(Photo from SCBWI LA 2011 “Sleepover” Theme Party)

Ink and Angsters Tessa, Elle, Pamela and Kelly love rocking SCBWI!

“The Society of Children’s book writers and illustrators”

Why? It’s all about the learning, the fun, the networking. It’s about like mindedness. The contagious writer’s spirit, the pure joy of sharing craft with fellow writers, illustrators, agents, editors, bloggers, & publishers.

Hear from more talented writerly folks- Why they love SCBWI conferences!

Why SCBWI?

Click the picks for awesome author links and websites! 

 

 

Hilary Weisman Graham

REUNITED

Connecting with a community of other writers.

Learning great stuff.

Connecting with a community of other writers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Boyden

GIVEAWAYS

To escape writing.

For me, writing becomes an obsessive love. I love putting words on paper; molding characters; revising and in the process making my words stronger. A weekend conference takes me away from the routine I’ve established. Sometimes I leave kicking and screaming, but most times I realize the benefit: this mini amount of fallow time renews me. I come home either with new enthusiasm or with the solution to an irksome writing issue.

To surround myself with like-minded people.

We write in cubbies; offices; barns; corners of bedrooms, wherever, but we write alone. Most of us live with loved ones who don’t write. They don’t fully understand the isolation of writing. Conferences bring together bunches of people who spend at least a good part of each day in an imaginary world peopled by imaginary friends. In writing for teens and kids, we up the ante considerably. We must think like kids so to capture the right voice of our young characters. At SCBWI conferences, I spend time with adults who share my love of kidlit! Whether strangers or friends, they get what I’m doing and why.

I don’t have a degree in writing. I use SCBWI conferences instead. Don’t misunderstand: would that I could go back to university and kudos to those who have. It’s simply not an option for me, so I research and select conferences that will teach me what I need to know. I listen and take copious notes and hand-outs. The masters in children’s literature, both authors and illustrators, have been my instructors over the years I’ve belonged to SCBWI. Where else can that happen? Only through SCBWI.

 

 

 

 

 

Kristen Kittscher

THE WIG IN THE WINDOW

 

Camaraderie
It’s tremendously rejuvenating to be surrounded by my fellow writers for three solid days! Those who aren’t writing and trying to publish are blissfully unaware of the challenges involved, so it’s lovely to spend time with people who understand. The children’s writing community is especially warm, open, enthusiastic, and fun.

Inspiration
The line-up of authors, agents, and editors who come to share their words of encouragement and expertise is second to none. Last year I met Judy Blume, for crying out loud! It’s moving to hear professionals’ share their own writing woes and loves, and I always leave energized to write.

Honing Craft
I always come away from an SCBWI session on writing with some new insight. More often than not, I learn something that really revolutionizes my thinking. Last year’s intensive with Nova Ren Suma and Julie Strauss-Gabel about the editorial process was eye-opening and helped prepare me for working with my own editors.

Kimberley Griffiths Little

THE HEALING SPELL

Yes, it’s intimidating the first time you attend an SCBWI conference, but the energy and inspiration can’t be found anywhere else. Plus you’ll make new, life-long friends!! Or find a crit group! Or get solid feedback on a writing project!

You will laugh. You will cry. You will come away a better writer and a better person.

There is no other conference where you’ll find so many editors, agents, and your favorite writers in the same place at the same time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

K.M. Walton

CRACKED

Getting to meet fellow writers, many of whom are at the exact same stage of the publishing journey as you are. There’s nothing like commiserating and feeling like you’re not alone!

Hearing insider information from industry professionals. I always felt like I had an edge after an

SCBWI conference, like I was in the know.

They keynote speeches leave you reinvigorated, enthusiastic and ready to get back and WRITE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teri Sloat

THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO PAINTED THE SKY

My fist incentive to attend was Marilyn Sachs, who said if I didn’t go to New York and go to SCBWI National, I wasn’t doing my share of my job.

The second was wanting to hear speakers that I admired, and wanted to learn from. I wanted to know what other CB authors were like and how they worked (and how they put aside their fear of failure).

The third was that by that time I had met so many wonderful people on the speaking circuit, it was the one place in addition to when we were speaking to meet up and share.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elisa Ludwig

PRETTY CROOKED

Sense of community. The conference may be huge, but there’s a very warm feeling of camaraderie. It’s impossible to walk away without having met lots of people at all different stages of their careers, even if you’re a shy, introverted type.

Fun! Maybe it’s the CA sunshine or the summertime vibe, but before I went for the first time, a number of different people likened the summer conference to camp, and it definitely rang true. Yes, we’re talking about craft and the painful ins and outs of publishing, but the mood is always lighthearted and playful.

