Inspiration, the Winning Intangible of SCBWI

There are lots of reasons to join SCBWI, but we often look at the tangibles when it's the intangibles that can ultimately help us into the winner's circle. Take inspiration, for example.

When I attend a conference, I may not always get great feedback on my latest manuscript. I don't always walk away with an agent's interest, and it's been forever since my First Page has been chosen. But I know I will come away inspired.

And one of the most inspiring aspects of our conferences is the Book Launches. At this year's SpringMingle, long-time Southern Breezer, Lisa L. Stauffer, shared her story; so many people loved it--and were inspired by it--that I asked if she'd share it here. Lisa graciously sent the following:

If you tell a writer…

By Lisa Lowe Stauffer

(With apologies to Laura Joffe Numeroff)

If you tell a writer about SCBWI, she’ll want to go to a conference.

When that conference is over, she’ll want to go to another—

and another…

and another.

When there are no more conferences, she’ll want to go to all the workshops—

even if they’re about writing poetry.

(At least she could hang out with her friends. She was no poet!)

But when she goes to the workshop, she’ll find playing with words is lots of fun.

So she’ll keep playing when she goes home.

She’ll draft and edit…

draft and edit…

draft and edit,

until she’s got a weird little poem about monkeys taking over Noah’s Ark.

Then she’ll send it to the Southern Breeze SCBWI contest,

where, to her surprise, it’ll win second place!

(She’s entered lots of novels into these contests, and they never won.)

So she’ll take the judge’s feedback,

draft and edit…

draft and edit…

draft and edit,

until the weird little poem flows.

When she thinks it’s finally perfect, she’ll ask critique partners to take a look.

(sigh)

Draft and edit…

draft and edit…

draft and edit.

Finally, she’ll send it to her agent—who she met at an SCBWI conference.

And she’ll wait as the poem goes out on submission.

(waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting…)*

So when the book comes out, it’ll remind her of that poetry workshop so long ago.

And when she thinks about the workshop, it will remind her of SCBWI,

and chances are when she thinks of SCBWI,

she’ll want

to go

to another

conference.

*(Five years from first draft to sale. Two more years to publication.)

A big thank you to Lisa Lower Stauffer, and here's hoping that she's inspired you! (P.S. See you and your new book at the next Book Launch at wik'20 in Birmingham! Keep up with us here for more details coming soon!)

~ Cathy C. Hall, ARA
SCBWI Southern Breeze

TEN Tips for Conference Attendees (And P.S. A WINNER!)

The doors open on Springmingle'19 this Friday, March 15th! And it's a whirlwind of activities and sessions and speakers and friends and fun, so you'll want to be ready. Thanks to our Southern Breeze Co-Regional Advisor, Claudia Pearson, you can be! Take a look at these ten tips she's collected, good for any SCBWI conference you might attend:

1. Volunteer! It's the best way to get to know new people!

2. Comment on the Southern Breeze conference Facebook, Twitter and blog posts. People will remember your name.

3. Attend the conference with your critique group or writing buddies if you can. If you each attend different sessions, you can share notes after the conference.

4. Get organized: Prepare a clear view binder prior to attending. Keep the conference schedule in the front cover and a checklist of items to bring in the back. Use clear sleeves inside the binder for "homework," handouts, writing samples, business cards, etc, for easy access.

5. Keep it compact. Big bags can be barriers and small (no larger than 14") illustration portfolios are better suited than large ones for presentation space and critiques.

6. Write out "must know" questions handy for the breakout session speakers or the Roundtable discussions. Refrain from questions that can be easily "Googled," (i.e. what is point of view, what's a dummy?) and instead address specific craft/marketing issues that maximize the speakers' expertise.

7. If you plan to take notes on a laptop, insure laptop battery is fully charged. Plugs near work space may be scarce.

8. Don't "buttonhole" faculty, and don't offer them your manuscript at the conference (you will have a chance to submit after the conference), but have your 30 second pitch ready just in case they ask what you are working on.

9. Get together with your Local Liaison and members from your area. They can be great friends and resources after the conference. (Membership Coordinator Paula Puckett will be at SM'19 with a display of members and LLs. Look for her near the registration table to find more info!)

