Bring Your Career into Sharper Focus with Wik2020: WRITERS' INTENSIVES!

Registration’s open and you want to get that Early Bird discount but…how to choose the right writers’ intensive? You want to bring your career into sharper focus but which track is best for you? There is so much to consider that we’re breaking it down for you:

First, this year, you must sign up for one track and stick with it so choose wisely, grasshoppers. Er, writers. And due to space limitations, some of the tracks will fill up quickly, so don’t wait too late or you may not get your first choice.

The schedule for the intensives is the same across the board. All the intensives start at 9:00 AM and last until 5:00 PM. Lunch for all the tracks is at the same time, noon until 2:00. So if you want to have lunch with friends or arrange rides, you can be in different tracks and you will easily be able to meet. And all the intensives are in the Homewood Library, a beautiful space that’s easy to navigate.

So now a few more details about the tracks that might help you decide:

The Picture Book Track

 Authors Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple will lead this intensive. In Picture Book 101, Part I, they’ll focus on the basics by looking at the nuts and bolts of this form. If you’re brand new to writing picture books, this intensive will get you started on the right track. If you’re experienced with picture books, you’ll get tips on how to elevate your manuscripts. And there will be homework! So if you have a manuscript you want to work on, now’s your chance to get feedback from two of the best in the business.

Picture Book 101, Part II, will look at the poetic form. Could your poem become a picture book? Or how do you make your picture book more poetic? And P.S. There’s more homework! But know that sharing any of your work in an intensive is strictly a voluntary pursuit. You are free to soak up every word—and not say a word yourself. Or you may welcome any and all advice and/or feedback. And the intensive will conclude with a Roundtable discussion, a perfect time to ask any questions and get even more professional information about the business and/or writing side of picture books.

 The Novel Track 

The novel track’s morning session will start with agent Kurestin Armada. She’ll be going deep into those all-important “first pages” so if you have a work-in-progress, here’s a great opportunity to find out what’s working and what needs work. But she'll also be looking at examples if you don't bring your own pages. And when editor Kait Feldman starts her Q and A Roundtable, you’ll learn even more. Beginner or already-published can benefit from these sessions.

The afternoon session will be led by author Janice Hardy who’ll give a master class on Plot, Setting, and Scene: Building a Strong Foundation for your Novel. Writers will learn about internal and external conflict, character arcs, bringing a scene to life, and much more. So bring your laptops and bring your pages because Hardy will take your work through exercises that’ll make your novel something that readers can’t walk away from.

The Pro Track

The Pro track is designed for those writers who are published (though you do not have to be a PAL member) who are looking for tips and advice on the business side of their career. So librarian Lisa Churchill will start with Ten Tips for the Best School Visits Ever. That’s followed by agent Rubin Pfeffer who will lead a rousing Q and A. Pfeffer will answer any question on the writing business—he’s been an editor as well—so come prepared with your questions (and you'll get frank answers)!

Afternoon begins with editor Mekisha Telfer with Raising the Stakes, and she’ll answer those questions about the challenges of working with your agent and/or your editor. She’ll also discuss the Hope of Every Child, a session on writing/illustrating for all children, including how to handle characters outside your culture, gender, religion, etc.

The Writers’ Intensives are held on Friday and they are optional; they are not part of the conference so the fee for them is extra. But ask anyone who’s attended these in-depth sessions and you’ll find they’re worth every penny!

Whew! I hope you’ve got all the information you could possibly need about the writers’ intensives! But if you still have questions, email us at southern-breeze@scbwi.org. We have all the answers—well, answers about wik2020—and we can’t wait to see what you choose! (P.S. Nothing's filled--yet!)

           REGISTER FOR WIK2020 HERE! EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT TILL JANUARY 1, 2020. 

Art Image by wik2020 brochure illustrator David SanAngelo. 

Bring Your Career into Sharper Focus with wik2020: GIFTS FOR WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS!

We asked Claudia Pearson, Co-RA of Southern Breeze, to give us a few ideas about bringing your career into sharper focus with wik2020 and she had the perfect gift idea for writers and illustrators!

 Kwanza, Christmas, Hanukkah - the season of giving is here! The holidays are a wonderful time to honor and give back to friends, recognizing the many ways they support you. But what to give your writer and illustrator friends, the ones who have provided feedback, the ones who held your hand as you waited for a response to a submission, waited for an art director or editor to notice your work?

If you ask Google or Amazon or Writer’s Digest or simply search the web for “gifts for writers and illustrators,” you’ll get recommendations like messenger bags and laptop desks, artsy tee shirts, coffee mugs, yummy chocolates, tea, and coffee, useful tools like pens and brushes, sketchbooks, binders, pencil rolls, and productivity promoters like calendars, how-to books, and software, but…

Why not give the gift of inspiration and community that comes from spending time with other writers and illustrators? Isn’t that what your friends give you throughout the year? In an occupation that can be isolating, where we typically work alone, the opportunity to get together with other creatives may be the best gift you can give your writer and illustrator friends.

