Weekend on the Water Retreat FAQ

2018 Weekend On The Water: Find Your Art / Life Balance.

The 11th Annual SCBWI-WWA Weekend on the Water Writer’s and Illustrator’s retreat is happening on the first weekend in November, 2018. We’re so lucky that IslandWood Natural Learning Center on Bainbridge Island has opened their space to us ... It’s a fantastic facility, on something like 250 acres of forest, with amazing local, natural, cuisine that’s custom to each individual’s preferences.

For retreats, the place is in super high demand, but we are lucky enough to get the chance to experience their natural and creative environment because they share our mission of serving kids. Go kidlit!

This year’s Weekend on the Water theme is “Art / Life Balance.” So... just a question: how’s it working out for you, juggling your busy life with your creative muse? If you could use some inspiration—or just time away from the grind—this is the retreat for you.

Keynotes are by Newbery honoree Kirby Larson and illustrator Jennifer K. Mann. Illustrators get to dig into a weekend-long hands-on workshop and writers get to be inspired by one of our country's finest middle grade authors.

Spaces are still available for both writers and illustrators, so what’s keeping you from registering? Maybe you just need a little more info. That’s why we’re offering this Q&A.

Q: Can you give me an idea of the weekend agenda?

Some highlights: Author/Illustrator Jennifer K. Mann will keynote on Friday night, Author Kirby Larson will keynote on Saturday AM. The illustrators have a workshop that lasts from Sat PM through Sunday AM. You will be working on one big project. The writers have presentations / discussions with Kirby, Joni Sensel and, on Sunday, Beth Bacon. Saturday night we have an open mic campfire (it’s a covered shelter and blankets are provided for those who are worried about the weather). There are also nature walks, guided on Saturday, but also you’re free to hike at any time. There are two tree houses that you can go to, to work or chill out! The schedule is in a PDF here: https://wwa.scbwi.org/files/2018/07/WOTW-schedule-7-26a.pdf

Q: I have very specific food requirements. Should I bring my own food?

About the food, don’t worry. IslandWood is extremely progressive and accommodating about food. They will have a ton of fruit and granola at breakfast. In fact there are virtually 2 breakfasts, because there’s an earlybird a la cart breakfast before the served breakfast. You can bring snacks, but really, they happily accommodate all dietary needs. And they get their food from local-source places and grow a lot of it themselves. That’s actually one of the best things about IslandWood. 

Q: Do I need to bring bedding or a sleeping bag?

No need for bedding, that’s all provided.

Q: I’m doing the artist workshop. Do I need to bring art supplies?

Please bring art supplies if you have special ways of working and specific media that you care to use. For example, if you’re a charcoal artist, bring your charcoals and the kind of paper you like to draw on. We will have some standard art supplies but nothing special or unique.

Q: Transportation: Can I carpool on the ferry?

The retreat is on Bainbridge Island. If you’re traveling from south of Tacoma or the Olympic peninsula, you can drive over the Agate Pass bridge without taking the ferry. If you’re coming from Seattle, SeaTac Airport, or points north and east of the city, you’ll probably want to take the ferry. There’s plenty of free parking at IslandWood, but taking a car on the ferry can be pricey. So you might want to carpool. In October, we’ll send out emails about creating carpools to those who have registered. Last year everyone was very generous and cooperative about carpooling — it helped forge friendships before the event even started. Stay tuned for emails on the transportation issue.

Q: I’m an illustrator. Should I bring my portfolio?

This is a retreat focused on creativity. It’s not the kind of weekend where we will be critiqued by editors or vie for an agent’s attention. We are all creatives working to develop our craft. If you want to share your work with peers, then by all means, bring your portfolio. It’s likely you’ll have a supportive audience. This weekend is designed to be inspirational not competitive.

Q: What’s all this about an add-on day Thursday night?

The main retreat weekend starts on Friday evening and goes through Sunday afternoon. For those who can get there on Thursday (and take the day off Friday) we are hosting a 24-hour “pure retreat” retreat... no programming, just time (sweet time) to work on projects or decompress in this invigorating setting. For those who opt for the add-on Thursday, meals will be provided Thursday night, Friday morning, and Friday at noon. (That’s what the extra expense is for.) If you’ve already registered for the regular weekend and want to add the extra day, please let us know BEFORE October 12 and you can join the Thursday add-on.

Q: I hear there are hiking trails. Should I bring hiking shoes?

