Upcoming classes and a conference

Second Saturday Writing Workshop at Woodinville Library

Catch Laurie Thompson this Saturday, January 13th, at the Woodinville Library for a free workshop on Writing to Make a Difference. 

Illustrating Picture Books with Dana Sullivan

A new crash course at Green River College for the kid writer/illustrator in a hurry! Overview includes manuscript formatting, storyboards, making a book dummy and illustration techniques. Agents, editors and publishing also discussed. Great for any level of illustrator, from beginner to pro. Bring story ideas and one or two recent picture books you like. Details here.

Nonfiction Webinar

Lisa Owens is offering a webinar on researching your nonfiction children's book on February 28th. See more details here.

Southside Class

Al Rubeck is offering a beginner's course on writing for children in Maple Valley on March 6th and 13th. Topics include plot, character development, point of view, dialogue, marketing, and getting published. Short writing exercises are included as well as an instructor critique if desired. More information here. 

Al Rubeck has sold fiction, nonfiction, and poetry to children's magazines. He also teaches writing for children with the Kent Parks Dept. 

And Even More South

SCBWI Oregon's Spring Conference will be May 19th and 20th in Wilsonville (just south of Portland). Registration opens on February 5th! 

Nonfiction Writer Meetings!

Nonfiction writers, grab your calendars! Lisa Owens, our nonfiction coordinator, has organized a slew of free, informal coffee meetings over the next few months around town. The first one is next week! All welcome. 

Nonfiction Writers' Coffee Klatch

Tuesday, January 17, 2018, at 7:00 PM

Crossroads Bellevue, 15600 NE 8th Street, Bellevue

Bring a recent NF-for-kids book to recommend.

 

Nonfiction Writers' Coffee Klatch

Friday, February 23, 2018, at 10:00 AM

SPL Central Library/Chocolati Cafe, 1000 4th Avenue, Seattle

Social time and visits to children's section/reference desk

Nonfiction Craft Book Talk

Saturday, March 24, 2018, at 10:00 AM

NoteWordies, 636 7th Ave, Kirkland

The Art of the Proposal by Eric Maisel

Nonfiction Writers' Coffee Klatch
Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at 10:00 AM
Third Place Commons, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park
Discussion: Narrative vs. expository nonfiction for kids

Weekend on the Water Sneak Peek with Lisa L. Owens!

I can't wait to get to IslandWood and start soaking up the atmosphere, hobnobbing with you all, and marinating in all things KIDLIT & CREATIVITY until it's time to board that ferry back to reality.

I'm also excited to be leading a couple of exploratory sessions for anyone interested in learning more about Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. In addition to following this creativity practice on my own since 2010, I've participated in two full-program workshops and attended one phenomenal intensive weekend retreat led by Cameron herself. I find the program tools easy to incorporate into my routine and the program's underlying philosophy adaptable to different belief systems, so I really enjoy sharing info with anyone thinking about giving it all a whirl.

Here's the official description of what I've planned for our retreat:

The Artist's Way Mini Class

Julia Cameron's 12-week program consists of targeted exercises and strategies meant to help anyone cultivate a more rewarding personal creativity practice. Along the way, students confront negative patterns and learn how to more easily and consistently access their creative talents. This mini class will cover key Artist's Way principles and give attendees a taste of the program's simple but effective methods.

Saturday: Introduction to The Artist's Way  

We'll take a quick look at the progression of themes in a full Artist’s Way cycle (from reclaiming a sense of creative safety to embracing creative possibility and beyond). Then we’ll discuss Morning Pages, Artist Dates, and Walks — aka the program’s hallmark “creative recovery” tools. And we’ll end with a short reflection exercise to start challenging any self-limiting beliefs that might be keeping you from following your personal creative path. 

Important note about what Artist's Way techniques can help you discover and accept about your personal creative path: It's not my path or someone else's vision of your path or a path Julia Cameron lays out for you or a facsimile of the latest Itcreative's path. It's all YOURS, and that's what makes it right.

