SCBWI rocks it again - and again!

      I have stopped posting twice every week out of respect for my friends and followers email box space and their time. I know I have found it hard to keep up with everyone else’s posts, and I expect others feel the same. But there are special things that have to be shared. I didn’t want to miss the chance to say what great experiences I had at the eastern Pennsylvania SCBWI and New Jersey SCBWI fall events over the last two weekends..

part of mosaic exhibition on display in PA

     Both SCBWI chapters held FREE Saturday events. I should clarify that the events were free for SCBWI members. Non-members did have to pay. But writers who are serious about writing kidlit are usually SCBWI members, so this was a treat for almost everyone there.

     I sat in the amphitheatre for the opening introduction in Pennsylvania only to discover that I was seated beside one of my favorite picture book author/illustrators Bryan Collier! Those of you who follow my blog know that I reviewed his work in Dave the Potter. After we exchanged business cards, he got out his most recently completed illustration project, a book called Knock, Knock:My Dad's Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty that will be published December 17, 2013. I drank in his artistry and passion. So even before the official event began, I was glad I came. Betcha can guess what book I’ll be reviewing soon. . . .

     At lunch, I browsed a mosaic art display that happened to be in the building where we were meeting, part of Penn State's Great Valley campus. These artists' creativity was more inspiration! In the afternoon I enjoyed an in-depth workshop on world-building, the stepping-stone to submitting book proposals, with author Debbie Dadey. She shared her own binder containing all of the elements she uses for her own proposals, and with 158 books sold, her methods obviously are good ones to follow!

     Both chapters tacked on extra events that participants paid for on Sunday. Pennsylvania had a critique fest during which writers had critiques with one agent, one editor, one author, and a peer group. That’s a lot of helpful advice and feedback! Unless you were one of the lucky ones who got an extra spot, the Sunday session in New Jersey featured just one critique but also a host of in-depth craft workshops that were some of the best I’ve attended. I wanted to have a clone to attend multiple sessions. As it was I learned from Joanna Cardenas from Viking children’s books, Liza Voges of Eden Street Literary LLC, Emily Feinberg of Roaring Brook Press, Author Tara Lazar, and Katie Bignell from Katherine Tegen Books. By the end, my head was swimming with ideas. If you were made of hardy stock, peer critiques met in New Jersey from 8-10:30 Saturday night. Yeah, I’m hardy.

     These two weekends confirmed what I already knew. Writers are generous people, sharing their knowledge and support to each other. It’s a community I’m glad to be a part of.

I'm a Picture Book Academy Graduate

     I have written about several of my recent experiences attending various SCBWI writing conferences. In Philadelphia and Maryland. And conferences are wonderful. But it isn't always feasible to attend. 

     First, there is the issue of cost and time to travel and stay in hotels in addition to the cost of the sessions themselves. And maybe it's only me, but I find if there is only one weekend in a month that I have prior commitments booked, that's the weekend a conference is offered. Finally, conferences are firecrackers--the experience is an explosion of information and delight, but over too soon.

Yeah, I earned it!

     So last month I was trying to decide what to do. I wanted the inspiration of a conference with the flexibility to fit my own time schedule. And I was looking for a writing experience that lasted longer than a weekend fling.
     
     That's when I saw the post about The Picture Book Academy's online course.

     For the past six weeks I've been a student at Dr. Mira Reisberg's Picture Book Academy--a mix of writers at various stages of their writing careers exploring children's picture book writing together through daily online "lectures," critique groups and conference calls (with calls recorded for students that couldn't access them in real time). Mira's passion for the subject was palpable, and her record of successes with previous students an inspiration.

     Sharing some of her picture book favorites, Mira's "Monday's with Mira" Youtube videos were previously undiscovered gems. And the video clip of "the Revisionaries" critique group spoke to the need to continue the exchange of ideas and critiques throughout a successful career. I came away with a renewed sense of focus and a conviction that it isn't enough to write good picture books--children deserve great picture books and it is up to writers to rise to the challenge. And if Mira reads this, yes, I know I need to update my website. I promise, it's on "the list!" I'd share a copy of the adorable art on my graduation certificate if I could figure out how...
     
    Seriously, thanks, Mira.