There are tons of forest pathways if you like to hike. You could just wear regular walking shoes because the paths are well maintained. Many are even ADA approved. If you are an avid trail hound, hiking boots will keep you dry and supported, so bring them along.

Q: What’s this about tree houses?

IslandWood has two tree houses (and a duck shelter) in their forest which are available for us to use as places of inspiration.  One of the tree houses is ADA approved. (You have to see it to believe it!) On Saturday morning, an IslandWood docent will show us the way. After that, we’re free to use these amazing natural wonders at any time during the weekend.

Q: Can my spouse attend? / Can I choose my roommate?

Absolutely. Please register separately and send an email with your request to wwa@scbwi.org. If you don’t send an email, we can’t know who to match you up with (even if you have the same last name), so please communicate with us.

If there’s anything more you need to know about Weekend On The Water 2018, please email wwa@scbwi.org and we’ll get an answer to you soon. Or, you can find all of the information on our SCBWI-WWA Retreats web pages.

See you in November!

Passport Series Scholarships

This year, SCBWI WWA is pleased to offer Passport Series scholarships to those who might otherwise find it difficult to afford our meetings and webinars. Apply to enjoy a full year of amazing programming free of charge!

To apply for a Passport Series scholarship, please send us a 250-word cover letter explaining why you’d like to be considered for a scholarship, and a 250-word pitch for your work-in-progress (illustrators may provide up to 5 PDF samples). Email your application to wwa-ra@scbwi.org by September 30, 2018. 

Winners will be notified in time to participate in our Editor Extravaganza October 13 with Tiffany Liao.

Passport programming this year will include the following monthly meetings and webinars:

● September 17, 2018, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Webinar: Author/agent Lauren Spieller with “Dazzling First Pages.” (All attendees must register to participate. Watch email and social media for announcements.)

● October 13, 2018, 10:00 a.m. to noon, Seattle Central Library, Microsoft Auditorium: Mirrors, Windows & Doors: Writing & Thinking Cross-Culturally with Tiffany Liao, Editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers.

● October 17, 2018, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Webinar: A Conversation with Martha Brockenbrough, The Writing of Unpresidented: A Biography of Donald Trump, hosted by Lisa L. Owens. (All attendees must register to participate. Watch email and social media for announcements.)

● November 10, 2018, 10 a.m to noon, Eastside Location TBD. Come to this monthly meeting where we will use the time to make announcements, break the ice, and share our first pages in small breakout groups with others who write in our age group. Enjoy this first-ever Passport offering -- with tasty snacks, music, and writing buddies!

● November 14, 2018, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Webinar: Just the Facts: On Researching Your Nonfiction Children’s Book with Lisa L. Owens, hosted by Joni Sensel. (All attendees must register to participate. Watch email and social media for announcements.)

● December 8, 2018, 10 a.m. to noon, Seattle Pacific University: POV & Emotion: Writing Reluctant First-Person Narrators with Rob Land. And don’t miss our ever-popular holiday cookie contest and book exchange!

● January 12, 2019, 10:00 a.m. to noon, Seattle Pacific University: Nuts and Bolts of Self-Publishing with Amazon KDP (indie publishing) with Jessie Hughes, Kamel Depuis-Perez and Beth Bacon.

● February 9, 2019, 10 a.m to noon, Monthly Meeting Presentation at Seattle Pacific University: Come to this monthly meeting where we will use the time to make announcements, break the ice, and share query letters in small breakout groups. Enjoy this new Passport offering -- with tasty snacks, music, and writing buddies!

● February 2019, Webinar: A Creativity Webinar moderated by Joni Sensel. SCBWI WWA’s creativity liaison, Joni Sensel, will moderate a webinar about a topic related to creativity, your imagination, and how to harness them to improve your work, your life, or both. Watch your inbox and our Facebook page for the date and time of this not-to-be-missed webinar! (All attendees must register to participate. Watch email and social media for announcements.)
● February 23, 2019, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m, Western Washington University (Bellingham): Social with SCBWI-WWA. Mingle with fellow SCBWI members at a no-host dinner after the Children's Literature Conference. (Watch your inbox and social media for details!)

● March 9, 2019, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m, Seattle Pacific University: Mini-Panel, Meet the Agents with Linda Camacho & Quressa Robinson. (Monthly Meeting is separate from Agent Day; registration required to participate in full Agent Day agenda). 

● April 13, 2019, 10 a.m. to noon, Bellevue College: Worldbuilding: How to Create Solid Worlds That Feel Real with Alma Alexander. 

