It’s time for your 2014 NY SCBWI Conference Recap!!! But I have to start with an apology–I wasn’t able to figure out where the heck I “packed” my good camera. *pulls out hair* It drove me crazy all weekend long. I love my iPhone but for some of those shots, I really needed my Canon. But since there is nothing I can do about it–we are just going to have to use our imaginations. Pretend all those pics are crystal clear and fabulous.
It’s not an international SCBWI conference without Lin Oliver giving the conference stats. I know I’m a dork, but I look forward to this every time I go.
*1,085 people in attendance
*867 women
*153 men
*65 people who refused to state what they were.
*We hailed from 47 states. What’s up with those two damn Dakotas? And yes, we’d all rather be in Hawaii too–so they get a pass this year. LOL!
*20 countries were represented–meaning 19 foreign countries and Canada. Love you, Canada!!!!!
*In addition to my local Shop Talk clown (which Lin stated I can not take credit for unless I AM the clown ROTFL!) We also had a Waldo Impersonator that no one ever found. Tricky little devil–where is that Waldo? And an Expert in No Particular Subject. I kid you not. It has become apparent that I need to get more creative with my registration packet.
*Because we writers are directionally impaired, this year there were extra staff at hand herding us in the right direction as we wandered around the hotel. The illustrators (with the amazing spatial awareness) were encouraged to go about their business as usual.
Then, as an inspirational treat, we got to listen to SCBWI success story and cancer ass-kicker Kristin Fulton. Go check out her website and read about her recent 2 book deal. *fist pump* 
And besides Kristin being fabulous, the bonus we discovered when chatting, was a mutual friend–one of my fabulous critique partners. <3 Commence singing It’s a Small World.
I was so captivated by Jack Gantos I never took a picture of him speaking, but here he is signing books at the end of the conference. I think that Jack may now hold the title for the longest Keynote title. What do you think?
Keynote: How everything I learned about fiction and nonfiction in picture books, poetry, short stories, novellas, or, angst, dialog, a hundred drafts, and good luck all end up in the crown jewel of literature: THE NOVEL.
After Jack was done with his keynote, I leaned over to a friend (a first time NY SCBWI attendee) and whispered…”FYI–if you went home right now, you would have gotten your money’s worth.” And it’s the truth. I wish you’d been there to take it all in. It was amazing. Because I love you, here are some of my favorite highlights from Jack Ganto’s keynote…
*A great character will carry a weak plot, but a plot will not carry a weak character.
*The reader has to feel what the character feels…without empathy you don’t have a good book.
*There is not one good ending–there is always two. (the external ending and the emotional one)
*If you see it, you want the reader to see it too.
*The reason we read books is to change. As writers we have to infuse change into our writing so the reader feels it. “If that character does not change–I would be ashamed to write the book.”
Next up was the Keynote Panel: The Future of Authorship
PA–Paul Aiken (Executive Director, The Author’s Guild)
JF–Jean Feiwel (SVP Publishing Director Macmillan Children’s Books)
JFri—Jane Friedman (Web Editor, Virginia Quarterly Review)
AG—Abbi Glines (Author)
TT–Timothy Travalini (Director of Children’s Acquisitions, Open Road Media)
Moderated by: LO–Lin Oliver
Here are their best bits of advice…
JFri–New tools and trends are driving the discovery of work in a noisy industry. Now that everyone CAN publish, the DO publish.
PA–It has always taken persistence in this industry. What has changed? We’ve lost 60-70% of our shelf space. Picture Books need to be picked up and held to be discovered.
AG–I was turned down by agents 55 times, so I self published my first novel. It got really bad reviews because it was really bad LOL!
AG–Writing a book is like a muscle–it gets better with use.
AG–You want your followers (twitter) to be organic –they should want to hear what you are saying.
JFri-An author platform comes out of your body of work.
JFri–It isn’t going to take much more erosion for bookstores to be unsustainable.
AM Breakout Session with my FABULOUS editor Anica Rissi <3 — Writing Contemporary Fiction
There is soooooo much good stuff!!! I couldn’t even write it all down–but THAT was no surprise to me because Anica is an amazing editor. Here’s her best…
*If you continuously find yourself to be the exception to all the rules–you might need to reevaluate.
*Be a brave soul.
*NO ONE WANTS TO READ YOUR FIRST DRAFT!
*Revision is what makes you a publishable writer.
*Give the reader something to wonder about.
*We learn about people (characters) in context.
*Kids won’t wait around–write opening lines that engage
*Your story needs to have a plot arc and an emotional arc.
*Stories are universal–it’s your details that matter.
*You should be writing the story only you can tell.
*You can’t decide who your characters are and you can’t force it–teens will smell a fake a mile away.
I find myself at a natural pausing spot as I’m pouring over Anica’s advice and inspirational words all over again. Guess this means it’s time for all of us to stop here and savor what’s been shared. I know it’s already made a HUGE difference in what I’m currently working on.
What is the most recent piece of advice or inspiration that’s found it’s way into your process and informed your writing?
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