The SCBWI Summer Conference is Selling Out FAST

In particular, the intensives are filling up!

You'll have to jump on it to get a space in the Illustrator's Intensive,

CHARACTER BUILDING
Developing a Believable and Engaging Cast for Your Picture Book
 With the day’s faculty: Sophie Blackall Author/Illustrator, Peter Brown Author/Illustrator, Priscilla Burris Author/Illustrator, Pat Cummings Illustrator, David Diaz Illustrator, Laurent Linn Art Director, Simon & Schuster, Cecilia Yung Art Director Art Director & Vice President, Penguin BFYR, and Paul Zelinsky Illustrator 

It's a full day drawing session. Bring drawing material and a 8-1/2” x 11" pad and tracing paper!

And there are just a few spots left in these craft intensives,

School Visits – the Crash Course, with Suzanne Morgan Williams Author / Bruce Hale Author (All Day) 
In this hands-on intensive, Bruce Hale and Suzanne Morgan Williams coach you in taking your school/library presentation to the next level. They’ll cover planning, marketing, performance, curriculum tie-ins, and everything in between. You’ll even be videotaped and receive feedback on a brief excerpt from your presentation. Assignment: Please bring a five-minute talk to share, plus: your latest book (or ARC), any marketing materials, and a prop (small enough to fit in a shoebox) that represents you and your work.

Supplementing Your Writing Income, with Bonnie Bader, SCBWI PAL Advisor (Morning) 
Are you in between projects, or waiting for a contract? This class will give you concrete ways to supplement your writing and illustrating income. Learn how to get writer/illustrator work-for-hire, and come away with a list of publishers to contact for work. In class exercises include writing query letters, writing to a publisher's specifications, and more!

Novel Writing: Soup to Nuts with Stacey Barney, Senior Editor, Penguin/Putnam (Morning) 
In this session, Stacey Barney will guide you through a comprehensive overview of novel writing devices. It's always helpful to bring a work-in-progress so that you can apply each technique and device to your own work during the discussion. Stacey brings her editorial expertise to help each participant discover what is working with their manuscript and what can be improved.

Writing Voice – Speak Up, I Can’t Hear You, with Kat Brzozowski, Editor, St. Martin's (Morning)
You’ve come up with a plot. You’ve created characters. You have a setting. Now how do you make your readers feel like these characters are really speaking to them? Voice is one of the most important elements of fiction and one of the hardest to master. In this session, we’ll work hands on to improve voice in fiction, with a focus on young adult fiction (and techniques that also apply to middle grade). By reading and discussing how authors create voice on the page and working on our own writing to sharpen our voice, this session focuses on writing that really brings your characters’ individual personalities to life.

The Ins and Outs of Writing Middle Grade Fantasy, with Bruce Coville, Author (Morning) 

The session begins with an "annotated storytelling" that will analyze a piece of fantasy writing from the macro to the micro—discussing everything from mythic structure down to the reasons for specific metaphors and word choices. Then we'll examine ten specific tactics to employ while writing middle grade fantasy. We'll conclude with some critiquing, as time allows. Assignment: Please bring a work-in-progress.

Crafting Your Novel’s Narrative: The basics of structure, voice, character, and plot, with Alvina Ling, VP & Editor-in-Chief, Little, Brown (Morning) 
Whether you’re just starting out, or in the revision stage of your novel, this intensive will give an overview of the four basic elements of your narrative. This workshop also aims to help you work through and brainstorm around any specific issues your having with your novel’s narrative. Assignment: bring an issue you’re having in your work-in-progress that deals with either structure, voice, character, or plot to discuss and talk through with the group. Optional: Read both Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin.

Revising and Re-Imagining Your Picture Book, with Harold Underdown, Publishing Consultant (Morning) 
Picture books are so simple, but often need to be revised or even re-imagined many times before they are just right. Drawing on our years of experience as independent editors, and in-house children’s book editors in New York before that, Eileen Robinson and I developed this workshop to help writers do just that. This workshop will teach you techniques to enable you to find problems with your picture book manuscript, reshape it, even re-imagine it, and then polish it before you send it out.

Poetry: From Picture Books to Verse Novels, with Carole Boston Weatherford, Author/Poet (Morning) 
Examine how narratives unfold through poetry. Consider how poets choose language, channel voices, evoke settings and use structure. Practice creating tableaux, experimenting with structure and writing from different points of view.

