Why Attend a Writing Conference?

It seems like we're getting more than the usual amount of queries from hesitant attendees this year, asking if we think they should go to the conference.

Basically, we say that whether or not you attend any event or workshop is up to you. You can review the conference details and decide if it would be a good fit for your needs. We try and offer rounded programming to serve everyone from newbies to pros, writers and illustrators. But you're the only one who can decide whether it's a good match or not.

If you're just starting out on your career in children's or YA books, you should know that getting published is not easy. It's not impossible, but it's far from easy. Fortune favors the polished and prepared.

We are admittedly biased. The SCBWI WWA conference is put together by a large team of volunteers. It takes hundreds (thousands?) of hours to plan and prepare for such an event every year. So if we weren't passionate about how important it is for our writing community, we couldn't do it. It's an investment—you invest the registration fee (which we try to keep as low as possible), and we invest our time and energy trying to make it the best that it can be. But we're enthusiastic because we have seen the benefits that a conference setting provides. We've met friends and critique partners, gathered inspiration and tools, and made connections with professionals that have benefited our careers. We've heard success stories from attendees. The conference is a great way to prepare yourself and gather the skills you need to succeed in your quest. And the benefits don't stop once you've been published. Our conference team still loves to attend conferences, even more so when we're not organizing them ourselves and can soak up the programming.

I wrote a post on conference expectations a couple of years ago for my agent's blog (you'll never guess where we met), because I wasn't really sure what was happening at my first conference either. You can read it here, if you're interested.

And if you decide that the SCBWI Western Washington Conference next month (!) is a good match for you, you can find the details and register here. But don't wait, we're over 80% full and usually sell out, because people that go once tend to come back. We promise to make it the best we can. But we're not asking you to trust us with your hopes, dreams, and ideas. We're asking you to trust yourself.

Hope to see you there!

Show, Don't Tell!

When I first started getting feedback on my WIP (work in progress) I kept hearing "Show, don't tell" and honestly it was driving me nuts! It's a phrase that's thrown around in writing circles without too much explanation for beginning writers. Through time and practice I slowly started understanding what that means and my stories started taking on a whole new life (and I received other critique notes instead).

I found this post on the Courage 2 Create blog on a practical way to understand what the phrase "Show don't tell" means & how to really learn the right way to view it from a writing standpoint (wish I had found it earlier). Worth a read as a good reminder & also a practical writing exercise.

Question for Conference Attendees #SCBWIWWA

Did you recently attend the SCBWI WWA 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference? What was one piece of writing and/or illustrating advice/wisdom you learned and will apply to your work? Post it below in the comments to share with fellow members!! Thanks & Happy Writing!

2011 Conference General Store

The SCBWI WWA Store will be open during Conference and located at the Registration Desk.

Come by during the Conference and stock up on new t-shirts, pens, USB drives,

plus much, much, more.

Remember, we only take Cash or Checks, so plan accordingly.

All proceeds go to our SCBWI Western Washington Chapter.

The Do's, Don'ts, and "Stuff" of Writer's Conferences

Happy one month until our 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating for Children Conference!!! I'm so excited!! And every day for the next month I'll continue our Faculty Bios & also start posting Faculty interviews! We'll be sharing other conference tips, events, and so much more!! The conference registration is full, but you can still go to the event website, and get your name on the waiting list!

To get your prepared for the conference here's a post by Donna Bowman Bratton called "The Do's, Don'ts, and "Stuff" of Writer's Conferences". It's a funny, helpful, and practical way you can get yourself ready to make the most of the conference. Donna says that the key to getting the most out of a conference is preparation. You have a month to get yourself ready, and she gives you some homework and tips to do so.

Here are a few of my favorite Don'ts and Do's of conference etiquette you should abide by:

Don't:
1. Don't stalk the editor or agent- Let them go to the restroom in peace.
9. Don't wear sparkles, flags, or lighted tops in the hopes of getting noticed. I guarantee, you will be.

Do:
13. Be your genuine self. Remember, agents, editors, and award winning authors are people, too. They appreciate a friendly chat. But, at the end of a long day, respect that the speakers are tuckered out.

And I love her final tip!!

Start a conference/workshop notebook that you can add to with each event. It's an easy, efficient way to keep track of your notes. Later, it will serve as a snapshot of the many ways you strive to progress your writing and publishing journey.

Make sure you check out our posts each day for the remaining month before the conference!

2011 Conference Series-Distinguished Faculty: Jolie Stekly

The 20th Annual Writing and Illustrating Conference is just around the corner!!! Although the event is full, you can still get your name on the waiting list. One reason I'm so excited is because we have the most amazing faculty! The talent, experience, and all-around-awesomeness is overwhelming! Another one of those super stars is our own Jolie Stekly.

Jolie is a writer, mom, and former elementary teacher (she writes mostly YA). She is the Retreat Director for our annual fall retreat for Writers-Weekend on the Water, and also writes for SCBWI Team Blog. Jolie was the co-regional advisor for our SCWBI WWA region from 2006-2009. She is represented by Rosemary Stimola (who I found out also represents Suzanne Collins).

I first heard Jolie speak at the Conference Orientation for First-Time Attendees at last year's annual conference. I'd never been to the annual conference (and was still relatively new to SCBWI). I wasn't sure what to expect, and was a little nervous, but after listening to Jolie share her first time conference experience, and go through the weekend's events, I was so excited for the conference! Jolie is empathetic, energetic, and encouraging; which really sets the tone for the entire weekend. She really encouraged us to get to know the other attendees, and that turned out to be my favorite part of the conference.

Her blog, Cuppa Jolie, is a great blog to follow! Jolie has a wonderful regular post called Monday Moments, which she started in January 2009 (she's on post #110). Monday Moments are writing prompts for works-in-progress. They are questions that come from Jolie's experiences, are very useful writing post/tool if you're working on developing your characters.

So if you're a First Time Attendee attending the annual conference, make SURE you attend the Conference Orientation session (which Jolie organizes). Check out her blog, and you can also follow her on Twitter. You can also get your name on the conference waiting list by visit the event website.