SCBWI Annual Conference
As promised, here are my thoughts and pictures from the conference. I'll break down each day based on the sessions I attended, and I will do my best to keep it brief.
SCBWI Day 1
Bruce Coville started the day with an enthusiastic speech about writing true for the child, and he delivered it with all the theatrical panache of a Broadway production. Well, maybe off-Broadway. But still, bottle the guy and you've got an energy drink. One sure to tickle the soul of most writers.
Mark Teague. Man, what can I say, except how does Lin Oliver keep finding these Illustrators who are both excellent speakers and very, very, funny. It seems that for the last couple of years the Illustrators have won the people's choice awards at SCWBI, not that there are any, or that the writer's haven't been holding their own. But these guys, like Mark, have the advantage of being able to deliver humorous remarks and back them up with funny pictures
Both of the above presenters made one thing obvious: We writers write for children because of our passion for the art, because of our love of children, and because there is an inner-child raucously romping around the playground of our minds, no matter what age we are.
Rachael Cohn conducted a session where she talked about the "teen voice." She said a lot of things that were very practical and most that any writer with teen characters should keep in mind. But I'll paraphrase something that caught my attention. Basically it was this: Most teens change directions like the wind. What is important and monumental to them now, won't be thirty seconds from now. They get that, and aren't offended by seeing it in stories. Be true to teens when you write, and they will relate to your work.
SCBWI Day 2
Margaret Peterson Haddix talked about a suspenseful plot, and how she maintains suspense. Her key advice was to drop the clues in early. If you show a gun in chapter three, it had better go off by chapter five. And, if you show something big like a gun, there needs to be a good reason for showing it.
In the afternoon, Bruce Coville talked about writing fantasy. He mentioned how it was a little bit like using magic, and how that meant you needed to get the reader to look at the distraction while the subtle clues are being put in place. He also talked about the price of magic being important. He also said that you need to get your character to do exactly what he has been told not to do. Create moral dilemmas.
Adam Rex ended the day with a great talk. He mentioned how, in order to try and get illustration work, he would go to Comic Con when he was starting off. He talked about how he would sleep in his car, and how the money struggles made his life tough. Any writer who was struggling, or had struggled, could relate. But with his humor and optimism he gave everyone in the audience a sense of hope, and he made you laugh so hard that you couldn't help but feel good.
Party from 7:30 to 10:30: One word. Awesome. It seemed like everyone was wearing red.
SCBWI Day 3
I enjoyed the agent panel with Michael Bourret, Bilys Evans, Michael Stearns and Laura Rennert. Then, in a break out session, I listened to David Gale explain the Simon and Schuster reorganization. Later that day, I listened to Michael Stearns talk about his new agency. He was very fun and informative.
SCBWI Day 4
Bruce Coville talked about plotting. While there were lots of gems and details, he was all about making life miserable for your main character.
Mark McVeigh from Aladdin Paperbacks gave a session that talked about finding a home for your project. He stressed doing your homework. He also mentioned how sometimes editors move to new houses and that might create new opportunities if the editor likes your work, but couldn't sell his previous boss on it.
Pictures:
Bruce Coville conducting a session
My son and I with Sid fleischman
My son and I with Adam Rex
My Son and I with Bruce Coville
Here I am with author Margaret Peterson Haddix
at the Paint the Town Red Party
This is my critique partner, Elisabeth Deffner, standing
next to me at the party. She was "Little-Read Writing Hood"
and I was "The Big Bard Wolf."
The Paint The Town Red party, complete with ladybugs
rocking to the music.
Author, Jay Asher, at the party and in costume as Elvis
All of the rooms overlooking the
the outside party area had red
lights on their balconies.
Very Cool!
SCBWI Day 1
Bruce Coville started the day with an enthusiastic speech about writing true for the child, and he delivered it with all the theatrical panache of a Broadway production. Well, maybe off-Broadway. But still, bottle the guy and you've got an energy drink. One sure to tickle the soul of most writers.
Mark Teague. Man, what can I say, except how does Lin Oliver keep finding these Illustrators who are both excellent speakers and very, very, funny. It seems that for the last couple of years the Illustrators have won the people's choice awards at SCWBI, not that there are any, or that the writer's haven't been holding their own. But these guys, like Mark, have the advantage of being able to deliver humorous remarks and back them up with funny pictures
Both of the above presenters made one thing obvious: We writers write for children because of our passion for the art, because of our love of children, and because there is an inner-child raucously romping around the playground of our minds, no matter what age we are.
Rachael Cohn conducted a session where she talked about the "teen voice." She said a lot of things that were very practical and most that any writer with teen characters should keep in mind. But I'll paraphrase something that caught my attention. Basically it was this: Most teens change directions like the wind. What is important and monumental to them now, won't be thirty seconds from now. They get that, and aren't offended by seeing it in stories. Be true to teens when you write, and they will relate to your work.
SCBWI Day 2
Margaret Peterson Haddix talked about a suspenseful plot, and how she maintains suspense. Her key advice was to drop the clues in early. If you show a gun in chapter three, it had better go off by chapter five. And, if you show something big like a gun, there needs to be a good reason for showing it.
In the afternoon, Bruce Coville talked about writing fantasy. He mentioned how it was a little bit like using magic, and how that meant you needed to get the reader to look at the distraction while the subtle clues are being put in place. He also talked about the price of magic being important. He also said that you need to get your character to do exactly what he has been told not to do. Create moral dilemmas.
Adam Rex ended the day with a great talk. He mentioned how, in order to try and get illustration work, he would go to Comic Con when he was starting off. He talked about how he would sleep in his car, and how the money struggles made his life tough. Any writer who was struggling, or had struggled, could relate. But with his humor and optimism he gave everyone in the audience a sense of hope, and he made you laugh so hard that you couldn't help but feel good.
Party from 7:30 to 10:30: One word. Awesome. It seemed like everyone was wearing red.
SCBWI Day 3
I enjoyed the agent panel with Michael Bourret, Bilys Evans, Michael Stearns and Laura Rennert. Then, in a break out session, I listened to David Gale explain the Simon and Schuster reorganization. Later that day, I listened to Michael Stearns talk about his new agency. He was very fun and informative.
SCBWI Day 4
Bruce Coville talked about plotting. While there were lots of gems and details, he was all about making life miserable for your main character.
Mark McVeigh from Aladdin Paperbacks gave a session that talked about finding a home for your project. He stressed doing your homework. He also mentioned how sometimes editors move to new houses and that might create new opportunities if the editor likes your work, but couldn't sell his previous boss on it.
Pictures:
Bruce Coville conducting a session
My son and I with Sid fleischman
My son and I with Adam Rex
My Son and I with Bruce Coville
Here I am with author Margaret Peterson Haddix
at the Paint the Town Red Party
This is my critique partner, Elisabeth Deffner, standing
next to me at the party. She was "Little-Read Writing Hood"
and I was "The Big Bard Wolf."
The Paint The Town Red party, complete with ladybugs
rocking to the music.
Author, Jay Asher, at the party and in costume as Elvis
All of the rooms overlooking the
the outside party area had red
lights on their balconies.
Very Cool!