10. Prepare to be engaged, challenged and inspired! Drinking water from a fire hose is not so easy, so get some rest, arrive early, and be ready to learn and share. Everyone has something valuable to offer.
 
There you have it, Breezers, ten terrific tips! And as promised, here's our winner of the Spread the Word Contest: Meredith York! Congrats, Meredith, and thanks for helping us spread the word about Springmingle'19! Meredith will win a $50 discount on her registration, just for spreading the word on social media. So maybe we should add another tip for next year: Participate in Southern Breeze contests and win BIG!

Breezers in Your Neighborhood--MARCH!

There will be plenty of Breezers in the neighborhood of Decatur, Georgia on the weekend of March 16th and 17th when we Spring To Success with Springmingle'19! Illustrator's Day and writers' intensives are scheduled for Friday and on Saturday, join us for the conference--there's still room for a few more at the conference only so hurry and register here!

But if you can't make the conference or Illustrator's Day, you can still pop in for a visit at our reception on Friday evening! Come and see our illustrators' portfolios, purchase member and SM'19 faculty books, and say hello to our Coretta Scott King Honors Book Award illustrator, Laura Freeman, who'll be joining us to sign her honor book, Hidden Figures. The reception is FREE and we'd love to see you!




What:  SCBWI Southern Breeze Portfolio Show, Reception, and  Book-Signing
Where: Decatur Public Library, First Floor Conference Room
              215 Sycamore Street
              Decatur, GA  30030
When:   4:00 to 6:30 PM



                     





Breezer Kerry Madden-Lunsford and her newly released picture book, Ernestine's Milky Way, will be at the following dates, locations, and times:

Monday, March 4th Alabama Booksmith Birmingham, AL at 5:00 pm

Tuesday, March 5th UAB Professor Book Celebration at AEIVA at 3:30 pm

Saturday, March 23rd Homewood Public Library, Homewood, AL 10:30 am

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). 

Spring to Success with SpringMingle'19 and VOLUNTEERING (AND A WHALE!)

Valerie Nelan is the Southern Breeze Volunteer Coordinator and she wrote up something special and um...whale-y for you. So here's Valerie:

Okay, there’s no whale. But like any good writer, I went with the first thing that came to mind and decided to see where it went.

Wait! I got it! If you volunteer at the SCBWI Spring Mingle, you’ll have a WHALE OF A TIME!!

No? It was a terrible joke? Okay, you’re right. It was pitiful. And painful. So let’s move on.

One of the best ways to get involved in SCBWI is to volunteer. Writing can be such a solitary pursuit, and by volunteering, you’re basically forced into meeting people. And here’s the thing: the writers and artists you’ll meet at Spring Mingle are bound to be among the best you’ve ever laid eyes on.

I knew absolutely no one my first Spring Mingle, and even though I can chat up just about anyone (hello, outgoing personality!), it was hard at first. Thankfully, by the end of that Spring Mingle, I’d met a whole bunch of people and was invited to be in a local critique group. By the time the next conference came around, I was ready to volunteer, and it was an incredible experience. I met all the conference organizers, and even though that first year my contributions were small, I felt like I’d really made a difference. Even better: I made friends and critique partners who have made me a better writer.

So, are you ready to make a difference? We need volunteers! Roles for our volunteers include working the registration desk, helping with book sales, helping with food (who doesn’t love food?), timing the one-on-one meetings, and more.

Email me, Valerie Nelan, at vmnelan@gmail.com with your interest. You’ll get my undying love and affection, plus a snazzy little bio in the conference hand-outs! Ready? Go!

(I guarantee you and all the volunteers are going to get along swimmingly--and yeah, Valerie Nelan's going to get me back for that one--but first you have to register for SpringMingle'19. So CLICK HERE AND REGISTER TODAY!)

Spring To Success With SpringMingle'19 and MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUES!

Who doesn’t love a critique?

Palms sweating and stomach fluttering with butterflies as you sit down in front of the esteemed editor or agent about to pass judgment on you. Er, I mean your manuscript.

But seriously, a critique from a publishing professional can do so much more for you than feed an adrenaline habit. My first critique taught me to let my character tell her own story. My worst critique left me frustrated and angry…and ready to write the story that was in my heart instead of something I thought people would want to read. At my next critique, the editor wanted to read more of that story. And, yes, I met my agent at a critique.