Sunday: Artist's Way Hands-On Workshop  

This session will include two fun hands-on activities designed to help you connect with some of your deepest creative interests and tap in to your personal power as a creative being. 

Translation in case that didn't sound fun: You will (1) interpret a relevant topic through a stream-of-consciousness drawing activity; and (2) rip up paper goods and use glue to create something new.

Is The Artist's Way right for you? I have no idea! It wasn't right for me until ... it was. But I do believe taking it for a test run in this setting will offer concrete creativity-boosting strategies you can later use, and benefit from, regardless of whether you decide to further explore the program after the retreat.

Each session stands alone, and everyone is welcome at one or the other or, of course, both.

I hope some of you will join me!

Learn more about Lisa here. 

The deadline for the retreat is only a few days away. Register now! 

Announcing our Flagship 2017 SCBWI Western Washington Mentorship Program!

SCBWI WWA Mentorship Program

Do you have a completed manuscript that needs help with revision? If yes, then do not miss out on our new mentorship program. For a six-month period, writers will work one-on-one with a published author to analyze every aspect of their manuscript.

Eligibility: This program is open to SCBWI WWA members.

Tuition Cost: $650 covers six months of one-on-one work with a published author

Application materials:

Middle Grade/Young Adult: A one-page pitch or synopsis and 20 standard double-spaced manuscript pages of one completed, polished work.

Nonfiction: A bibliography plus either one full standard double-spaced manuscript of up to 1500 words you intend to work on or, if completed manuscript will be more than 1500 words, the first two chapters plus an overview and outline.

Picture Book: Up to three full standard double-spaced manuscripts of up to 1000 words or dummies.

Please mention which category you are applying to. Send your application materials as a Word or RTF document (or PDFs for dummies/illustrations). Applications should be sent to wwa@scbwi.org with Mentorship Application in the subject line. Applications will be accepted May 15- June 15.

Here is the tentative timeline:

May 15, 2017 – June 15, 2017 –  Application period

June 2017 – September 2017  – Applications review and selection

October 2017–  Mentees announced and mentorship begins.

May 2018 – Mentorship Reception

Categories and mentors:

Category	Mentor
Middle Grade	Kim Baker
Middle Grade	Dori Hillestad Butler
Young Adult	Kevin Emerson
Young Adult	Jeanne Ryan
Nonfiction	Lisa Owens
Nonfiction	Laurie Thompson
Picture Book	Peggy King Anderson
Picture Book	Lois Brandt

Meet the mentors:

Middle Grade:

Kim Baker’s debut middle grade novel, Pickle, was a Children's Choice Awards Book of the Year finalist, one of Mamiverse’s Top 50 Latino Children’s Books, and the recipient of an SCBWI Crystal Kite award. She is a former SCBWI Western Washington regional advisor and a longtime SCBWI lover. Kim has worked as a teacher and crisis counselor, but now makes up stories and teaches the occasional writing workshop from Seattle. She can often be found in the woods, despite a chronic fear of bears. Learn more at www.kimbakerbooks.com.Dori Hillestad Butler is an award-winning author of more than 50 books for young readers, including the Haunted Library series, the Buddy Files series, and the King & Kayla series. Her Buddy Files #1: Case of the Lost Boy won a 2011 Edgar Award and her books have appeared on numerous children's choice and teen award lists, including Washington's new Otter Award list. Dori would love to mentor an SCBWI WWA member who is interested in easy readers, chapter books, series books, mysteries, and/or MG/YA novels. See more at www.kidswriter.com, on Facebook, or on Twitter at @Dorihbutler. Young Adult:

Kevin Emerson is the author of sixteen novels for children and young adults, most recently LAST DAY ON MARS, BREAKOUT, and the ATLANTEANS series. His books have been published in ten different countries, and you could say he’s big in the Czech Republic. Formerly a science teacher, Kevin has taught with Seattle Arts & Lectures’ Writers in the Schools program and Richard Hugo House. He has won a spelling bee, lost a beauty pageant, and once appeared in a Swedish TV commercial. Learn more at www.kevinemerson.net.Jeanne Ryan writes young-adult thrillers that could take place next week--but let's hope they don't! Her first novel NERVE, about an online game of truth or dare taken to dangerous extremes, was adapted for film by Lionsgate, spent six months on the NYT bestseller list, and has been published in twenty countries. Her second novel, CHARISMA, is about a cripplingly shy girl who accepts an underground gene therapy to transform herself from meh to magnetic, with unintended, and possibly lethal, consequences. You can find out more at www.jeanneryan.com.Nonfiction:

