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!

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

EVERYONE A WINNER AT WIK'18: Dear New Writer or Illustrator

Hello again, New Kidlit Writer or Illustrator!

Why Hello, again?

Because I'm guessing you've been here a couple of times, at the blog, or maybe at the the Southern Breeze website, your finger hovering over the "register here" link. Once, twice, maybe three times, and yet, you haven't registered. You're still unsure...

...that  you're a good enough writer or illustrator to attend the conference.

...that you should spend that much money on a dream.

...that you won't fit in, you won't know anyone, you don't belong.

Know how I know what you're feeling? Because I've been exactly where you are now. And what's more, I can promise you that every single writer and/or illustrator at wik'18 started out exactly where you are now.

We all start at the beginning, unsure of our talent or skills, uncertain if we're in the right place, nervous about whether we will make it in this challenging kidlit industry.

But there's a reason why our theme for this conference is "Everyone  A Winner at wik'18." The minute you walk through those conference doors at Spain Park High School, you've taken the first step toward the beginning of your successful kidlit career.

And that makes you a winner in my book!

So come join us today. Your SCBWI tribe can't wait to meet you!


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