SpringMingle'19 registration is open, with critique opportunities still available, but manuscripts have to be submitted by February 8. Don’t miss your chance for personalized attention from a publishing professional. Your work will grow, and chances are, you’ll discover that those august sages are nice, knowledgeable people, eager to help you in your artistic journey.

A special thanks to Sharon Pegram, Co-Assistant Regional Advisor for Southern Breeze, who shared this experience with us last year--and we thought it deserved a re-run! Sharon writes sci-fi and fantasy and yep, you'll see her at SM'19 with her latest manuscript critique!

PLEASE NOTE: MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUES ARE DUE FEBRUARY 8th! Don't delay--Register today!

                   Click HERE to register for SpringMingle'19!

Spring To Success With SpringMingle'19 and ELLEN HOPKINS (Part II)

In anticipation of our SpringMingle novel intensive (which looks AWESOME), Conference Coordinator Randall Bonser interviewed multiple-award-winning author Ellen Hopkins about her most famous YA book series, and about her practice of writing in verse. She also included the homework she wants attendees to do before the workshop. If you haven't signed up for the novel intensive yet, there are still a few more spots (but they are going quickly, so... ):

Do you find that teens are still reading books? Or has anything changed in teen reading habits in the years you’ve been writing for teens?

Teens are absolutely still reading books, and they prefer print to screen. I think the difference between then and now is the sheer number of choices they have. There are books for every teen. 

What kind of habits would you advise for writers who want to succeed in YA fiction?

To spend as much time around teens as you can, in a number of different settings, if possible. And to read, read, read, YA, in its many forms. 

What are some of the things you’re going to focus on when you teach at Springmingle Atlanta 2019?

On the writing side, the value of imagery, sensory detail, and white space on the page. These things are critical to writing prose as well as verse, and all levels of kidlit. Also, balancing personal and professional time, marketing tips (including a discussion about online platforms), and the importance of inclusion, social justice and activism as writers. 

What are some homework assignments you want to assign to writers coming to your workshop at Springmingle?

I’d like everyone to bring a couple of pages of a WIP (Work In Progress) to my intensive sessions so we can see how playing with those sensory details and white space can create mood, and draw readers closer to the characters. And it would be good for those who already have websites or online platforms to bring laptops so we can look at what they’ve already got and how to spice it up.

Thanks, Ellen, for a sneak peek into what we can expect from your intensives at Springmingle'19. Plus, Ellen Hopkins will be delivering our Keynote at Saturday's conference. So you heard Randall Bonser--spots are going quickly! Register today!

              CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR SPRINGMINGLE'19 TODAY!

Spring To Success With SpringMingle'19 and BOOK LAUNCHES AND SALES!

PAL Coordinator Heather Montgomery has this special message for all our published members:

Every year we look forward to celebrating the successes of Southern Breeze members. At Springmingle we do that through book launches and sales. Come hear Breezers share their stories. Get your hands on books nurtured by Southern Breeze. And, take home autographed books!

Schedule:

Friday Signings 

4:00 – 5:00 PM Books by Southern Breezers

5:00 – 5:30 PM Books by Faculty

Saturday Signings 

11:30 – 12:30 PM

5:00 – 6:30 PM

Saturday Book Launches 

12:30 – 1:00 PM

3:00 – 3:30 PM

During book launches, Southern Breezers will each have 3 minutes to share their story. Attendees will hear of the grit it takes to get a book published, glean tips from these published members, and gain inspiration.

Published members, submit your recently released books! Slots for sales and launches are limited and available on a first-come/first-served basis. Please select “Book Sales” and/or “Book Launch” on your registration form and don’t forget:

 • For launches, submit your cover images to sbreezelaunch@gmail.com by February 15th.
 • For book sales, submit one book via this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5B-PGm2FSYtw_6rjZ_87EjeWCQFaIFsiEuhIZPm39GPjtOg/viewform
 • Note: these activities are open to all members who have published books.

But you can't sell your books OR launch your books if you're not at SpringMingle'19! Spots are filling fast so register today--we can't wait to see you AND your books!

              CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR SPRINGMINGLE'19 TODAY!

Spring To Success With SpringMingle'19 and ELLEN HOPKINS!