Put Your Best Foot Forward: Looking at that crucial first page, and making it better, with Victoria Wells Arms, Agent, Victoria Wells Arms Literary (Afternoon) 
Sometimes writers start in just the right place, and sometimes the best opening line or scene is hiding on page 27. Some authors seem to think a prologue is the only way to really get their point across. How are you going to hook that reader–any reader–into dying to know more? In this three-hour intensive, Victoria Wells Arms, former editorial director now agent will look at both your first page, and the place you think might actually be a better first page, and we will discuss the various options in how you start a novel (chapter books thru YA, no picture books here). Assignment: Send in the first two pages of your current work-in-progress to victoria@wellsarms.com, and, if you like, the other place that you think might be an alternative starting place, two additional pages max so I can read ahead of time. We are going to have to stick to 5 mins total for each participant.

Build Your Social Media Presence, with Martha Brockenbrough, Author (Afternoon) 
Learn the differences between Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr, and get down to the brass tacks of how you can use each to: build authentic relationships with a variety of readers and power connectors; increase your platform without increasing your workload; and share your books without clobbering people over the head with tone-deaf marketing messages. We’ll focus on best practices for each social media platform, tools you can use to create images that resonate, and website platforms that let you integrate all of it seamlessly. Assignment: Please bring a laptop and 2-3 favorite quotes from your books or about writing.

Why Did You Do That?: Creating Strong Characters to Push Your Plot Forward, with Matt Ringler, Senior Editor, Scholastic (Afternoon) 
In this intensive we will take a close look at character motivation through dialogue and back story and how to use that to advance your plot. Will include several (fun!) writing exercises. Assignment: Please come with three characters from books, television, or movies that you find to be particularly strong (whether you love them or hate them!)

Revising Your Chapter Book or Novel, with Harold Underdown, Publishing Consultant (Afternoon)
What happens after you write your first draft of a novel or chapter book can be the most important and most difficult part of the writing process. Based on my own work with writers, this workshop teaches proven techniques to get useful feedback and others, dig into "big picture" problems with your manuscript, and refine it at the sentence level. 

It's going to be an amazing conference, and the intensives promise to be game-changers for your craft and career. You'll find registration and all the other conference info here.

We hope to see you at #LA16SCBWI!

Writer Intensives!!! (There's still some room in these amazing experiences on Monday August 4, 2014 in Los Angeles, CA!

The writer intensives at #LA14SCBWI are selling out, so grab these opportunities while they're still available!


Literary Agent Josh Adams of Adams Literary, who is a great character himself, on Character: Creating Memorable Protagonists (Morning Intensive A)


Bonnie Bader, Associate Publisher of Frederick Warne (where she oversees the Peter Rabbit and Spot publishing programs, as well as Editor-in-Chief of Penguin Young Readers/Early Readers (where she heads up the leveled reader and 8x8 programs) on How to Hook Readers from the Beginning of your Book so they'll Never let Go (All-Day Intensive B)


Thriller author Lamar Giles on Writing a YA Thriller (Morning Intensive C)


Deborah Halverson, editor and author of "Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies" on Crafting a Youthful Narrative Voice and Sensibility in MG/YA Fiction (Morning Intensive D)


Krista Marino, Executive Editor at Delacorte Press (Random House Children's Books) on World Building (best for fantasy, science fiction and speculative MG and YA fiction. Morning Intensive E)


Newbery-Winning Author Linda Sue Park's Write Here Right Now! A Novel Revision Workout (Morning Intensive F)


Literary Agent Kelly Sonnack of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency on Finessing Your First Pages (Morning Intensive I)


Andrea Welch, Senior Editor at Beach Lane Books, on Measuring Up Your Manuscript on the Ten Essential Picture Book Elements (Morning Intensive K and Afternoon Intensive M)


Speed Pitching Agents Alexandra Penfold (Upstart Crow) and Erin Murphy (Erin Murphy Literary Agency) (Morning Intensive L and Afternoon Intensive N)


Speed Pitching Agents Linda Pratt (Wernick & Pratt Agency) and Sarah Davies (Morning Intensive M)


Author of over 100 books for kids (and incredible live storyteller) Bruce Coville on The Light Fantastic - Writing Compelling Fantasies - where he'll do an "annotated storytelling" of the first two chapters of The Monster's Ring examining the tricks and techniques he used, and then explore ten specific tips for writing compelling Fantasies. (Afternoon Intensive A)


