Bringing Community to a Conference

There's something special about a conference, isn't there?

The speakers, the intensives, the portfolio critiques! Not to mention all those sessions, the one-on-one consults with agents, the Pitch Party! All designed to help you improve your craft, to bring your career into focus.

And then there's the community of a conference, the friends and professionals who understand the struggles of the creative life and are there for you with generous support, the gift of inspiration, and sometimes even a bit of courage.

When Southern Breeze started working to make wik'20 an online conference, we knew we could bring the craft and career focus; we were a bit more challenged with bringing the community.

But Zoom is an amazing platform! We were able to find a way to bring Informal Critiques (and you can still sign up for 'em--they're free!) and the Mentorship Review for illustrators (also free but only a day left for signup!) so that you can get that interactive support that's so much a part of community-building.

Oh, but the inspiration. You can't beat the book launchers for inspiration! When I think back to my earliest conferences, I sometimes remember a keynote speaker but I always remember a book launcher or two. Whether it's the passion they bring as they tell their journey to publication or the grit and determination they share, it's so inspiring! We had to have the book launchers, and we had to have the launchers from wik'20 who'd worked so hard preparing their three minutes of inspiration. But getting 15 people together at one time for a live book launch?

That's extra-challenging. But it was Zoom to the rescue again! Thanks to PAL Coordinator, Heather Montgomery, the launchers were recorded. And rather than having their presentation at a certain time and available only for a week, we've given them a prime spot on the Southern Breeze website HERE.

Throughout the next six weeks or so, for as long as wik'20 2.0 lasts, we'll keep the Book launchers presentation there for you, and all the information about their books, too. All you have to do is copy and paste the Zoom link to the recording into your browser to bring their smiling faces up on your screen. Or you can click directly on the links here:

https://zoom.us/rec/share/wNJcKIvZzmZOcrPMtRrfcKp6McPDT6a80CUc8_sLnx1qahxF6lRkH6mO4uX-C5Ip 

https://zoom.us/rec/share/4dZ6d57900FJSKvU7UTbY4QfRIr3aaa823Id-6ZYy00NoHKJv-5b3OgMaTypBD0t


'Cause we all need a little inspiration now and then, right?

Stay safe, stay inside, and join us for wik'20 2.0. Register HERE!

Bring Your Career into Sharper Focus with WIK20 and INFORMAL CRITIQUES

If you've taken a look at the SCBWI Southern Breeze Facebook page recently--you do know there is an SCBWI Southern Breeze Facebook page, right? You'll also know that the SCBWI Southern Breeze Facebook page is a great place to check in daily and see what's happening around our region. And when you check in, you're going to see this:

This is why we go to conferences: community, craft, career. It's also what you'll get with the informal critiques that we offer at every conference.

The informal critiques are free, and they're an excellent opportunity to meet with other writers and writer/illustrators who write exactly what you write (or illustrate).

Looking for picture book writers who can give you feedback? We've got that, and author-illustrators, too. Non-fiction, only, please? Sure, we've got that as well. But what about novels, you ask. We'll put you in a group with Middle Grade or Young Adult. We have your community, but it doesn't end at wik20. There's no reason why you can't continue to critique with friends you meet at a conference.

Your group might be a couple of new writers but you'll also have a facilitator who has a bit of experience. And before you think that writer sitting next to you who's never attended a conference won't be much help, you might be surprised to know that he or she won the writing contest the year before. So the level of craft in your informal group might be varied but it will be mighty--and you will learn plenty!

Finally, we know it's not always easy to put your work out there, whether it's a professional manuscript critique or an informal critique. But SCBWI Southern Breeze is rooting for you, so take a deep breath and share, knowing that we all started at the beginning and we all know exactly how you feel. We promise to give your work the same thoughtful and thorough consideration that we'd want. Then keep putting the work in and the day will come when your career will take off.

See this great post from our Critique Coordinator, T.K.Read for more information about how the informal critiques work. We'll be meeting in the Aloft Hotel this year for critique, sure, but what we're really after is community and craft and career! See y'all there!