This year's Conference Coordinator, Randall Bonser, caught up with multiple-award-winning author Ellen Hopkins to ask her a few questions about her most famous Young Adult book series and her practice of writing in verse:

What is the draw for writing books in verse? Is this form becoming more or less popular?

For the author, writing in verse is a challenge. Every word must count, and poetic devices such as imagery, alliteration, metaphor, etc. are vital, and must be done well. Verse novels appeal to a variety of readers, however, especially reluctant or hard-to-reach readers, and have become a necessary kidlit format. They are absolutely more popular now than when I began writing them. 

Do you think poetry distances the reader from the difficult action bits, or draws them closer?

Poetry draws the reader inside the characters, so it’s more like living the story than being told the story. This is exactly what appeals to readers who love verse novels. 

Do concrete poems affect readers differently than “free verse” poems? Is there an added emotional layer?

Concrete poems add visual interest to the page, and for younger generations who grow up on a smorgasbord of visual elements (think screens), this adds appeal. 

Why is the plot element of a teen taking drugs important for you to write about?

I think most people know that my first YA novel, Crank, plus its sequels, Glass and Fallout, were inspired by my beautiful daughter’s fall into meth addiction. Watch the downward spiral from straight-A kid to prisoner made me want to change teen lives for the better by showing how easily addiction can happen to even the best and brightest kids. 

What feedback have you gotten from teen readers on the Crank trilogy?

Everything from “I was headed that way, but your books made me change my mind” to “thank you for the insight into my parents’ (or sibling’s or friend’s) addiction.” The books have done much good over the years and continue to do so today. Crank not only remains in print after fourteen years but is regularly replaced in classrooms and school libraries. 

Have you been stigmatized at all by parents or teachers or librarians for your raw coverage of some of these difficult topics?

Of course. However, the pushback was much stronger in the past. I think today people understand the power of novels like those I write to do good.

Come back Thursday for more of Ellen Hopkins' interview, particularly for those who've signed up for her novel intensive. (You'll want to get a head start because pssst! There's homework, y'all!)

And if you haven't registered for Friday's writing intensives, sign up today! There's still room but space is going fast!

                                 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR SPRINGMINGLE'19 TODAY!

Spring To Success with SpringMingle'19 and WRITING INTENSIVES!

Our intensive menu at SpringMingle ’19 includes full-day programs focused on the needs of picture book writers and novelists. Spend all day immersed in one category or mix it up with one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Here’s a taste of what will be happening in each:

Picture Books: Three indie-pubbed authors will share their knowledge and experience. Agent Kevin Lewis will reveal “The Truth about Trucks, Trains, and Toddlers: Creating Enduring Works for the Very Young.” After lunch Agent Alexandra Penfold will teach on “The Joy of Revision: Precision Makes your Manuscript Shine.”

Novels: Editor Aubrey Poole starts the day with a look at character development using the Hero’s Journey. Then Editor Jessica Anderson will go in-depth on revision. After lunch best-selling novelist Ellen Hopkins will address two advanced topics: the power of white space and a different look at sensory detail.

Both intensives conclude with roundtable discussions with your fellow attendees. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to take your work to the next level!

There's still room in the intensives but they're filling up fast! Take a look at the SpringMingle'19 brochure and check out all the information so you get the most bang for your conference bucks.

And you can save some bucks if you win the Spread the Word Contest! Just tell your friends on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or other social media hangouts about SpringMingle'19 and then drop us a line to let us know you spread the word: southernbreezesocialmedia@gmail.com. It's time to Spring to Success with us at SpringMingle'19!

                                            CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!
                                             

Spring To Success With SpringMingle'19 and EDITORS!

We’re delighted to have a dynamic duo of editors presenting at SpringMingle ’19. Here’s a little bit of what we can expect from each of them:

Jessica Anderson is an Assistant Editor at Christy Ottaviano Books (an imprint of Henry Holt Books for Young Readers). She is looking for lyrical picture book biographies, quirky middle grade, and gritty contemporary realistic YA. She will be teaching part of the novel intensive on Friday and two breakout sessions on Saturday.

Aubrey Poole is an Editor at Hachette’s JIMMY Patterson Books imprint. She wants commercial picture book, middle grade, and YA projects with authentic, diverse voices, strong commercial hooks, and taut pacing. She will be teaching in both the pro and novel intensives on Friday as well as two breakouts on Saturday.

