d love to interview a creator who takes that next step in their career, whether that be a previous interviewee who gets published or a writer who connected with an agent through their profile on this blog. I would love to do a celebratory interview with them!
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES? HAVE THEY CHANGED OVER TIME?
They’re still evolving, but I’ve realized I like shaping the interviews around a theme. I started by wanting to talk to a specific person, and asking them general questions. But now, I find myself wondering about specific topics, and trying to find a creator who can speak about it. For example, I really wanted to do an interview about rhyme because I write in rhyme. And so speaking with Lisa Davis was an absolute pleasure. It was one of the easier interviews to plan and prep because I was so engrossed in the discussion.
I also find that I’m getting more conversational in the interviews. I like to weigh in and make comments! It’s more entertaining for me, for the interviewee, and for the reader too, I think!
Q: HOW HAVE THESE INTERVIEWS INFLUENCED YOUR OWN CRAFT AND PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING KIDLIT?
I’ve learned a lot from each person I’ve interviewed, but mostly… this blog and these interviews have inspired me to keep forging ahead. I call the interviewees “motivators” for a reason!
There have been times, especially in the last two years, where I’ve wanted to pause, wondering: Will it really make a difference if I write today? But then, I think back to the interviewees, and the amazing things they’ve accomplished or overcome. I read their answers to: “What has waiting for your ‘yes’ taught you?” Their wisdom is undeniable and inspiring!
Q: WHAT’S BEEN THE BIGGEST STRUGGLE?
Consistency! And I feel terrible about this because I’ve heard it’s so important. I’ve heard posting or emailing on a schedule builds trust with an audience. That way, they know what to expect. Unfortunately… it’s been hard. When I first started (and thought interviews would be quick and easy, remember?), I decided to post once a week. ONCE. A. WEEK. I was so naïve. As I prepped the first couple of interviews, I quickly realized that wouldn’t be possible because it was a lot of work. I also wanted to give interviewees a longer moment in the spotlight. So I pivoted to every other week, then to once a month.
However, I’ve chosen quality over quantity. I don’t want to rush interviews. I don’t want to force anything for the sake of a timeline. Because poor quality also breaks trust. I want readers to see the value of these interviews, to think of them as a resource, and return regardless of timing. (Though I’m striving to work on timing! Promise!)
Q: IN YOUR INAUGURAL POST, YOU SAID: “THIS IS A PASSION PROJECT, AND I DON’T KNOW WHERE IT WILL LEAD.” WHERE HAS IT LED?
Well… I wanted to meet people and I HAVE! In fact, one of the interviewees graciously agreed to give me notes on a short story because she has a similar job to my main character. It was truly so nice of her. That never would’ve happened if I hadn’t started this blog.
Also, I NEVER anticipated interviewing agents. It was an early idea I considered, but I abandoned it because there are bloggers already profiling agents. And they’re doing it so well, I didn’t think I could add anything new to the space. But then I got an idea… What if I only interviewed first year agents? I couldn’t think of anyone doing that, and I just went for it, sending an email to ask for an interview. I honestly didn’t think anyone would say yes because I was so new to blogging. I’d never even interviewed an agent before! But Lindsay said yes! And so did Natalie! I kinda still can’t believe it.
Actually, most people said yes to an interview. There was one person who said no, but those are pretty good odds! Most everyone has been really receptive and willing to share their experiences. And again, it encourages me to forge ahead.
Q: WHAT’S NEXT? WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
I’m going to keep running the blog! And I’m going to keep writing kidlit!
Please give a round of applause to wonderful interviewer Annie! She recently kicked off The Little Book Club, which includes monthly picture book recommendations, weekly story time, and (coming soon!) activity packs. It’s geared toward busy parents who want to help their kids fall in love with stories. So if you are (or know) a parent like that, then follow along!
It was fun to travel back in time, remembering the process of starting this blog. In the beginning, I knew NOTHING. I learned it all as I went. And I’m still learning things! I recently switched hosting platforms, and that wasn’t easy. (More on that in the newsletter!) Ultimately, the takeaway from all of this is… I can face challenges. I can adapt! I can pivot! I can ask for help! I sometimes trick myself into thinking I need to know everything before I start. And that’s just not true. I can figure it out along the way. And I like the version of myself who’s willing to try without being an expert. I’m betting you can figure it out, too. Let’s remember that. Let’s channel that energy into the day!
Of course, no celebration would be complete without a giveaway! If you’re reading this, you have a chance to win a $10 GIFT CARD TO BOOKSHOP.ORG. In order to enter, simply subscribe to the newsletter. Everyone who has subscribed by 11:59PM PT on September 9th, 2026 will be entered into a random drawing to win! (No purchase necessary. You must be 18+ to enter.)
And to anyone who’s subscribed, or left a comment, or read an interview, or liked a post on Bluesky… THANK YOU for the support!
Leave a Reply