Click here and register today for wik20 and bring your career into sharper focus!

Spring to Success with SpringMingle'19 and INFORMAL CRITIQUES!

Last year, T. K. Read, the Southern Breeze Critique Coordinator, came up with a great post all about the Informal Critique process. In fact, it was so nice, we thought we'd run it twice! Here's TK:

SO WHY DO THE INFORMAL CRITIQUES? CHECK IF THE FOLLOWING APPLIES TO YOU.  

DO YOU:

____    Want 4-6 fresh eyes to give you feedback about your illustration or story’s opening pages?

____    Want to hear or see the latest and greatest works in progress from your peers? 

____    Want to be able to give your work one last polish before you send it off after the conference?!

If you answered “Yes” to even one of these questions, you need to participate in the Informal Critiques at SpringMingle'19. 

SO, for these “Yes” people, and those already sold on actively participating in Southern Breeze’s Informal Critiques, skip ahead and read way below for the nitty-gritty about the Informal Critiques.

FOR THE REST OF YOU: LET’S SEE IF WE CAN ADDRESS THE REASONS YOU ARE ON THE FENCE ABOUT PARTICIPATING. 

REASON ONE: THE COST.  Sorry, not valid. You can get feedback from 5-6 fellow writers or illustrators for FREE! All you need to do to participate is read and listen to their work, then give them feedback, too.

REASON TWO: I’M WORRIED SOMEONE WILL STEAL MY STORY/ILLUSTRATION IDEA. Again, not valid. It’s commonly said that there’s only one genuine story, and the rest is in the telling. For example, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, is written about a fairly-common literary trope – a wizarding school for kids set in a castle with fantastical elements - however, J.K. Rawlings’ excellent telling of this story brought her characters to life and stole our hearts. If you are really worried about idea theft, you can register your work with the US Copyright Office for a nominal charge. Here’s the link to the FAQ page: https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-register.html. It’s been my experience that suggestions given to me by other writers have helped me impro­­ve my work so much, the benefits outweigh any real risk of idea theft.

This same logic applies to illustrators, where if you ask three illustrators to provide mock-ups of the same picture book page, they will come up with three very different samples emphasizing either different elements of the story or the same story elements differently.

REASON THREE: I’M WORRIED ABOUT RECEIVING CRITICISM: OK, we here at Southern Breeze strongly encourage the sandwich method for critiquing. It works like this: you say something you like about someone else’s work, then you make a constructive suggestion for improving it, then you end with another comment about what you liked. Our work are our babies after all, and so we need to treat them and each other gently. Another gauge with regards to criticism is that two people can disagree based on personal likes and dislikes, but if three people offer the same suggestion for improvement, you may want to give that suggestion some serious thought. What I frequently do with suggestions like these is rewrite my work using the suggestion, then take a week off from the writing. At the end of the week, I reread both versions and see which one is more appealing.  

I hope I’ve addressed your concerns, and that you will join me in making the most we can of every opportunity offered. See you soon!

Yours in Writing, T. K. Read, Critique Group Leader, Southern Breeze

REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Nitty Gritty:

WHERE:  HOTEL LOBBY

WHEN:    SATURDAY, 5:30-6:30 

WHAT:    5 COPIES OF YOUR WORK, LIMIT 5 PAGES OR 1250 WORDS

FORMAT: Group leaders will pick up a paddle with their group number and a copy of the updated sign-up sheet from the Critique Group display and find a spot where they can sit with 4-6 participants. They will hold up their paddle until their group members join them. They will also be responsible for moving the critiques along so that everyone has an opportunity to share. Each participant reads their work out loud as others follow along. When finished, the leader moves the discussion around the table, and stops it when time is up (15-20 minutes for reading and discussion depending on number present). 

EVERYONE A WINNER AT WIK'18: The Informal Critiques!

SO WHY DO THE INFORMAL CRITIQUES? CHECK IF THE FOLLOWING APPLIES TO YOU.  