Both of these talented editors are offering formal critiques, an excellent opportunity to get professional advice on your work. Book yours before slots fill!

And don't forget to Spread the Word! You can win $50 off your Springmingle (which means you can save enough to get one of those formal critiques)! Find more details about the Spread the Word Contest here. But you can't win if you don't register for Springmingle'19!


                                               CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

Spring to Success with SpringMingle'19 and the PRO Track!

PAL Coordinator Heather Montgomery sent this very important message:

Calling all published and professional creators! We’ve got something special to look forward to in March.

At this year’s Springmingle, Southern Breeze is offering their first-ever PRO Track Intensive. What exactly is PRO Track? A Friday filled with sessions on advanced topics. Want straight talk on advances, marketing, and longevity in your career? Author/agent/all-around rock star Alexandra Penfold’s got a session on that. How about marketing tips from an author who has had 14 books on the NY Times bestselling list? Ellen Hopkins has got that covered. See, these are topics for folks with experience, from folks with experience.

PRO Track will be Friday, March 15, 2019 and will be held at the Decatur Presbyterian Church, next door to the public library in Decatur, GA. It is open to any attendee who has published work for children.

What if you love the idea of learning at an advanced level, but there’s a topic in the picture book or novel intensive that’s calling to you? Really want to hear Kevin Lewis speak about creating works for the very young? Absolutely can’t stand to miss Jessica Anderson’s intensive on revision tricks? You are in luck. This year when you register for the full day of intensives, you can choose different tracks in the morning and the afternoon. Brilliant! Southern Breeze nonfiction author Jennifer Swanson will be coordinating the PRO Track and she'll be happy to answer any questions you might have about this new feature. You can contact her at Jennifer@JenniferSwansonBooks.com.

And there’s more. The esteemed Joe Davich, Executive Director of the Georgia Center for the Book, will be leading a session on building connections with librarians – we can all use some of that. Plus he’ll share how books are considered for ALA and state awards. Can any of us afford to miss that!?!

PAL members of Southern Breeze often request the space and time to learn from one another. By sheer virtue of attending together, this intensive can offer that; however, Southern Breeze wanted to offer additional opportunities to engage. The last session of the day will be roundtable discussions, each on a topic of attendees’ choice. Bring your burning questions, pick your colleagues’ brains, leave with fresh ideas and deeper connections.

So this Pro Track has a lot to offer the experienced creator, but don’t forget about the rest of the conference. There will be book launches, book sales on Friday and Saturday, and (thanks to more break-out options this year) Springmingle has several advanced sessions on Saturday.

But, what if you are pre-published? Will you be left out? No worries – there will be plenty at the conference for you. For one, there will be lots of published folks to rub elbows with (and buy books from!). Plus, just look at the master-level sessions you have to look forward to once you get that first “Yes!” Southern Breeze has something for everyone.

It’s called Springmingle, but I think it should be called Springforward. Sure there’s opportunities to mix and mingle, and no fooling we love and need that, but the pace of learning can be lightning fast. We hope to see you at Southern Breeze’s annual conference!

Thanks, Heather! And though the early bird savings have flown away, you can still get a discount on Springmingle if you win the Spread the Word Contest! All you need to do is blog, tweet, update, Instagram...any way you want to spread the word about Springmingle'19 is great! But it won't count for the contest if you don't let us know! So start spreading the word, and then send how you spread the word to SouthernBreezeSocialMedia@gmail.com. Spring to Success at Springmingle'19!

                                    CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

Spring to Success with SpringMingle'19 and a PITCH PARTY!

This year, we’re starting the conference with a pitch party! I'm so excited, I can't stand it! We're all excited! But seriously, I may be a little too excited. And that won't be a good thing because there are rules for the Pitch Party and I need to remember 'em. So do you, if you want to participate. I think we should all take a deep breath and look at how the Pitch Party works:

1.       If you’re interested in presenting a pitch (IT’s FREE!), sign up when you register. Look for the button labeled “Start With a Pitch!”

2.       Perfect your pitch! (For more information about a pitch and what makes a good one, see this excellent post from Paula Yoo atTara Lazar’s blog. Or take a look around and research "giving a pitch" for writers. There's lots of good information available.