A former software engineer, Laurie Ann Thompson writes for young people to help them better understand the world we live in and make it a better place for all. She strives to write nonfiction that encourages imagination and fiction that reflects universal truths, as seen in Be a Changemaker, an inspiring how-to guide for teens; Emmanuel’s Dream, a picture book biography of a man who changed perceptions of disability; My Dog Is The Best; and the upcoming Two Truths And A Lie series for middle grade readers (co-authored with Ammi-Joan Paquette). Learn more at lauriethompson.com, and on Twitter at @lauriethompson.

Since 1998 Lisa L. Owens has authored nearly 100 books for young readers. About two-thirds of those are nonfiction, and among her most popular are Space Neighbors, a picture book series about the solar system; American Justice I & II, which examine the cultural impact of famous 20th-century trials; and Frenemies: Dealing with Friend Drama, a self-help book for teen girls. As a former reporter, Lisa loves chasing the facts and shaping them into high-interest narratives that cultivate further curiosity. And, as a veteran in-house and freelance editor of thousands of published works, she also enjoys helping other writers make their own stories shine.  See more at www.llowens.com, on Twitter at @LisaLOwens, or Instagram at @llowriter.

Picture Book:

For 35 years, Peggy King Anderson has taught writers of all ages. She loves it!  She was awarded the SCBWI (W. WA) Lifetime Achievement award in 2012. She’s taught creative writing both in colleges, and in conferences ranging from SCBWI, to the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop in Chautauqua, New York. She has four published books, including THE FALL OF THE RED STAR (co-author, Helen Szablya), featured on Children's Book TV. Her MG historical fiction novel, TWO MOON JOURNEY, is due for publication in fall of 2018. She writes a monthly fiction series, TREE FROG TRAIL, for Pockets Magazine. Check out Peggy’s website at www.peggyking.com   

Years ago, Lois Brandt peeked into her best friend’s refrigerator and found empty shelves and one small carton of milk; her friend’s family didn’t have enough money to buy food. Maddi’s Fridge, Lois’ first picture book, is the result of that moment. Maddi’s Fridge has been universally praised by teachers, librarians, parents, and --most significantly -- young readers. It is the recipient of a 2014 Christopher Award and the International Literacy Association’s 2015 Book Award for Primary Fiction, among other honors. When she is not working on her own projects, Lois teaches writers of all ages, helping her students tell the stories they hold close to their hearts. Learn more at https://www.loisbrandt.com/.

REMINDER: Professional Series Meeting Thurs

See you tonight, Thursday, November 8 at 7pm at Seattle Pacific University, Demaray Hall 150

(This friendly reminder about November's Professional Series Meeting was brought to you by that master of illustrative shenanigans, Dana Sullivan.)

PSM newcomer Tip #1:
REACH ACROSS THE AISLE and introduce yourself to someone you don't know!

Professional Series Preview: Lisa Owens and Ben Clanton

Next up, next Thursday, November 8!

"EXPLORING YOUR VOICE AS A CHILDREN’S WRITER" with Lisa L. Owens 

Developing your voice is a central part of your journey as a writer. Every writer possesses an authentic voice, but finding that voice and using it in your writing can be difficult. In an interactive session, LISA L. OWENS will engage us in hands-on exercises that will lead us to identify our story telling voice and locate the point in our lives where that voice first emerged. Whether you are a beginning writer or have a long writing practice, Lisa’s approach will help in thinking about what genres are best suited to your voice and how to bring your authentic voice to your writing. Lisa L. Owens has written middle-grade fiction, nonfiction chapter books and adaptations for graphic novels, as well as editorial work for the adult market. 

