January is not just right around the corner—it’s tomorrow! But don’t panic. We still have time to make our resolutions or More/Less lists (see below and linked), and to dream big for 2026. Hopefully, revisiting some of the ideas and insights in Kite Tales’ 2025 posts through the quotes and article links below will provide a fresh sprinkle of information and inspiration to help you get started. Write on. Draw on. Read on!

“My favorite spin on New Year’s Resolutions is a More/Less list, which has gone viral over the past several years after Illustrator Julia Rothman coined it in 2021. You simply find a piece of paper and draw a line down the center. Write “MORE” on the top of the left side and “LESS” on the right. Think of the things you want to channel more of in 2025 and those things you’d prefer to let go. Write (or draw!) them in. Hang or keep the paper in a place where you can see it. A More/Less list is a way to channel mindfulness in your actions and intentions throughout the year without subjecting yourself to the failures of ambitiously rigid rules.”  —Jaime Zollars

“Cassandra [Federman] has some sage advice for emerging creators: “’If you’re just starting out in your writing or illustrating career, I highly recommend submitting to a variety of contests and mentorships. The competition in agent inboxes is tougher than any contest, but if your work is getting recognized in competitions, you’ll have a strong reason to believe it will stand out in the slush pile. Plus, you can write about all those contests and mentorships you won in your query letter which can give you added credibility.’” —Brenda Scott Royce interviews Cassandra Federman and other past SCBWILA Mentorship winners

“What this story has done is more than propose an alternative—it has allowed me to show the truth through a child’s perspective. The reality is that there are varied skin tones, body types, and physicalities in the world, and that is a cause for celebration. Otherwise, I feel we would be stuck in a monochromatic world.”  —Harshini Vankineni, interviewed by Judy Faulkner

“All kids are the same inside, and the world needs that reminder, especially now. Everyone’s so pissed off at each other—the left, the right—and we’re all forgetting how much we all have in common. If we can get back into that space, maybe then we’ll survive as a species.” —Ellen Hopkins, interviewed by Philana Marie Boles

“At [L.A. Times Festival of Books] booth #826, our vibrant community of creators did more than showcase their work—they created a memorable, interactive experience for festivalgoers of all ages. From bubbles and art activities to games and giveaways, their imaginative efforts drew in crowds and sparked meaningful connections around the love of stories.” —Jennifer S. Pitts

“No one hypes you up more than the SCBWI community.” — Sherry Shahan

“I’ve always appreciated picture books with a little mystery that requires the reader to figure out what the underlying message is. It’s more fun to decide what a book is truly about for yourself, so I keep that in mind with everything I write.” —Jenny Turnbull, interviewed by Kelly Pellico

“The display needs to look good to a teen’s eye: book stands, decoration (topic-related), free candy with your business card stapled to it. … Also, if you have a dog, BRING YOUR DOG!” —Micky O’Brady, in Ask an Editor: Advice for Selling at Tables

“Writing by hand allows us to brainstorm, allows us to list, allows us to rearrange physically on the page, sketch. All of those things can be done on a computer, but there is something uniquely moving about the act of handwriting.” —Adam Blackman, interviewed by Judy Faulkner

“It takes courage to put our work out there, but it’s always valuable to attend events, get critiques, and make connections. These steps will get you to the next draft and on a path to fulfill your goals.” —Christine Van Zandt, Ask An Editor: What to Submit for an Agent Critique

P.S. If you haven’t done it yet, it’s not too late to play the fun and inspiring Poetry Match Game by Paige Vinten Taylor. “Two rounds! Two ways to play! Can you make the match?”

If you have a favorite 2025 quote about writing, illustrating, and the creative life, please share it in the comments! 

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Photos courtesy of SCBWI-Los Angeles