SCBWI Through the Years With Jody

From first timers, to long timers, we've highlighted some of the best of the big summer conferences. Now it's time to take a journey through the years with Jody Feldman as she looks back at SCBWI conference experiences:

"I just returned from my 5th SCBWI National Conference in LA. You’d think I’d know everything by now. And while I do know my preferred vendors at the food court and can give good walking directions to Rodeo Drive, I still get something out of the experience each time I go (yes, aside from ordering the garlic noodles from Crustacean – yummy, but not at the food court).

2002 ... The person who would become my agent was speaking at the conference. When she was alone in the lobby after her keynote, I approached her. No pitches, no mentions of the types of things I was writing at the time. Just small talk, just to see if I felt comfortable with her. I was. A very important 90 seconds for me. I also got an amazing critique, from an editor, of The Gollywhopper Games.

2003 ... This is the conference that gave me career direction. It began with an interesting talk on branding from a marketing/PR expert, it ended with Norton Juster’s talk ... but the meat of the sandwich was a rightfully harsh critique, from a different editor, on a YA I submitted. I went home and began thinking about a good follow up to Gollywhopper.

2005 ... I went in, skeptical that it would be worthwhile this year. But I had to be in LA for another reason, so what the heck. I learned that there’s always room for inspiration and motivation. And there are always those little nuggets that can help hone your craft.

2006 ... My Gollywhopper contract wasn’t signed yet, but we had a solid deal. With that, I knew would come what I feared the most: my rewrite. Besides going there to hang out with some of the members of my online critique group, I also hoped to gain some much needed courage. Which I came away with.

2008 ... I was attending for the first time as a published children’s novelist. The biggest thrill (oh, okay, outside a few strangers seeing my nametag, pointing and saying, “The Gollywhopper Games!”), was celebrating with newer writers after their amazing critiques ... just as other experienced authors had done with me at my first conference.

Jody Feldman

SCBWI Highlights from 2K9er

We are excited to present some SCBWI conference highlights from 2K9er Kathryn Fitzmaurice! Welcome to the blog, Kathryn!

"I went to the LA SCBWI last week. Of course, it is always an amazing event to be surrounded by so many other writers and professionals. The highlights of my trip were:

1. Hearing Susan Patron speak at the end of the conference about her experiences this year as the Newbery Winner.

2. Meeting with five other 2k9 classmates for lunch in the hotel on Saturday! This was the first time we had met in person, and had only corresponded online before, so you can imagine how great it was to finally put a name to a face. One gal, Fran, decided to come after she saw how many of us were going to be there. She made last minute plans, and we couldn't have been more thrilled.

3. Meeting my editor for the first time. She is Brenda Bowen from the Bowen Press, and she was fabulous. Of course, I went to hear her speak, and was so completely surprised when she called me up to talk to the crowd about the "Editorial Process" between an editor and a first time author. I was so excited, and nervous, but I wouldn't have missed it.

4. Sitting at the Golden Kite Luncheon and listening to the winner's speeches. In particular, Yuyi Morales, was very very inspiring and she even put together a little video about the joy she felt when she learned she won!"

Thanks Kathryn! Stay tuned for more SCBWI conference news from our very own Jody Feldman!

You Say Conference, Regina Says Party!

"Okay, you can ask anyone: I am so not a party person. So why is it that one of the things I love to do at the Romance Writers of America annual conference is party? The conference doesn’t even start officially until Thursday morning, but Wednesday evening you can find me at the Beau Monde Soiree. The Beau Monde is the chapter for those who write stories set in the Regency period of England. We play period card game and gamble using chocolate coins, engage in witty conversation, and dance period dances. It’s a fantastic way to meet people and have some fun before the workshops and other events happen.

Friday night is the night when publishers have traditionally thanked their authors with cocktail parties or dinners. The most talked about party every year, though, is the party that Harlequin throws for its authors. I’ve never had the privilege of writing for them, but this year a friend who writes for them invited me to tag along. Wow! I can see why people love it! Picture a massive ballroom, lavishly decorated, free food, free drinks, a chocolate fountain bubbling in one corner, and 200 women and 2 men (lucky husbands) dancing to “We Are Family.”

Maybe that’s why I love the parties. It’s a chance to be with like-minded people, celebrating our passion for writing. We are family!"

Regina Scott (aka Sir Reginold Scott)

Terri's Take on Why to Conference?

Terri Clark signing early editions of SLEPPLESS

at RWA's Literacy for Life book signing charity event

"I try to attend RWA every year, when I can, because it’s such an enriching experience. The workshops are inspiring, educational and uplifting. Admittedly, I didn’t get to as many as I’d like to have this year, but I did walk away with some juicy bits of knowledge and empowerment.

I also love the friendships I’ve made at conference. Reconnecting with old friends and making new ones is such a joy and this year, in particular, I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent visiting with people.