DO YOU:

____    Want 4-6 fresh eyes to give you feedback about your illustration or story’s opening pages?

____    Want to hear or see the latest and greatest works in progress from your peers?

____    Want to be able to give your work one last polish before you send it off after the conference to our amazing WIK faculty?!

If you answered “Yes” to even one of these questions, you need to participate in the Informal Critiques at WIK’18. 

SO, for these “Yes” people, and those already sold on actively participating in Southern Breeze’s Informal Critiques, skip ahead and read way below for the nitty-gritty about the Informal Critiques.

FOR THE REST OF YOU: LET’S SEE IF WE CAN ADDRESS THE REASONS YOU ARE ON THE FENCE ABOUT PARTICIPATING. 

REASON ONE: THE COST.  Sorry, not valid. You can get feedback from 5-6 fellow writers or illustrators for FREE! All you need to do to participate is read and listen to their work, then give them feedback too.

REASON TWO: I’M WORRIED SOMEONE WILL STEAL MY STORY/ILLUSTRATION IDEA. Again, not valid. It’s commonly said that there’s only one genuine story, and the rest is in the telling. For example, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, is written about a fairly-common literary trope – a wizarding school for kids set in a castle with fantastical elements - however, J.K. Rawlings’ excellent telling of this story brought her characters to life and stole our hearts. If you are really worried about idea theft, you can register your work with the US Copyright Office for a nominal charge. Here’s the link to the FAQ page: https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-register.html. It’s been my experience that suggestions given to me by other writers have helped me impro­­ve my work so much, the benefits outweigh any real risk of idea theft.

This same logic applies to illustrators, where if you ask three illustrators to provide mock-ups of the same picture book page, they will come up with three very different samples emphasizing either different elements of the story or the same story elements differently.

 

REASON THREE: I’M WORRIED ABOUT RECEIVING CRITICISM: OK, we here at Southern Breeze strongly encourage the sandwich method for critiquing. It works like this: you say something you like about someone else’s work, then you make a constructive suggestion for improving it, then you end with another comment about what you liked. Our work are our babies after all, and so we need to treat them and each other gently. Another gauge with regards to criticism is that two people can disagree based on personal likes and dislikes, but if three people offer the same suggestion for improvement, you may want to give that suggestion some serious thought. What I frequently do with suggestions like these is rewrite my work using the suggestion, then take a week off from the writing. At the end of the week, I reread both versions and see which one is more appealing.  

I hope I’ve addressed your concerns, and that you will join me in making the most we can of every opportunity offered to us at wik’18 by participating in the Informal Critiques on Saturday. See you soon!

Yours in Writing, T. K. Read, Critique Group Leader, Southern Breeze

REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN! CLICK :::HERE:::TO REGISTER!

Wik’18 Nitty Gritty:

WHERE:  SPAIN HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA

WHEN:    SATURDAY APPROX. 4:30-6:00 (Immediately Following Last Session). There Will Be Over-Flow to Sunday Morning at the Same Location Beginning At 10:00 AM.

WHAT:    6 COPIES OF YOUR WORK, LIMIT 5 PGS OR 1250 WORDS

FORMAT: Group leaders will pick up a paddle with their group number and a copy of the updated sign-up sheet from the Critique Group display and take it to a table in the cafeteria where they can sit with 4-6 participants. They will hold up their paddle until their group members join them. They will also be responsible for moving the critiques along so that everyone has an opportunity to share. Each participant reads their work out loud as others follow along. When finished, the leader moves the discussion around the table, and stops it when time is up (15-20 minutes for reading and discussion depending on number present). For those wanting to continue the dialogue on their work with their Informal Critique partners, you will have access to the Cafeteria Sunday morning beginning at 10:00am.

A SEASON OF GIVING WITH WIK’18 - COZY CRITIQUE GROUPS

On the 12th day of wik'18 registration, Southern Breeze gives to you...

Critical yet comforting and cozy critique groups!