Agent Sarah Davies on What It Takes - an interactive, inside look at how to break in, how deals are done, surviving the publishing rollercoaster and building a career. (Afternoon Intensive C)


Editor and Consultant Emma Dryden on Robust Revision - Techniques and tools for picture books, middle grade and young adult authors. (Afternoon Intensive D)


Krista Marino, Executive Editor at Delacorte Press (Random House Children's Books) on Show It, Don't Tell It - Making Your YA Voice Stronger. (Afternoon Intensive G)


Agent Jen Rofé on The "So What?" Factor (Afternoon Intensive H)


Jill Santopolo, Executive Editor at Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group (Penguin Random House) on From Beginning To End: Tips on Plotting Your Plot (Afternoon Intensive I)


Sara Sargent, editor at Simon Pulse (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) on the key to writing that "unputdownable" book - The Tension Headache: Raising the Stakes in your Manuscript. (Afternoon Intensive J)


Julie Strauss-Gabel, Vice President and Publisher of Dutton Children's Books (Penguin Random House) on, whether you're published yet or not, deciding what you should write next: At the Crossroads: Choosing Your Next Project. (Afternoon Intensive K)

We hope to see you at the Summer Conference, and at the Monday intensives! Click for Conference, registration and more information on the intensives.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

17 Intensives for #LA12SCBWI Still Have Room for YOU!

As of today, there are only 17 intensives on Monday August 6th (directly after the main three-day conference) that still have space available.  These are incredible opportunities that won't be blogged by Team Blog, and are a chance to really dig deep!

AM • - Emma Dryden - Independent and Self Publishing: Best Practices

Designed for Authors and Illustrators who are already independently or self published or considering alternate publishing options for their work, this intensive offers reminders and guidelines to use as to best practicies to use to ensure you're publishing your work as professionally as possible.  It explores ways in which independently or self published authors and illustrators can recreate some of the best principals of traditional publishing (editing, design, marketing, sales); defines author/illustrator and publisher responsibilities; discusses various publishing platform options for picture books and fiction/non-fiction; considers the differences between print, e-, and POD; and explores the benefits and drawbacks of independent publishing.

And Emma's the Expert...

Emma D Dryden, the founder and principal of the children’s book editorial and publishing consulting firm, drydenbks provides editorial and consultancy support to authors, illustrators, agents, foreign and domestic publishers, and eBook and app publishers. Her children’s publishing career began at Viking and Random House, followed by a position with Margaret K. McElderry Books. After McElderry retired, Emma became VP, Editorial Director of McElderry Books, and in 2005, VP, Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K. McElderry Books. Emma has edited over 500 books for children,from board books and picture books to poetry, novelties, non-fiction, MG, and YA fiction and fantasy.  As publisher, she oversaw the annual publication of over one-hundred hardcover and paperback titles. Authors and illustrators she has edited include Ellen Hopkins, Karma Wilson, Susan Cooper, Alan Katz, Raul Colon, Lee Bennett Hopkins, David Diaz, and Paul Zelinsky. Emma is also the leader of the Editorial Quality Panel for picture eBook platform uTales and is on the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Board of Advisors.

AM •- Ellen Hopkins - Building a Career Through Self Promotion 

No matter how you publish, self-promotion is an integral tool for developing broad readership.

And Ellen's the Expert...

Ellen Hopkins is a poet and the award-winning author of 20 nonfiction books for children and eight NY Times Bestselling young adult novels-in-verse. Her first novel for adults, Triangles, published in 2011. In the fall of 2012, her ninth YA novel, Tilt (a companion to Triangles) will publish, along with a crossover novel, Collateral. Ellen lives near Carson City NV with her husband and teenage son, a bottomless well of inspiration for her YA fiction.

 

AM •- Ann Whitford Paul - The C.P.R. — Character, Plot, Rhythm of Picture Books

Apply techniques to revise your manuscript to be the best it can be.

And Ann's the Expert...

Ann Whitford Paul has published many award winning picture books—both fiction and non-fiction—poetry and early readers for children, including Tortuga in Trouble, Word Builder, If Animals Kissed Good Night and recently a book for adults titled WRITING PICTURE BOOKS:  A Hands-on Guide from Story Creation to Publication.   