Gift coupons are available for our upcoming wik20 in March. All you have to do is email Southern-Breeze@scbwi.org and we will invoice you for the amount you want to give and set up a gift coupon code you can print out or email to your friend. We can even do this anonymously if you like!

Planning to come to the conference yourself? There are a limited number of “And-One” spaces available. These are intended to increase our region’s diversity, so if you have a writer or illustrator friend from an underrepresented community who is not an SCBWI member and has never attended an SCBWI conference, after you register, send us:

1. Their name
2. Their email address, and
3. A statement about their interest in writing or illustrating for young readers, and why you think they should be included as your “And-One” for our conference.

But don’t delay! Registration is now open, and some sessions are limited by space. Those who register early will get the early bird discount and first choice on all the opportunities available.


         REGISTER FOR WIK2020 HERE! EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT TILL JANUARY 1, 2020. 

Claudia Pearson retired from her legal practice at the turn of the century to pursue her Master's Degree in Children's Literature at Hollins University. A decades long active member of SCBWI, she has served as a Regional Advisor/co-Regional Advisor for the Southern Breeze Region for almost ten years. She collects antique books and art, and is fascinated with illustration, although she is not an illustrator. Registration guru, website tech hacker, writer of silly picture books and serious middle grade novels, she persists in her dream of writing something that is publishable in the trade market.





Art Image by wik2020 brochure illustrator David SanAngelo. 

Bring Your Career Into Sharper Focus With Wik2020: CRITIQUE VS. CONSULTATION

For wik2020, SCBWI Southern Breeze looked at what we could do to bring your career into sharper focus and so we’ve planned amazing intensives, an exciting conference schedule, and so much more!

Like our awesome add-on items that you will need to choose when you register. That’s why we asked our Co-ARA, Lisa Lowe Stauffer, to provide added information, advice, and a few tips from members about two of our popular add-ons: the face-to-face and the manuscript critique. You’ll be one step ahead if you read this before you register!



 Manuscript Critique vs. Agent Consultation 

How do you choose what’s right for you?

In a nutshell . . .

• Choose the manuscript critique if you want feedback from a professional about one manuscript.
• Choose the agent consultation to talk about the business side of kid lit: individualized advice on topics such as prioritizing your works-in-progress, improving your query letters, marketing, rejection analysis, honing your Internet presence, career advice, or any other topic an agent can knowledgeably discuss.

How Each Works 

For a face-to-face (formal) manuscript critique: 

You’ll be matched to a suitable pro—either an agent, editor, or (occasionally) an author.
Your time slot will be assigned and you’ll receive this information at the conference check-in.
You’ll be required to send in no more than 10 pages (including a synopsis, if desired). The deadline for sending those pages is Feb. 10, 2020, so you have time to work on your manuscript.
You’ll have 15 minutes to talk about your manuscript with your critiquer.
Look at this as an opportunity for a fun, honest discussion about your manuscript.

For the one-on-one agent consultation:

You’ll choose which agent you prefer.
You’ll choose which time slot works best for you.
You’ll be allowed—but not required—to send up to 5 pages of information ahead of time (February 10, 2020 deadline). The agent will not provide a formal critique of submitted material but may briefly discuss (if that’s what you prefer).
You’ll have 20 minutes to chat about whatever you want.


The Inside Scoop from Previous Participants

 “Which one you choose depends on what you’re looking for,” says Janice Hardy. “If you’re looking for an agent, a one-on-one is good because you get to pitch and interact with the agent. Especially if it’s an agent you’re interested in. If you’re still working on the manuscript, the critique is better. Not every agent who agrees to do a critique is looking for new clients, so you can’t count on them saying, ‘Wow this is amazing, send it to me.’ It happens, but that’s not the point of a manuscript critique.”

Janice also recommends in either situation being prepared to talk about your story. “You may get questions about the characters, plot, and conflict. Especially the conflict. You may need to show you have conflict and that it’s book-worthy.”

Debbie D’Aurelio shared this about an agent consultation that really helped her. “At the time, I had interest in my manuscript from two agents and we talked about the benefits of both agencies. I also brought a short pitch and a query letter to review and she was very honest and helpful. My advice to others is not to use the time thinking you might be represented by that particular agent. It’s a great opportunity to ask general questions about the best way to get an agent and get published, etc.”

Joan Broerman says that generally, a critique is about craft and an agent consultation is more about business. “While a manuscript may be the focus of a critique, how to market that manuscript is usually best served by a one-on-one agent consultation. Either can result in moving a manuscript closer to publication.”


Thanks, Lisa! Our members had even more helpful tips about preparing for a critique or a consultation so by February 10th, we’ll share their advice before you need to send any materials. For now, consider what’s best for you and your goals, and then register early and save with the early bird discount!

             REGISTER FOR WIK2020 HERE! EARLY BIRD OPENS ON DECEMBER 15TH. 
           