There's nothing quite like professional feedback for a dearly loved manuscript or illustration. But there is nothing like having your writing and/or artistic dreams quashed ruthlessly by a room full of strangers! And that's why the Informal Critique Groups offered at wik'18 are so valuable.

Whether you are a writer or an illustrator, you'll have the opportunity to sit down in a small group with others and discuss your work. You'll be in a supportive environment, and what's more, we make sure that similar writers end up in the appropriate groups so that if you have a picture book, for example, you'll get feedback from other picture book writers. You may find yourself seated next to someone who has a dozen picture books traditionally published, while the person across from you may have just self-published. It's that kind of varied constructive feedback that can really make a difference in your career!

And best of all, the informal critiques are free!

Now, in case you've lost count of all the gifts we have for you at wik'18, here's the list:

Informal Critique Groups! (Absolutely free!)

Quickfire Portfolio Reviews! (Also absolutely free!)

Six Inspiring Intensives! (They fill up quickly, so please register today to get just the inspiring intensive you want!)

Four Awesome Agents! (They're offering One-on-One sessions, but those, too, will fill up fast!)

Two Terrific Editors! (For illustrators and writers!)

And an Early Bird Discount! (Which ends at midnight today!)

Oh! And our very special gift is an invitation to the faculty dinner on Saturday after the conference! Boy, I bet TracyGA is going to have a ton of fun there! Please send an email to RA Claudia Pearson at SouthernBreeze@SCBWI.org to get more information about claiming your gift.

But all y'all (as we say in Southern Breeze) can claim a whole 12 days of gifts in our Season of Giving! They're all there, waiting just for you, and all you have to do is register for wik'18!

So start your New Year with the best gift you can give to yourself and join us in March for wik'18!

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK with Informal Critiques!

Light Your Imagination at #SBreeze16 WIK
with Informal Critiques! 

Manuscripts in hand, you sit down with a group of your peers. They all write the same genre. They all are as eager as you to improve your manuscript.

WIK15 offers the opportunity for you to do that!

After the conference, you'll have the opportunity to sit with other writers / illustrators and chat about your story (and theirs), where it needs improving, where it is strong, suggestions on the tone.

These informal critique sessions are a great way to meet others in your field. Maybe make a lasting friendship. To learn about your craft and to improve yourself on your way to publication.

Not sure how to critique? 

Here are is one way to look at it. Think of critiquing someone's work like a sandwich. You have bread, filler, and bread.

• Bread - Start off with something nice and squishy. What you really like about the story or the writing in general.
• Filler - Get to the meat of what you think. Are there places that can be taken out? Do you see pov shifts? Are there rabbit trails that need to be fixed? Does their work zip and zag in all the right places? How is the plot? Character development?
• Bread - Finish off by saying something nice again. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and give some encouragement.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 CLICK HERE to be directed to our registration page! 

~See you in October~

"Something for Everyone!" 30 Days of WIK - Informal Critques

"Something for Everyone!"
30 Days of WIK15 - Informal Critiques

Manuscripts in hand, you sit down with a group of your peers. They all write the same genre. They all are as eager as you to improve your manuscript.

WIK15 offers the opportunity for you to do that!

After the conference, you'll have the opportunity to sit with other writers / illustrators and chat about your story (and theirs), where it needs improving, where it is strong, suggestions on the tone.

These informal critique sessions are a great way to meet others in your field. Maybe make a lasting friendship. To learn about your craft and to improve yourself on your way to publication.

Not sure how to critique? 

Here are is one way to look at it. Think of critiquing someone's work like a sandwich. You have bread, filler, and bread.

• Bread - Start off with something nice and squishy. What you really like about the story or the writing in general.
• Filler - Get to the meat of what you think. Are there places that can be taken out? Do you see pov shifts? Are there rabbit trails that need to be fixed? Does their work zip and zag in all the right places? How is the plot? Character development?
• Bread - Finish off by saying something nice again. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and give some encouragement.

See you all in October!

Click here to REGISTER FOR WIK'15 now!