AM •  Melissa Stewart - Four Steps To A Stronger Nonfiction Manuscript  

After discussing how to focus a nonfiction topic in a way that will interest editors, we will practice a four-step method for transforming a manuscript from okay to outstanding.

And Melissa's the Expert...

Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 150 nonfiction books for children, a member of the SCBWI Board of Advisors, and the PAL Cordinator for SCBWI's New England region. Her recent picture book Under the Snow was a Junior Library Guild Selection, a Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book, and a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year. It was also nominated for thirteen state book awards.

AM • Sonya Sones - Writing the Verse Novel (Should Your Tomes be Written in Poems?  Crafting the Novel in Verse)

Thinking of writing a novel in verse?  In the middle of writing one already?  This session will be jam-packed with info, tips and secrets about using poetry to tell your stories.

And Sonya's the Expert...

Sonya Sones has written four YA novels in verse, which have received many honors, including a Christopher Award, the Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry, the Claudia Lewis Poetry Award, and a Los Angeles Times Book Prize nomination. She’ll be the first one to tell you that in 2010 her novel in verse, What My Mother Doesn’t Know, made the ALA’s list of the “Top 100 Most Challenged Books of the Decade.” Sonya’s latest book, the Los Angeles Times bestseller The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus, is her first novel in verse for grownups—a coming of middle-age story about learning to grow old disgracefully. She is this close to finishing her fifth YA novel in verse.

AM • Dan Yaccarino: From Inspiration to Publication: The Essentials of A Picture Book 

This intensive covers the basic mechanics of picture books.  A picture book isn't just drawings depicting text, but images and words uniquely combined to create a story.  Learn the fundamentals, from format and character development through basic storytelling.

And Dan's the Expert...

Dan Yaccarino has written and illustrated over fifty children’s books, most notably, The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau, Unlovable, Every Friday and Go Go America. His bold, stylized illustrations add wit and energy to the work of such prestigious authors as Margaret Wise Brown, Jack Prelutsky, Kevin Henkes and Patricia MacLachlan in addition to his own stories. He is also the creator and producer of his own animated television series Oswald and the Emmy Award-winning Willa’s Wild Life, as well as the designer behind Nick Jr's Emmy-winning The Backyardigans. Dan lives in New York City with his family and vintage toy collection.
 

  

AM • L - A Morning With 8 Agents  

With these powerhouse literary agents:

Josh Adams, Adams Literary;  

Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary Agency;  

Stefanie Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary;
Jill Corcoran, Herman Agency;  

Natalie M. Lakosil, Bradford Literary Agency;
Karen Grencik, Red Fox Literary Agency; 

Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt Agency;  

Deborah Warren, East West Literary Agency; 

Ken Wright, Writers House

PM •  Jill Corcoran - How to Write a Query Letter  

Hands-on workshop in which you will walk away with a query letter that will get agents and editors salivating for your work.

And Jill's the Expert... 

Jill Corcoran is an agent with The Herman Agency representing PB, CB, MG & YA. Her current interests include high concept Young Adult and Middle Grade Thrillers, Mystery, Romance, Romantic Comedies, and Adventure manuscripts. With an English degree from Stanford University and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago, Jill has marketed everything from sneakers to cereal at Leo Burnett Advertising, LA Gear, Mattel, and at her own consulting company, LAUNCH! New Product Marketing. Clients include Robin Mellom, Janet Gurtler, Martha Brockenbrough, Kelly Milner Halls, Ralph Fletcher, & Jen Arena. Jill is also the editor of Dare to Dream-Change the World (Kane Miller, 2012), a poetry anthology which includes Ellen Hopkins, Jane Yolen, J. Patrick Lewis, & Lee Bennett Hopkins.  

PM • - Eddie Gamarra - Adapting Your Work for Film or Television   

• What kinds of books are best suited for adaptation? 

• How does the adaptation process work? 

• What’s the author/illustrator’s role in that process and who else is involved? 

• How to market your book and its adaptation to the entertainment industry

• Some tips on creating truly cinematic stories with words or illustrations 

And Eddie's the Expert...