Value. With so many workshops and incredible speakers, you WILL come away with wisdom that will change/support/improve your practice, give you greater perspective and inspire you to keep going.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ronna L. Mandel

GOOD READS WITH RONNA

To get that gem of a bit of advice that will resonate with me for years to come. Sometimes it’s a sentence, sometimes a philosophy or approach and other times it’s something completely new like the elevator pitch. 

To reinforce what I already know, but hone it. 

To network. I want to surround myself with writers in the same stage of their craft as I am and meet other writers in the next stage, too!

 

 

So there you have it! Tons of wonderful reasons to start networking! If it isn’t an SCBWI conference, let it be something educational, social and fun. Join writer’s groups. Learn. Grow. Write! I highly recommend SCBWI. Try it for yourself, just do it. Let me know what you think! And no matter what, keep those words coming. Keep on rocking your writing!

We’d love to hear why YOU love SCBWI! Leave your reasons in the comment box, and happy writing!

“Why you want me to read that crazy suicide book? I don’t got those problems.”

Seven teenagers committed suicide in my small town.

ALL IN ONE YEAR

One hung from the rafters above the goats. One decomposed in a car beside the lake, suicide note and empty pill bottle in hand. Another put a bullet through his brain. The others were less dramatic, but just as horrible, equally memorable.

With one high school in town there wasn’t a single person not connected to the tragic teens. Students, athletes, artists, friends, sons and daughters, they went to school, church, practice, parties—they were everywhere, around everyone, and no one saw the signs. One disastrous choice opened the floodgates and a stream of youth followed. Our little town was blind until we were blindsided.

A year later driving to the airport, preparing for a SCBWI conference, I listened to Jay Asher’s (beautifully read audio version) of Thirteen Reasons Why. Jay was speaking at the conference. I wanted to familiarize myself with his work.

I listened on the plane, during my layover, in the taxi, that night before falling asleep. For hours I was captivated by the story of a girl who committed suicide. Next morning, I searched out Jay Asher, congratulated him. In addition to being a writer, I’m a psychiatric nurse, my specialty, At Risk Youth. Thirteen Reasons Why became an integral part of my therapeutic life, a lifeline for my patients and me.

True Story

            One evening, in group session, I switched off the television, flipped open a book and began reading aloud.

            “Hey!” A heavy-set kid in cowboy hat and boots turned from the window, jabbed a fist toward me. “Why you want to read us that crazy suicide book? We don’t got those kinds a problems.”

             A chorus of teen echoes reverberated through the common room. Boys grunting, girls slouching. No one making eye contact.

            I smiled, shrugged, read on until silence swallowed the room.  Eventually, I paused, took a sip of water and a boy about fifteen leaned toward me, half lounging on the couch.           

           “What’s wrong with that ho, why she so stupid?”

            I tipped my head, counted to three.

           “Shut up Mo-Fo.” The oldest member of the group snapped, “That girl’s just whack.”

            A tiny grin sparked my lips.

           A petite cheerleader with heavy eyeliner smacked her gum. “You’re stupid. Can’t you see how messed up she was? How everybody screwing around with her hurts, bad?”

           “Why don’t she tell somebody?” A Skinny boy with a guaze bandage around his wrist, squeaked.

            I eyed the kids, waited.

            A quiet girl raised pencil-thin eyebrows, whispered at the skinny kid, “Why didn’t you?”

           Thirty seconds of DEAD SILENCE, then conversation erupted, words on top of words, spilling out  like lava. Every kid had a take on the story, each related to something. Each knew about the seven suicides over the past year. Each had thought about suicide and never told before.

After that, Thirteen Reasons Why became a staple in my office, it supplanted the usual hospital-approved propaganda and morphed into a routine member of group therapy. I frequently sent it home with kids who always said the same thing, “Why do you want me to read this crazy suicide book?” But, every time I handed one out  it facilitated conversation, opened up avenues of communication, allowed kids to express themselves, talk about  taboo topics.

So, when I think of dark YA that’s had an impact on me, Thirteen Reasons Why immediately springs to mind. Yes, it’s about death, of course there’s violence, mean people, cruelty, sex. But Jay Asher’s book leads to light, like the light at the end of a tunnel. I’m grateful to him for writing an amazing book and for giving me a tool that opens life-saving channels of communication!

 Thirteen Reasons Why

By Jay Asher

 (From Good Reads)

“Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list. 

Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.”

 

 

 

I joined this wonderful and supportive children’s writing community in mid-2008. I entered into it with no knowledge of how to get involved or how many resources were at my fingertips. A friend and author pointed me in the direction of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for a place to start. Since then, I’ve attended conferences in different parts of the country.

Deciding to go to a conference requires you to consider possible issues. Do you have the money for it? Is this conference right for you at this point in your writing? Are industry professionals you have always wanted to meet attending? Does talking to said professionals make you nervous and sweaty?

Let’s look at a couple of these issues closer.

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