3.       Bring your pitch with you when you come for Springmingle’19.

4.       The morning of the conference, we’ll select 15 names from those who have signed up. We’ll announce the names at the beginning of the Pitch Party. YOU MUST BE IN ATTENDANCE AND READY TO PARTICIPATE. If you choose at that time NOT to participate, do not line up.

5.       Each person participating will have up to one minute to make the pitch. You may wish to read your pitch rather than memorize it. Either way, at one minute, you must stop.

6.       Each member of the Pitch Panel may or may not give feedback. Faculty will be given two minutes for the entire panel to respond so please listen carefully.

This is a new feature for Southern Breeze, so we'll be learning as you learn, too. Here’s the plan: we expect each pitch and the feedback to take three minutes. We hope to get through at least 12 pitches in the time allotted for this session. And we hope you’ll love this experience!

Don’t forget about our Spread the Word Contest, Breezers! Every time you spread the word—in a tweet, blog post, update or any social media—you’ll get an entry in the contest. The Breezer with the most entries will win $50 off registration, refunded to you when the contests ends (March 5th). For more details, check out this earlier post from our Southern Breeze blog.

So register today and get Early Bird savings and Spring to Success with SpringMingle'19 at the PITCH PARTY!

(And I sincerely hope no one--and by no one, I mean me--passes out from the excitement of it all!)

                            REGISTRATION OPEN! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

Spring To Success with SpringMingle'19 and AGENTS!

We're so excited to bring a handful of helpful agents to SpringMingle'19! Here's a quick introduction to our stellar list:

Alexandra Penfold is a literary agent with Upstart Crow Literary Agency and an author herself with  a couple of published books. She represents children's book authors and illustrators, and she'll be presenting several sessions on the Friday writing intensive tracks as well as an advanced breakout session on Saturday.

Kevin Lewis is an agent with the Erin Murphy Literary Agency, primarily focusing on writer-illustrators and diverse voices. He, too, is an author, with almost a dozen published picture books! He'll be very busy on Friday, with sessions at both the Picture Book Track and Illustrators' Day. And he'll join us on Saturday for a breakout session where he'll take a look at the #OwnVoices movement and other current publishing topics.

Monica Odom is an agent at Liza Dawson Associates where she represents a variety of nonfiction, literary, and upmarket fiction. She is committed to the expansion of diversity and inclusivity in the publishing industry. She's presenting a breakout session on Saturday for all the nonfiction writers out there.

With the ease of online querying, many agencies have found themselves slammed and closing their doors to submissions. And many publishing houses only accept agented submissions! So give yourself a helping hand and attend our conference. You could be the next writer or illustrator to Spring to Success with a little help from one of our agents!

And don’t forget about our Spread the Word Contest! Every time you spread the word—in a tweet, blog post, update or any social media—you’ll get an entry in the contest. The Breezer with the most entries will win $50 off registration, refunded to you when the contests ends (March 5th). For more details, check out this earlier post from our Southern Breeze blog.

Early Bird registration is available now through January 15th! Come join us and Spring to Success with SpringMingle'19!

                                      REGISTRATION OPEN! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

Spring to Success with SpringMingle'19: Early Bird Registration Opens Today!

Are you ready for success? Because Southern Breeze is ready with a SpringMingle bursting at the seams with so much that we had to add more space!

On Friday, March 15, our Illustrators’ Day activities and sessions will be at the Decatur Public Library, while our writer’s intensives—with three different tracks—will be right next door at the Decatur Presbyterian Church. An added feature this year is that attendees for the writer’s intensives can switch it up. You can sign up for one track in the morning and a different track in the afternoon. So you don’t have to choose between picture books or novels—you can do them both! Or you can spend your whole day in one track. Whichever path is going to lead you to success, register early!

Early Bird registration opens today! That means a $25 discount for you early birds. But act fast because Early Bird registration ends January 15th.

And the early bird gets more than a discount. Slots fill up quickly for those additional, optional activities like one-on-ones with an agent, so don’t delay and sign up early to get a head start on your success!

The conference on Saturday, March 16, will take place in both locations. We’ll open SpringMingle’19 in the library auditorium with another new feature: a Pitch Party with our panel of agents! You can find more details at the Southern Breeze website when you register. But you can always get more information when you check in at the Southern Breeze blog all this month for highlights of SpringMingle’19, including more about our Pitch Party.