Eddie Gamarra is a literary manager/producer at The Gotham Group, which represents screenwriters, directors, animators, authors, illustrators, publishers, and animation studios.  He specializes in children’s & family entertainment, including animation, live action and literature ranging across picture books, novels, anthologies and graphic novels.  His clients include numerous New York Times best-selling authors and illustrators as well as Oscar, Emmy, Caldecott, Newbery, and Geisel award winners and develop and sell projects for all platforms ranging from online shorts to live action feature films.  In addition to his work at The Gotham Group, he has consulted for Teen Magazine, National Geographic's TV series HOLLYWOOD SCIENCE, and MANswers on Spike.  He has lectured at Vassar, North Carolina School of the Arts, and University of Arkansas, Little Rock.  He received his BA in Psychology from Vassar College, a Masters in Cinema Studies from NYU and a PhD in Psychoanalysis & Film from Emory University.

 PM • - Ellen Hopkins - Creating the Really Truly Real Teen Characters     

The quickest way to turn off a YA audience is to write teen characters who little resemble teens.

And Ellen's the Expert...

Ellen Hopkins is a poet and the award-winning author of 20 nonfiction books for children and eight NY Times Bestselling young adult novels-in-verse. Her first novel for adults, Triangles, published in 2011. In the fall of 2012, her ninth YA novel, Tilt (a companion to Triangles) will publish, along with a crossover novel, Collateral. Ellen lives near Carson City NV with her husband and teenage son, a bottomless well of inspiration for her YA fiction.

 PM • - Ann Whitford Paul - Rhyme Time in Poetry and Picture Books    

  

Editors have a love-hate relationship to rhyme.  Learn how to avoid the pitfalls that make them throw up their arms and plead, "NO RHYME!"

And Ann's the Expert...

Ann Whitford Paul has published many award winning picture books—both fiction and non-fiction—poetry and early readers for children, including Tortuga in Trouble, Word Builder, If Animals Kissed Good Night and recently a book for adults titled WRITING PICTURE BOOKS:  A Hands-on Guide from Story Creation to Publication. 

 PM • - Dan Yaccarino - How To Do Successful School Presentations  

The Fundamentals of how to create a successful live presentation for both children and adults.

And Dan's the Expert...

Dan Yaccarino has written and illustrated over fifty children’s books, most notably, The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau, Unlovable, Every Friday and Go Go America. His bold, stylized illustrations add wit and energy to the work of such prestigious authors as Margaret Wise Brown, Jack Prelutsky, Kevin Henkes and Patricia MacLachlan in addition to his own stories. He is also the creator and producer of his own animated television series Oswald and the Emmy Award-winning Willa’s Wild Life, as well as the designer behind Nick Jr's Emmy-winning The Backyardigans. Dan lives in New York City with his family and vintage toy collection.
  

 

 PM • - An Afternoon with 8 Agents   

With these powerhouse literary agents:

Stefanie Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary; 

 Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary Agency;  

Natalie M. Lakosil, Bradford Literary Agency;  

Karen Grencik, Red Fox Literary Agency;  

Julie Kane-Ritsch, Gotham Group;  

Linda Pratt Wernick, Pratt Agency;
Deborah Warren, East West Literary Agency;  

Ken Wright, Writers House

 PM • - Bonnie Bader - Leveled Readers   

This hands-on intensive will not only give you a greater understanding of Leveled Readers, but it will also give you effective writing tools to become an author for this growing market.  In class activities to include:  paging out manuscripts, writing art notes, writing your very own reader, and more!

And Bonnie's the Expert...

Bonnie Bader, Editor-in-Chief of Early and Beginning Readers at Grosset & Dunlap is also the head of the U.S. arm of Fredrick Warne, which publishes Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit, Flower Fairies, and Spot. At Grosset, Bonnie oversees all of Penguin’s leveled readers, which fall under the imprint, Penguin Young Readers. In addition, she is starting up an 8x8 picture book program, and a beginning/early chapter book program which will launch in 2013. She continues to edit and oversee several series including Hank Zipzer by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, Katie Kazoo Switcheroo and George Brown, Class Clown by Nancy Krulik, and Frankly Frannie by Amanda Stern. Upcoming series include Almost Identical by Lin Oliver (Fall 2012) and The Magic Bone by Nancy Krulik (Summer 2013). Bonnie is also a member of the SCBWI Board of Advisors.

 PM • - Ari Lewin - First Pages: An In-depth Analysis of the Very Best Ways To Start A Novel      

A hands-on workshop where we analyze the first pages of successful YA and middle grade novels, then apply what we've learned to YOUR stories.

And Ari's the Expert...