● May 11, 2019, 10 a.m. to noon, Seattle Pacific University: Join us for our final meeting of the year as we take a video stroll through two illustrator studios. After the video, both illustrators will answer questions from the audience about their work. (Illustrators to be announced in the new year.)

September Events

Network Events

2018-19 Northern Network Season Kickoff

Yay!! It’s time to get the Northern Network back together again! Come to the 2018-19 kickoff and let us know what you’ve been up to all summer (even if it’s just to show us your vacation pictures)! Bring writing or illustrations for us to Oooh and Aaaah over! We’ll also talk about what topics you’d like to discuss this year.

7:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 5, 2018

The Bellingham Barnes & Noble (4099 Meridian Street)

Questions? Email Rebecca at rebecca_vanslyke@hotmail.com. [That’s rebecca(underscore)vanslyke(at)hotmail(dot)com]

Workshops & Classes

September 8

Join us with Seattle Writes at the Seattle Public Library as Jolie Stekly offers tips, resources, and all the information you need to get started with writing for kids and teens. And it's free!

September 8

Clare Meeker will be presenting a workshop on Plotting the Picture and Exploring Story Structure on September 8 at the 2018 Southwest Washington Writers Conference in Vancouver, Washington. More info here.

September 13-16

PNWA Conference

September 17
Join us for a webinar with agent and author Lauren Spellier on dazzling first pages!

October
Planning a trip to Montana? The Montana SCBWI region is hosting Dan Gemeinhart for some character building workshops in Billings, Bozeman, and Missoula. 

Book Events

September 8

Grrr! Barbara Davis-Pyles launches her picture boo, Grizzly Boy, from Village Books! 

September 9

Join Suzanne Selfors and George Shannon for a pajama party to celebrate Wish Upon a Sleepover at Eagle Harbor Book Company. 

September 9

Lynn Brunelle will throw out the first pitch at the Mariners game (!), and Liberty Bay Books will be there selling copies of Turn this Book into a Bee Hive. 

September 15

Kim Binczewski invites you to a Bread Lab at Village Books. 

September 16

Suzanne Selfors and Kevan Atteberry will be at Island Books for a pajama party with Wish Upon a Sleepover and I Love You More than the Smell of Swamp Gas.

September 20

Deb Caletti will talk about A Heart in the Body in the World with Martha Brockenbrough at University Bookstore. 

September 22

Want to help a child understand Alzheimer's disease? Join Susan McCormick at Third Place Books, Seward Park for Granny Can't Remember Me.

September 25

The next long awaited installment in Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet series is here. Join Kazu and University Bookstore at University Temple United Methodist Church to celebrate.

September 27

Join Faith Erin Hicks to talk about her latest graphic novel in The Nameless City series-- The Divided Earth at Eagle Harbor Book Company. 

September 28

Want to know "Will Puberty Last My Whole Life"? Well then join charming expert Julie Metzger at Queen Anne Book Company. 

September 29- Picture Books

Caldecott Honor winner Yuyi Morales will talk about her latest picture book, Dreamers, at Third Place Books, Seward Park.

September 29- Chapter Books

Ivy & Bean fans shouldn't miss Annie Barrows at Third Place Books, LFP for One Big Happy Family.

September 29- YA

Kierstan White's in town with her newest spooky YA, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, at University Bookstore.

September 30

Wrap up the month with Juleah del Rosario's debut YA, 500 Words or Less at University Bookstore. 

Events may be added periodically.  Did we miss something? 

Email us at news.scbwiwwa@gmail.com.

Double-check times and whatnot with bookstores before you set out for events. If you snap a great picture, tag us at @scbwiwwa on Instagram and/or Twitter, and we'll try to repost. If you have good news or an event coming up, let us know!

Support book culture.

Support independent bookstores and libraries.

Support your fellow authors and illustrators.

❤️

PNWA Conference, September 13-16

R.L. Stine, author of the bestselling series, Goosebumps, is the Keynote speaker at the 2018 Pacific Northwest Writers Association Annual conference. 

  

All writers, whether traditionally published, indie published or aspiring, will benefit from attending the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Conference. The Conference offers a full line up of workshops for all genres including screenwriting as well as opportunities to network with 30 agents, editors and fellow writers.

The Pacific Northwest Writers’ Association (PNWA) is hosting its annual writer’s conference on September 13 – 16^th at the Doubletree Airport Hotel.  The program features over 70 workshops across all genres (including screenwriting). You can find the full program schedule HERE.