And don’t forget about our Spread the Word Contest! Every time you spread the word—in a tweet, blog post, update or any social media—you’ll get an entry in the contest. The Breezer with the most entries will win $50 off registration, refunded to you when the contests ends (March 5th). For more details, check out this earlier post from our Southern Breeze blog.

Ready to Spring to Success with SpringMingle’19? Register before January 15th and get Early Bird savings! We can’t wait to see you in Decatur, March 15th and 16th!

                            REGISTRATION OPEN! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

Springmingle'19 in Atlanta: Two Reasons Why

Hi, this is Randall Bonser, Conference Cooordinator of Springmingle 2019 in Atlanta. I’ve been to so many SCBWI Southern Breeze conferences in Georgia and Alabama, it is easy to take for granted how much you can learn at our conferences, and what great opportunities they present for making connections. Let me remind you (or let you know for the first time) of the two best reasons for attending Springmingle in Atlanta on March 15-16, 2019:

Reason One: Spring

Reason Two: Mingle



Spring 

The theme for our 2019 conference is Spring to Success with Springmingle'19, meaning, whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting out, we want to help you MOVE FORWARD IN YOUR CRAFT. We’re offering several valuable intensives and workshops to help you improve your writing. We normally offer only one writing intensive on the Friday of the conference; this year we’re offering THREE writing intensives:

 • Picture Book
 • Middle Grade/Young Adult
• Pro Track (for our PALs)

In addition, we will be offering our Illustrators' Day at the same time. These intensives are deep dives into improving your writing and illustrating skills, with discussions on plot, character, setting, and other essentials for writing a good book. The instructors are a mix of seasoned veteran writers/illustrators, editors, and agents.

On Saturday, a variety of workshops will not only help you improve your craft, but also delve into the business side of writing with successful writers and artists, as well as the agents and editors to whom you will have the opportunity to submit something after the conference. In Springmingles past, we didn’t have the variety of workshops we will be making available this year, because we didn’t have space. This year, we will also be using several classrooms at Decatur Presbyterian Church next door to our usual library location, which allows us to expand our workshops.

Mingle

At last year’s WIK conference in Birmingham, I celebrated ten years of being a part of my critique group, which we lovingly call Decatur Chill. That’s because ten years ago at Springmingle 2008, I met several aspiring individuals who seemed like quality people and serious writers, so we decided to start meeting to critique each other’s work and hold each other accountable. Ten years later, our core is still around, and we have added to it as people moved away from the community.

Long story short: writing conferences, especially local ones, are great places to meet like-minded people, as well as agents and editors who are looking for talented authors. Springmingle 2019 is a unique chance to connect with your tribe and form valuable relationships. Discussions in intensives, workshops, lunches, breaktimes, after-conference beverages, and walks to and from the hotel can often lead to fruitful contacts. Our end-of-conference Gala, once again hosted by the dynamic group called Middle Grade Mafia, will be a fun way to meet folks and corner unsuspecting editors (don’t tell them I said that).

So there you go – two great reasons to attend Springmingle 2019 in Decatur/Atlanta, Georgia, on March 15 and 16th. We also have an exciting event planned for Friday night, March 15, which we can’t publicize, because we won’t be able to confirm the speaker until closer to the event. So save the date and make plans to join us on March 15 for an intensive, and on March 16 for a day of workshops, pitch sessions (oh, did I forget to tell you we will have a pitch session for the attending editors and agents – oops, my bad), first pages review, motivational messages, good food, Kidlit fun, and great new connections.

Come back to the blog or check out the Southern Breeze website on January 5th when registration opens for Springmingle'19!

Spread the Word About Springmingle'19 and WIN BIG!

Are you ready to Spring to Success with Springmingle’19? Because we’ve got a great line-up of agents and editors and authors and illustrators and intensives and portfolio reviews and much more, PLUS a few new surprises--starting with our Spread the Word on Social Media Contest!