Arianne Lewin is an executive editor at G. P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.  She edits all kinds of books, with an emphasis on young adult novels and fantasy. Ari has worked with Mike Rex, Cinda Williams Chima, Rachel Hawkins, Katie Alender, Marie Lu and Jessica Spotswood.  

 PM • - Jen Rofe - The ”So What” Factor  

When reading manuscripts, Jen Rofé asks herself “So What? Why should I care about these characters and their story?” In this three-hour intensive, we will examine the plots of successful books to uncover how the author made us care, and we will discuss techniques for developing your own “So What?” factor in your manuscript or work-in-progress. Be warned: Side effects of this intensive include: Torturing your- self with “So what?”; looking for the “So What?” factor in books you read; and writing strong, compelling stories.

And Jen's the Expert...

Jennifer Rofé handles children's fiction projects at Andrea Brown Literary Agency ranging from picture books to young adult. Middle grade is Jennifer's soft spot and she's open to all genres in this category, especially the tender or hilarious. She is always looking for fresh and distinct voices; stories that simultaneously tug at her heartstrings and make her laugh out loud; and "adorkable" heroes. As for YA, Jennifer is drawn to contemporary works; dramatic or funny romance; and urban fantasy/light sci-fi. She's especially interested in mind-blowingly smart projects that are layered, complex, and unexpected, and she appreciates big, developed worlds. In terms of picture books, early readers, and chapter books, she is interested in character-driven projects and smart, exceptional writing. 

The Illustrator Intensive: Writing For Illustrators

Do you have a vivid picture demanding to tell a story? Do you have a lively character struggling to find a voice? Are you ready to be an author-illustrator? If you are an illustrator with an original idea and you are looking for the right shape and format, this day-long intensive will help you create a story that is as personal, compelling and imaginative as your art.  

A full day of talks (check out the schedule here) from successful illustrators, editors, agents, publishers and art directors is followed by a panel review of book proposals to illuminate what it takes to put together a successful proposal for your story and art.  

With these Experts:

Tony DiTerlizzi is a new York Times bestselling author and illustrator who has been creating books with Simon and Schuster for over a decade. From his fanciful picture books like, Jimmy Zangwow’s Out-of-this-World Moon Pie Adventure, G is for One Gzonk! and The Spider & The Fly (a Caldecott Honor book), to chapter books like Kenny and The Dragon and The Search for WondLa, Tony always imbues his stories with a rich imagination. His middle-grade series, The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Holly Black), has sold millions of copies, been adapted into a feature film, and has been translated in over thirty countries.

Arthur A. Levine is Vice President and Publisher of his own imprint, Arthur A Levine Books, which is celebrating its 15th Anniversary at Scholastic Inc. While Levine has edited and published exceptional books for children of all ages including Shaun Tan's Lost and Found, Jonah Winter's Just Behave Pablo Picasso! !, Dan Santat’s Sidekicks! and Lisa Yee’s Warp Speed,  he is perhaps most recognized as co-Editor of the Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling. Levine is the author of Monday is One Day , illustrated by Julian Hector, All the Lights in the Night (a Sidney Taylor Honor Books) illustrated by James Ransome, and the forthcoming A Very Beary Tooth Fairy  illustrated by Sarah Brannen. Arthur takes special pleasure in launching the careers of authors he’s met through SCBWI including Martha Brockenbrough (Devine Intervention), Mike Jung (Geeks, Girls and Secret Identities) and many others.

Bryan Collier is the author and illustrator of the Coretta Scott King Award-winning book Uptown. He received Caldecott Honors for the books Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport, which was also a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor book; Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, which received the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award; and, most recently, and Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick Hill. Mr. Collier lives in New York.

Laura Godwin is Vice President and Publisher of Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group), where she has worked for over twenty years. Jackie Kelly, Eugene Yelchin, Deborah Heiligman, Eric Carle, Peter McCarty, Dave Milgrim, Bryan Collier, Denise Fleming and William Low are some of the many authors with whom she works.  Laura likes nothing better than working with an author or illustrator at the beginning of his or her career, and has been thrilled to see five such newcomers go on to become either Newbery or Caldecott honor recipients. She grew up in Alberta, Canada and now lives in Manhattan.

