Reminder: Kid Lit Open Mic TOMORROW

Don't forget that Tuesday night is KidLit Open Mic at Richard Hugo House in Seattle. Dust off a 5- minute piece of writing and join us for a fun evening celebrating our work.
All genres welcome.
The bar will be open with drinks and snacks. Signups start at 6:30 and we will read between 7-9, with a break.

Hope to see you there!

It's time for NaNoWriMo!

Attention NaNoWriMers:

Do you need a little extra motivation to attempt to write a whole novel during the month of November?

University Book Store is promoting National Novel Writing Month by publishing the best local manuscript during this year's NaNoWriMo!

NaNoWriMo Contest: Here are the basics

• Your NaNoWriMo book must be submitted to the contest by midnight
  on December 2, 2011.
• All submissions must meet NaNoWriMo guidelines. www.nanowrimo.org/eng/faq/.
• Three finalists will be chosen from all eligible submissions.
  A panel of judges will select one winner. The winner will be announced in January 2012.

Check out this link for contest details as well as local University Book Store sponsored events to help you achieve your word count goals.

Western Washington SCBWI hosted NaNoWriMo 2011 write-ins:

Tuesday • November 1 • 8:00pm

Pub at Third Place

Kick off National Novel Writing Month [NaNoWriMo] with a write-in at a cozy Ravenna pub connected to the Vios Cafe. Bring your laptop, power cord, notebook, pens, and $ for food & drink. Surround yourself other writers dedicated to reaching their daily word count goal. Hosted by the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Look for the rubber duck; there will be candy!

Tuesday • November 15 • 8:00pm

Pub at Third Place

Stay dedicated to NaNoWriMo with another write-in at this writer-friendly Ravenna pub. Bring your laptop, power cord, notebook, pens, and $ for food & drink. Get energized with others trying to reaching their daily word count goal. Hosted by the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Book giveaway: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing for Young Adults

Tuesday • November 22 • 8:00pm

Pub at Third Place

Are you meeting your daily word goal? Catch up or stay on track by meeting with other NaNoWriMo devotees at this writer-friendly Ravenna pub. Bring your laptop, power cord, notebook, pens, and $ for food & drink available from the Vios Cafe. Stay for an hour or until closing trying  to reach your word count goal. Hosted by the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Tuesday • November 29 • 8:00pm

Pub at Third Place

Wind up your literary sprint in the company of other equally frantic scribblers. Come to the last NaNoWriMo write-in at this Ravenna pub connected to the wonderful Vios Cafe. Bring your laptop, power cord, notebook, pens, and $ for food & drink. Share your misery and celebrate your successes. Stay for as little or as long as you need to reach your word count goal. Hosted by the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

Kid Lit Drink Night!!

Want to schmooze and mingle with fellow SCBWI WWA members? Then make sure to mark your calendar that next Tuesday, September 27 is Kid Lit Drink Night!! It's from 7-10 p.m. at the Noble Fir in Ballard!! It's a great chance to get to know the wonderful writers and illustrators from our region!!!

Yea For Summer Kid Lit Drink Nights!

May 10 might be our last professional series meeting until fall, but our monthly Kid Lit Drink Nights will continue throughout the summer! On Tuesday May 31, you'll find us back at the Noble Fir in Ballard from 7-9ish (very possibly later). Hope to see you there!Come out and meet up for a casual evening of talking about children's literature.

Kid Lit Pub Night This Thursday!

Need a chance to get in some post-conference Kid Lit networking? Kid Lit Drink Night will be meeting this Thursday night at the Pub at Third Place Books in Ravenna, from 7-9 p.m. or later...Rumors abound that the Sketch Pistols may also make an appearance, so bring your sketchbook too!

March Kid Lit Pub Nights

March Kid Lit Pub Night is right around the corner! This month eastsiders have another chance to get together at the Renton Keg this Thursday, March 17, from 7-9 p.m., as well as on Sunday, March 20, at Palomino in Bellevue from 5-7 p.m. The conference is next month so this is a great chance to meet up, compare notes about speakers, and make plans for the eventful weekend.

Kid Lit Pub Night

Don't forget to stop by this week's Kid Lit Pub Night on Thursday February 24, from 7-9 p.m. at The Noble Fir (5316 Ballard Ave. NW Seattle, 98119). It's a great chance to meet other members and catch up on news. Bring your local librarian or children's bookseller! At 8 p.m. there will be drawings to win a game of Bananagrams and a $10 University Bookstore gift card.

Next Kid Lit Pub Night...

Thanks again to everyone who came to the make-up Kid Lit Pub night last Monday in Bellevue. It's a great way to meet new faces as well as old friends. This time there was a lot of talk about current projects, NaNoWriMo fatigue, and industry chatter. The next date to mark on your calendar is December 28, from 7-9 p.m. at the Capitol Hill Elysian Brewpub at 1221 E Pike St, Seattle, 98122. See you there!

Kid Lit Event

Thanks to everyone who showed up for the first Kid Lit Pub Night at Ravenna Third Place Books. We had so much fun, we're doing it again. On October 20, from 7-9 p.m., the Copper Gate in Ballard (6301 24th Ave NW, 98107) will be the place to meet up with fellow writers and illustrators to talk shop to your heart's content. Bring good news, probing questions, and latest reads for a couple hours of getting-to-know other folks in the Western Washington kid lit world. For more info contact your AdCom social event coordinator, Brenda Winter Hansen, at scbwiwa@scbwi-washington.org.

Kid Lit Event

Thanks to all of you who came to the SCBWI picnic on August 11 at the Cowen Park shelter. We had gorgeous weather, lots of desserts to go around, and awesome prizes. Our next Kid Lit event will be on Tuesday, September 28, at Third Place Pub in Ravenna from 7 to 9 p.m. This is a chance to practice your networking skills with other members long before the spring conference. Don't be shy; bring your pitch, introduce yourself to a stranger, and talk about what you've been doing in the Kid Lit world. Local booksellers and librarians are invited as well, so be prepared with questions for them. A monthly Kid Lit Pub Night is in the works, so if you have suggestions for future locations in your area, please contact Brenda Winter Hansen: winterhansen@gmail.com.