In addition, the Conference provides a welcoming environment to connect with other writers, agents and editors. Writers looking for a more formal introduction to agents and editors are encouraged to sign up for a pitch session to shop their story to agents and editors actively seeking new authors.  For more information about pitch blocks, please visit our website to view our sessions HERE. 

Master classes are also available at a discount to conference registrants.  Donald Maass, well-known literary agent, author and instructor will be teaching The Techniques of Timeless Storytelling on Thursday.  Christopher Vogler, international script consultant for companies such asDisney, Warner Brothers, Fox and others will discuss creativity in his class The Story Lives in You: Tapping into Your Deepest Creative Sources. 

After a full day of sessions, enjoy our evening events.  Thursday night kicks off the festivities with Keynote speaker, R.L. Stine, author of the bestselling middle grade series, Goosebumps.  Friday night our featured speakers include: Dori Hillestad Butler, Chris Fox, Nancy Pearl, Donald Maass, Julia Quinn, Cat Rambo and Christopher Vogler, moderated by Robert Dugoni.

Saturday night our Literary Contest and Nancy Pearl winners will be announced during the Celebration Dinner.

In addition to the conference, several SCBWI WWA members will be leading a free mini-conference for young writers (8-16) on September 15th. Register here. 

***

For over sixty years, PNWA has worked to support writers reach their goals within the ever-changing publishing industry. We are committed to helping writers of all levels find their voice and establish a platform within the writing community.

The PNWA’s mission is to develop writing talent through education, accessibility to the publishing industry, and participation in an interactive, writer community. Learn more at www.pnwa.org.

Stephanie Campisi on her latest picture book, Luis and Tabitha!

Describe Luis and Tabitha in one sentence.

Alley cat Luis has it all figured out...until he meets indoor cat Tabitha, who turns Luis' world outside-in.

What inspires you?

Wordplay, people behaving in strange ways, and that thin line between the rational and the absurd. (I suppose those are all the same thing, really!) I feel like we’re always trying to make sense of things that don't make sense, and there’s something beautiful in that. There’s something about the outsider trying to make their way in a world that they don’t quite understand that rings very true to me.

Tell us about your illustrator.

Luis and Tabitha is illustrated by the very talented Hollie Mengert, also of the WWA region. Hollie has a delightfully whimsical style that’s so expressive and full of movement, and she’s brought so much depth and humour to Luis and Tabitha. We’re both owners of adopted cats, and our pets have inspired both the book’s text and illustrations! 

  

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m somewhere between the two, although I’m moving gradually towards being a plotter. I always know my beginning, major climax and the takeaway or feeling I want to leave my reader with, but the rest of the book is usually a mystery to me until I’m deep into it. This isn’t so bad with picture books, but for novels it’s a somewhat messy approach, and I find that I end up working through the same plot and pacing issues every time. I’m actively working on exercising a little more patience up-front – here’s hoping the index cards I have on my desk actually get used!

Do you have a regular writing routine/spot/playlist, etc?

I’m a freelancer, so I work long and unpredictable hours. At the moment I tend to write in spurts, but it’s not my preferred approach. I feel like writing is like exercising: it’s so much easier when you’re used to using those muscles. In terms of other “regulars”, all I need is some quiet background music, about four cups of coffee, and a view of the nearby forest.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Be patient. Not just in terms of waiting to hear back on projects, but everything else. It takes time to build a career. It takes time to learn your craft. And it also takes time to be able to not just hear feedback, but understand it. You might be told the same thing dozens of times, but you need to get to a certain point before it actually sinks in and you can respond meaningfully. I don’t think that you can fast forward through that process. 

What’s next for you?

More picture books! I have a Russian folklore-esque picture book called The Five Sisters coming out from Familius in 2019, as well as a picture book about a K9 school drop-out called Very Lulu from Sourcebooks Jabberwocky launching at around the same time. I have a few more things in the works, so hopefully I’ll be able to update that list soon! 

If you could change one thing about publishing, what would it be?

The lack of control authors have over much of their careers. It’s very difficult to be able to meaningfully build a career when you have very little access to sales, financials and industry conversations. 

On August 18th, 40% of proceeds from the sales of Luis and Tabitha from Familius.com will be donated to the Oregon Humane Society. 

Click here for more info.

Find more about Stephanie here.

Find more about Hollie Mengert here.