Rubin Pfeffer launched his career as a designer for Macmillan in 1974 after which he joined Harcourt Brace Jovanovich serving for more than 27 years with responsibilities spanning from entry level designer to President of the Trade division.In 2001, Rubin joined Pearson, Inc.as SVP and Chief Creative Officer of the Pearson Education companies where he coordinated cross-company product development.  He served as SVP and Publisher for Simon & Schuster Children’s Books.  Imprints reporting to Rubin included S&S Books for Young Readers, Atheneum, McElderry Books, and Aladdin Paperbacks.His imprints achieved the Newbery Medal and Honor and the Caldecott Hono. In 2008, he launched Beach Lane Books, a commercial children’s picture book imprint. Rubin joined the East West Literary Agency in December, 2009, as a partner and works with talents as David Diaz, Patricia MacLachlan, Richard Jesse Watson, Susan Cooper, Michael Hague, Jeff Mack, and a host of other published and new talents. He served as a judge of NAPPA’s annual round-up of best children’s books for the years 2010 and 2011and has consulted for the digital publisher Ruckus Media Group where he executive produced Ruckus’ first original story app for children, A Present for Milo, which quickly became a bestselling children’s app on iTunes.

Jon Klassen, 

Antoinette Portis graduated from the UCLA School of Fine Arts and then––since being a video performance artist paid her the nice round sum of nothing whatsoever––she worked as a graphic designer and advertising art director. She was a creative director at Disney for many years before she bolted to do what she had always wanted to do: be left alone in a room to write and make pictures. Her first book was the best-selling Not A Box, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and a Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Book. A Penguin Story was also a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. She was one of four recipients of the 2010 Sendak Fellowship. Antoinette lives in Southern California with her husband, Michael. They have a daughter who is also an artist.

Melissa Sweet has illustrated many award winning children’s books from board books to nonfiction and jacket covers.  Her collages and paintings have appeared in the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living and for eeBoo Toys. She has written and illustrated Tupelo Rides the Rails, Carmine: A Little More Red,  a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book, 2005  and the 2012 Sibert Medal winner, Balloons Over Broadway :The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade. Melissa illustrated A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant, a 2009 Caldecott Honor book and a New York Times Best Illustrated, among other awards. When she is not in her studio, she can be found taking in an art class, hiking with her dogs or riding her bicycle. She lives with her family in Rockport, Maine.

Eugene Yelchin is a Russian-born author and illustrator of children’s books. In 2012, Breaking Stalin’s Nose, his first illustrated novel, received a Newbery Honor award. That same year, Won Ton, A Cat Tale Told In Haiku, which Yelchin illustrated, became an American Library Association Notable Book, among numerous other awards. In 2010, his illustrated picture book Rooster Prince of Breslov received the National Jewish Book Award. Yelchin received a Tomie de Paola award in 2006 at the SCBWI winter conference. Since then his books received starred reviews and were included in the Best Books of the Year lists.

Pat Cummings is the author and/or illustrator of over 35 books for young readers.  She also edited the award-winning series, Talking With Artists, which profiles prominent children's book illustrators. She teaches at Parsons and Pratt, and her children's book illustration class has a growing number of notable illustrator/authors among its graduates.  Pat serves on the SCBWI board as well as on the boards of the Authors Guild, the Authors League Fund, The Authors Guild Foundation and the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Along with visiting schools, universities and organizations to speak about children’s books, she conducts a summer Children’s Book Boot Camp that brings writers and illustrators together with top editors and art directors from major publishing houses.

and 

Cecilia Yung is Art Director and Vice President at Penguin Books for Young Readers where she oversees illustration and design for two imprints, G. P. Putnam's Sons and Nancy Paulsen Books. She is fortunate to have worked with some of the major illustrators of children’s books, but the highlight of her work is to discover and develop new talent. She is on the Board of Advisors of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) as well as a member of its Illustrators Committee.

To find out more about these intensives, the assignments for attendees, and to register,  go here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Summer Conference Writer Intensives Selling Out

An important update!

Because these three sessions sold out so fast, each faculty member has agreed to do an additional session:

Jen Rofe - The 'So What?' Factor

Andrea Welch - Ten Essential Picture Book Elements - How Does Your Manuscript Measure Up?