                                         
Ever since her palm-reading grandmother said she would write a book, Lisa Lowe Stauffer has been working to learn the craft. Unfortunately her palm didn’t mention how long it would take, or that SCBWI would be the key to success. She had to find out those on her own! Her debut book TWO BY TWO (Zonderkidz 2018) is available wherever books are sold.







Art Image by wik2020 brochure illustrator David SanAngelo. 

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!

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!

A SEASON OF GIVING WITH WIK’18 - FREE QUICKFIRE PORTFOLIO REVIEWS

On the eighth--or is it the ninth day of wik'18 registration?

To tell you the truth, I've sort of lost count. But I know exactly what's up next in our count of terrific gifts at wik'18:

FREE QUICKFIRE PORTFOLIO REVIEWS!

Yes, we're having Illustrators' Day in Birmingham, and yes, it's new to this conference. But it's still the same great experience you've always loved!

Just like always, there will be a full day of speakers focused on illustrated books for young readers. Coretta Scott King Award winner, Pat Cummings, will show you how to fire up the emotional impact of your work. Deborah Shine, editor at Star Bright Books, will reveal how independent publishers find illustrators and work with them to create beautiful diverse books. Nicki Carmack will share the work done in the illustration mentorship as well as reveal how to create a more dynamic finished product. Claire Easton, agent at Painted Words, will join the rest of the faculty for the twenty-five FREE QUICKFIRE PORTFOLIO REVIEWS, plus a Question and Answer session.

So in case you've lost count, too, let's count down our wik'18 Season of Giving:

FREE Quickfire Portfolio Reviews!

Six Inspiring Intensives!

Four Awesome Agents!

Two Terrific Editors!

And an Early Bird Discount for registration!

It's all there, waiting for you! But spaces in some activities fill up fast, so don't wait to register. And don't forget about the special surprise gift you can win by commenting on this post.

Though everyone's a winner at wik'18!

A SEASON OF GIVING WITH WIK’18 - A BATCH OF INTENSIVES

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

Six inspiring intensives!

We'll have six half-day intensives covering just about every topic a kidlit writer could want:

Newbery Award-winning author, Linda Sue Park, is serving up "Sentence Sense" so you can learn how to make every word count.

Senior Scholastic editor, Matt Ringler, is hosting a writers' roundtable where 15 writers will have the opportunity to get first hand feedback on their first five pages. Act fast if you want your pages read! (You can still register for the intensive if you want to keep your pages to yourself. It's always good to hear how an editor thinks, and maybe even better when it's some other brave soul's manuscript on the table!)

Deb Halverson, author of Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies, will teach you all about teen speak.

We have a terrific two-for-one deal in the afternoon, with pairs of authors teaming up to bring intensives!  Authors Kami Kinard and Rebecca Petruck will show you how to build characters with heart and humor, while authors Heather L. Montgomery and Jodi Wheeler-Toppen will share the art of using science to engage readers of both fiction and non-fiction.

And last but far from least is the Founder of Fiction University, author Janice Hardy, who's ready to bring your novel to life!

You can find out lots more about this batch of inspiring intensives at the Southern Breeze website, where you can also register for wik'18. Hurry, Breezers, because these opportunities will fill up fast! Your Early Bird registration discount will soon fly away!

But wait! We have one more gift for you because we're still in a Season of Giving here at the Southern Breeze blog. We're serving up a special surprise gift today! So if you've registered, and you comment on this post by noon on December 31st, you might win. If you spread the word and let us know in the comments, we'll add your name twice to the drawing.

Everyone loves to win a surprise, right? Though everyone's a winner at wik'18!

A SEASON OF GIVING WITH WIK’18 - FOUR AWESOME AGENTS

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

Oh, wait. It's actually the fourth day of registration, isn't it? But that's even better, because we're giving you four awesome agents!

Agents who want illustrators, agents who love picture book writers and novelists and poets and more! And agents who can't wait to meet you in the one-on-one sessions!

That's the good news. The bad news is that we don't have enough slots to offer everyone who registers for wik'18 a slot in a one-on-one session. So on this fourth day of registration, take a look at our four awesome agents and sign up today!

There's John Cusik, with Folio, and Erica Silverman at Stimola Literary. Kristy Hunter with Knight Agency will be there, too, along with Claire Easton of Painted Words.

You can find out more at the Southern Breeze website when you register, plus you'll still get that wonderful gift of an early bird $25 discount!

So off you--hold on a minute. What's this in the bottom of my gift sack? It's another gift!

Two lucky winners will get a signed book by one of the wik'18 conference authors!

If you'd like to win, leave a comment on this post and don't forget to include your name. And then once your registration is verified, we'll put your name in the drawing. But you only have till noon on December 22nd. That's when we'll choose two lucky names.

Four awesome agents, an early bird discount, and come back on December 22nd to see if you've won a book from one of our very own amazing authors!

Now off you go! Because you can't win if you don't register--though everyone at wik'18 is a winner!