I have been a member of SCBWI since 2004, and have been active in the North Central/Northeast Texas chapter in Dallas/Fort Worth as well as the Houston, TX chapter. Currently, I am active in the Carolinas SCBWI chapter. I met the ladies in my wonderful online critique group at a SCBWI conference years ago in Texas, and discovered my in-person critique group through the Carolina chapter’s list serve. I have found some of my closest writing friends and supporters through this wonderful organization, and am thankful for the doors the SCBWI has helped open for me!
All of this is a prelude to my focus today--the upcoming 21st Annual SCBWI Carolina’s Fall Conference, which will be held in Charlotte, NC September 27-29. This year’s conference includes writing and illustrating Intensives by industry experts, general and breakout sessions that cover everything from authors’ first ideas to editors’ first impressions, an Autograph Party and Portfolio Showcase, a Saturday Social, an Author’s Round Table, late night critique groups, and much, much more! For full conference details click here!
The opening keynote speaker for this year’s
conference in the amazingly talented author Cynthea Liu, and author/illustrator
Dan Yaccarino will deliver the closing keynote address. Other conference
faculty includes the following authors and industry experts: agent Stephen
Barr, author Vijaya Bodach, author John Claude Bemis, agent Sarah Davies, author
Donna Earnhardt, publishing director Emily Easton, author Alan Gratz, author
Gretchen Griffith, art director Patti Ann Harris, agent Susan Hawk, author Lisa
Williams Kline, editor Emma Ledbetter, author Stacy McAnulty, author Megan
Miranda, editor Joy Neaves, author Monika Schröder, and author Chris Woodworth
(if I have omitted anyone, I apologize).
This is a fabulous lineup, and I can already tell
that my biggest dilemma will be deciding which breakout sessions to attend! I
am also looking forward to reconnecting with friends I only see once a year,
and making new author/illustrator/editor/agent/etc. friends. (Can you tell how excited I am?!?)
If you are not a member of the SCBWI and are
interested in writing and/or illustrating books for children and teens, do
yourself a favor and find your local SCBWI chapter here. Membership is well worth the investment!
There are several other great organizations out there
for writers, and many of these also present great conferences
each year. Please stop by next Tuesday, August 20 for a related
post discussing other conference opportunities for children’s writers, and how
to get the most out of your “conference experience.” Happy Writing!
Hi Becky,
ReplyDeleteGreat article for a wonderful conference! I'm excited to be attending my first, so I'll see you there...
Write on, dude!
Derick
I am so glad you are going to make it to the conference this year, Derick! You will love it! = )
DeleteI am so excited to see you again! If you see me walking around looking dazed and confused, just punch me in the arm and say, "WAKE UP, GIRL!!" :)
ReplyDeletehugs,
Donna
I will make sure to flag you down, Donna! (And I promise not to get stuck on a train track again this year...I am STILL shuddering from that experience!)
DeleteConferences are a lot of work for the organizers, but also a lot of fun. Seems you are a veteran organizer Becky, from your Texas days. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI can't take credit for organizing any conferences so far, Mirka, but am definitely a veteran attender/supporter. Now that my boys are older I hope to become more involved in that aspect, as well. Our leaders work SO hard each year to make each conference great, and deserve HUGE appreciation! = )
DeleteSounds like it'll be so much fun(and educational- that's important, too!) =)
ReplyDeleteGreat article and it sounds like a fabulous conference!
ReplyDeleteSounds great that Dan Yaccarino will be closing the event. He writes/illustrates the most brilliant books!
ReplyDelete