Ari Lewin - First Pages: In-Depth Analysis of the Very Best Ways To Start A Novel

There are just a few spots left in:

Bonnie Bader - Developing Your Hook

Deborah Halverson - Writing for Teens? Then Think Like One

Josh Adams - Building A Brand: Marketing Yourself and Your Work

Krista Marino - Show It, Don’t Tell It!  Making Your Voice Stronger

Linda Sue Park - Spitshine: Putting The Final Polish On Your Novel

Ann Whitford Paul - The C.P.R.: Character, Plot, Rhythm - of Picture Books

And these workshops are filling fast:

Emma Dryden - Independent and Self-Publishing: Best Practices

Ellen Hopkins - Building a Career Through Self-Promotion

Melissa Stewart - Four Steps To A Stronger Nonfiction Manuscript

Sonya Sones - Should Your Tomes Be Written In Poems: Crafting the Novel in Verse

Dan Yaccarino - From Inspiration to Publication: The Essentials of a Picture Book

A Morning With 9 Agents - Josh Adams (Adams Literary); Jaime Weiss Chilton (Andrea Brown Literary Agency); Stefanie Von Borstel (Full Circle Literary); Jill Corcoran (Herman Agency); Natalie M. Lakosil (Bradford Literary Agency); Karen Grencik (Red Fox Literary Agency); Linda Pratt (Wernick & Pratt Agency); Deborah Warren (East West Literary Agency); Ken Wright (Writer's House.)

Jill Corcoran - How to Write a Query Letter

Eddie Gamarra - Adapting Your Work for Film or Television

Ellen Hopkins - Creating the Really Truly Real Teen Characters

Ann Whitford Paul - Rhyme Time in Poetry and Picture Books

Dan Yaccarino - How To Do Successful School Presentations

Bonnie Bader - Leveled Readers

An Afternoon with 8 Agents - Stefanie Von Borstel (Full Circle Literary); Jaime Weiss Chilton (Andrea Brown Literary); Natalie M. Lakosil (Bradford Literary Agency); Karen Grencik (Red Fox Literary Agency); Julie Kane-Ritsch (Gotham Group); Linda Pratt (Wernick & Pratt Agency); Deborah Warren (East West Literary Agency); Ken Wright (Writer's House.)

Last year the conference sold out.  To make sure you get into the intensive that you want, now's the time to register!

You can find out more about the conference and these remarkable intensive opportunities - and the homework some of them require - here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

The Writers Intensives at the Upcoming 2012 SCBWI Winter Conference

I recently sat down with Lin Oliver, Executive Director of SCBWI, to find out more about the Writers Intensives on Friday January 27, 2012.

There are two different full-day writers intensives this year:

The Roundtable Intensive for Writers, where you get a chance to share your work with (and get immediate feedback from) editors and agents.   (This sells out every year.)

And new for this conference, a Marketing For Professional Writers Intensive.  In our video, Lin explains the what and why of this amazing new opportunity for authors.




You can see the full Roundtable Intensive for Writers and Marketing For Professional Writers Intensive schedules here.

Register for the intensive that's right for you, and the whole Lucky 13th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference here.

We hope to see you there!

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Mark Your Calendars for SCBWI's 40th Annual Summer Conference! (It's Gonna Be Awesome)

August 5-8...Grab a highlighter and circle the days or pull up your Google calendar and make a note--SCBWI plans to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a bang with a spectacular summer conference.

Keynote speakers include such greats as Mary Pope Osborne, Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Donna Jo Napoli, Jerry Pinkney, Jon Sciezka, David Small, Gary Paulson, Norton Juster and Bruce Coville.

Panels of more than 20 top editors, art directors and agents will present the current and future state of the industry, as well as special sessions on electronic publishing. This year’s conference will also feature specialized tracks for nonfiction writers, illustrators, and published professionals (all specialized tracks are available at no additional charge).

A NEW FORMAT
This year, the conference format will be slightly different than in the past. The main sessions--made up of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and optional manuscript and portfolio critiques--will take place over three days, August 5-7.

The final day of the conference, August 8, is an optional intensive day for a limited number of authors and illustrators. The Writer Intensive will feature three-hour, hands-on workshops on various topics, in addition to a round-table critique of your work led by an editor or agent. The Illustrator Intensive will feature up-close craft demonstrations by seven leading illustrators.

Intensives have limited space and will fill up quickly, so plan to be by your computer on April 15th when registration opens to ensure you get a spot--better mark your calender again.


As always, SCBWI TEAM BLOG will offer live coverage of the event as it happens as well as pre-conference interviews with the amazing faculty so watch this space (and the spaces of the other TEAM BLOG blogs) and prepare to be enticed.