We want everyone to know about our March conference and we need your help. And we’re willing to put our money where our help is! Here’s how the contest works:

For the next couple of months, we’ll be posting all about Springmingle’19 and Illustrator’s Day on the Southern Breeze blog. Every time you spread the word, you’ll get an entry. So if you tweet, you get an entry! If you share a blog post on your Facebook page, you get an entry! If you link to the conference on your Facebook page, you get an entry! If you have your own blog and you write a post and link to the registration page, you get an entry! The possibilities are endless but there is a limit on entries per day; we will only count up to five entries daily.

Use #SpringtoSuccessSM’19 or mention “Spring To Success with Springmingle’19” or “Spring to Success with Illustrators' Day’19” whenever you spread the word and make sure you include the link to the Southern Breeze website registration page. (Note: Every post on the Southern Breeze blog will have the registration link included.)

Next, send an email to SouthernBreezeSocialMedia@gmail.com with the link to your social media entry. If you’re not sure how to get a link to a Facebook post or a Tweet, just give enough information that we can verify the entry. (But pssst! Here’s a great opportunity to learn all about social media and become proficient!)

And then, sit back and wait to hear the winning results. (Contest will begin when registration opens on January 5th and end on March 1, 2019.) If you’ve had the most entries, you’ll get $50 off registration to SM’19! The two runners-up will get their choice of a signed author’s book from attendees at Springmingle’19. And please, go ahead and register! If you win, you’ll receive the $50 refund.

Just a few minutes every day can mean a big discount for you! So help us Spread the Word on Social Media on January 5th and then join us on March 15th and 16th in Decatur, Georgia where Southern Breeze will help you Spring to Success with Springmingle’19!

(And P.S. You’ll see Southern Breeze spreading the word but regional team members and leadership team members won’t be eligible for the contest. And if you have any questions, contact any of your Southern Breeze Regional Team!)

Did You Hear The One About the Illustration Mentorship?

This year, our Illustration Mentorship SOLD OUT IN ONE DAY! We are very happy to have Maria Middleton (Art Director with Candlewick) on board with us this year.

If you missed it - no worries - there is still so much more! The 2019 Springmingle Brochure will be uploaded soon with wonderful art from within our region (you'll see soon!). In the meantime, here's what you can expect:

Maria Middleton will be discussing the mentorship project so you would benefit from seeing how she interacts with artists and could develop your own artwork to compare with what others did even if you did not register for the mentorship program. Maria will also be conducting a hands-on drawing activity with feedback at her second session.

Lori Nichols will discuss paths to publication and how she pursued her career.

Kevin Lewis (agent/former editor for Disney/Hyperion) will talk about the things art school doesn't teach about the business of art.

And don't forget….. The Liz Conrad Award will be judged by Anne Moore Armstrong with the Bright Agency. This is a great opportunity to have an illustration agent see your work. After all, it's not always winning, but showing up that matters. Submissions for the Liz Conrad Award are open now. 

EARLY REGISTRATION HAS ITS BENEFITS! The first 25 to sign up for ID and elect to participate in the "Quickfire" portfolio review will get feedback on their portfolios from the ID faculty, plus agent Monica Odom. Registering for ID also makes you eligible to book a consultation with an agent and a private portfolio review with a faculty member and to display your portfolio for the Springmingle and Illustrators' Day faculty to see.

Registration for those wanting to participate in the mentorship opened December 1st and has already sold out so the next opportunity to register and book a session with an agent will be when early-bird registration opens  on January 5th.

 See you there!

 The Southern Breeze Conference Team

An Art Call for our Members!

If you’re one of our illustrator members in Southern Breeze, then you know our Illustrator Coordinator, TeMika Grooms, whether you’ve met her at a conference or you receive Art Calls in your inbox.

But sometimes a new member is not yet ready to put that name “illustrator” next to his or her name. How do you know what’s going on?

Check out the Illustrator’s Lounge on the Southern Breeze website!

You’ll find out about the Liz Conrad Award (Submissions always due January 1^st!) and Illustrator’s Day (March 15, 2019). You’ll get details about the Mentorship with Maria Middleton of Candlewick Press (Registration opens December 1, 2018!) and most importantly, you'll discover the contact email for our Illustrator Coordinator if you need more information.

Oh! And this latest Art Call deadline, coming up in just a few days:

It’s all there, waiting for you, if you’re a member of SCBWI Southern Breeze. So check your membership! (And then start drawing!)