That same evening, illustrator Ben Clanton, author of the award-winning picture book, Vote For Me, will lead a hands-on session on creating picture books that beg to be re-read. This evening will be big fun, just one of the juicy evenings that make up the SCBWI-WWA Professional Series. 

Online Children's Writing Business Class

NAVIGATING THE CHILDREN'S WRITING BIZ
Fridays, October 29 – November 19
Online Class

Do you write for children (or want to) but freeze at the thought of learning how it all works? This online class from an industry veteran demystifies the business side of children's publishing. It provides writers with concrete steps for exploring the field and creating a personal path to publication.

Four information- packed sessions cover the following:

(1) The basics of children's genres, markets, and book formats; (2) must-have resources and time-tested tips for starting — and FINISHING — your writing projects; (3) finding a home for your completed manuscripts and/or seeking work as a writer-for-hire; and (4) networking with peers and other professionals working in children's publishing today.

You can see the full description at EFA's course catalog page. For questions email Lisa L. Owens at lisa@llowens. com.

Good News for Lisa Owens!

Lisa's has a new nonfiction picture book series called LET'S BE SOCIAL! Written specifically for the school and library market, these six books introduce young readers to the various social groups they encounter and must learn to navigate in their community: family, friends, school, teams, worship groups, and neighborhoods. To learn more about Lisa's series, visit her blog post.

Fall Classes

Kids aren't the only ones who get to return to school this fall. Here are a few classes taught by our own SCBWI members.

Lois Brandt is teaching "Write a Novel in a Month" class at Bellevue College. The class is Saturdays, October 9-December 4, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Is writing a novel one of your life-long dreams? Join this 8 week Bellevue College class as it hooks up with 100,000 writers worldwide for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The first classes prepare you for the noveling process, with practice in characterization, setting, plot, voice, and dialogue. Then we're off and writing our 50,000 word manuscripts. During the last class we plan for revision. This is a great way to write your novel in a supportive environment. Cost $179.

Questions? Contact Lois@LoisBrandt.com. To register go to this Bellevue College continuing education link. For more about Lois, visit her website.
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Lisa L. Owens is teaching "Navigating the Children's Writing Biz" class. Classes are online, Fridays, October 29 – November 19.

This four-week online course demystifies the business side of children’s publishing and provides writers with concrete steps for exploring the field and creating a personal path to publication. Lisa has written more than 70 books and stories for young readers, and has worked in children's publishing as everything from proofreader to senior editor.

For a full course description and registration info, click here.

Lisa also runs the Editorial Freelancers Association education program, and they have a Seattle-area Artist's Way Class starting September 23. Visit the catalog page here, or the write-up about the full education program here. They also have online classes in proofreading and freelance writing. To learn more about Lisa, visit her blog and author site.
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Margaret Nevinski is teaching a "Creative Writing Workshop" for ages 8-12. Classes are Thursdays, Sept. 30-Nov. 18, from 4-6 p.m. Cost is $85.

If you like to create characters, invent plots, and have fun with words, this workshop is for you! Margaret Nevinski helps young writers tap into their creativity and strengthen their writing. We'll share our work out loud to get feedback from our fellow writers. Discover more about the craft of writing while creating the spectacular stories only you can write. Bring a notebook, a pen, and your imagination.

Margaret is also teaching a "Creativity for Writers" class. Classes are Thursday, Oct. 7-Nov. 18, from 7-9 p.m. Cost is $65.

The creative spark lies at the heart of all writing, whether we write for adults or children. Margaret Nevinski offers playful, useful ways for writers to tap into the wellspring of ideas. We'll explore prompts, journaling, collage, music, poetry, and exercises using the five senses to spark our imaginations and access our creative voices. For beginning and experienced writers in all genres. Come prepared to be inspired!

To register for either of Margaret's classes, visit Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District website or call 206-842-2306, ext. 16. For more about Margaret, visit her website.

Good news for Lisa Owens

She has a new picture book series coming soon. It's called LET'S BE SOCIAL and you can read about it on her blog.

Thanks to Liz Mills for the link.