Every year I seem to tap into some kind of personal theme, a message I come home with. In year’s past it’s been hope, persistence, goal setting, etc. This year’s conference theme was all about getting real. I feel like I got a clearer picture of my goals and what it’s going to take to achieve them. Sometimes reality checks aren’t fun, but they are necessary and I feel more focused and driven because of it. I also feel very blessed and fortunate to have my book release weeks away. SLEEPLESS comes out September 2nd and this is a magical time for me. Conference was my first taste of the excitement coming my way and I can't wait for more!"

Terri Clark

2k8ers Unite!

She Said- She Said RWA National Conference

What happens when two 2K8ers who've only met online, get together and become roomies for the 2008 RWA (Romance Writers of America) National Conference? Answer: Cute clothes, lots of networking, and really great workshops. And, oh yeah, don't forget the margaritas! Authors Teri Brown and Brooke Taylor ask and answer questions about their conference experience:


Q: What’s it like sharing a room with someone you’ve only “met” online? Were you nervous you wouldn’t get along?

Teri: Oddly enough, I wasn’t that nervous. Brooke and I have known one another for two or three years and I knew I could be a good roomie. It’s all about being courteous. Turns out we got along fabulously. We were both social and independent, so we did things together and apart. Brooke has a wicked sense of humor and we laughed a lot.

Brooke: I’ve exchanged emails with Teri for a long time now, we critted each other’s work, and acknowledged each other in our books, so rooming with her wasn’t scary at all. It turned out to be a lot of fun, and we had a whole “kismet” moment when I unpacked my Magic Bullet blender and she unpacked two margarita glasses.

Q. How do you keep it real as a YA author at a non-YA centric conference?

Teri: There were so many YA people there it wasn’t that hard. I met lots of YA writers that I’d only previously met online. I took workshops aimed at YA writers and then a couple of workshops that were more about the writing life. You know, creative energy type workshops. If I went to a publisher’s spotlight, I made sure they had a YA line so I wouldn’t be wasting time. Also, I was very upfront about my genre… see the t-shirt I wore for the book signing!



Brooke: YA has been growing in RWA by leaps and bounds. We’re even starting a YA chapter. There are more workshops—two years ago there was only one, this year there were 3 or 4. Last year Meg Cabot was even the keynote speaker! Still, I find I must keep my YA identity—I too did it with clothes, check out the sparkly skull-n-crossbones under my signing suit:

Q. How much networking can you really do at a conference? Any tips for introverted writers?

Teri: I did a TON of networking at the conference! It seems like every time I turned around I was meeting an important person. You just have to learn to bring up conversations whenever you meet someone. I once asked someone the type of writing they did, only to learn that it was the senior acquisitions editor for an important publisher.

For introverted writers, it can be quite challenging. Nothing is louder than a group of mostly women writers. I suggest taking breaks, I took myself out to a fancy restaurant for one of my evening meals. I really needed that alone time to recharge.

Brooke: Teri’s not kidding. Almost every time we’d reconnect, she tell me about some one she’d met. I’m not quite that good at meeting new people. For me it is much easier when I’ve met someone online. That gives me some things to talk about. So I try to be part of YA loops and keep up with YA bloggers. That and I bring a blender so if all else fails I can always invite them up to my room for drinks!

Q: What was more valuable for you—the workshops or meeting people?

Brooke: Both. When I first started going to the RWA conference, every day was packed with workshops. I had my schedule and highlighter and used them well. Now, I’m more into catching up with my writer friends and having that all important face time with my agent. It is so much easier to talk face to face about works in progress and career directions. I’m looking into conferences where I can do the same but with my editor.

Teri: Absolutely meeting people. Not only was my networking fabulous, but I made some great long term friends. Don't get me wrong, the workshops were great too, but I loved meeting all the people. I think because writers work on their own so much, the social aspect is very appealing...at least for awhile!

Q: Was there someone you met That you had always wanted to meet?

Brooke: This year I was excited about meeting fellow YA author Alyson Noel. She’s always so supportive and encouraging on the Yahoo teenlit loop and we’ve commented back and forth a few times on each other’s blogs. Plus I’m a total fan girl—love her books!! Anyway, I’d coordinated the National Reader’s Choice Award YA category and knew she had won. I wanted to be sure she was at the conference, because we have a wonderful award ceremony, but I couldn’t tell her she’d won. So I kept asking, so you’re going to be there aren’t you? It was touch and go, but she did come and I’m soooo glad she did. It was wicked cool getting to meet her!! And I was dying to meet Teri Brown, of course!

Teri: There were so many! I've been wanting to meet Rachel Vincent for a long time and we actually got together several times. It was awesome. Also, I have been a fan of Lynda Sandoval's work for ages and she just seems so nice online. We not only met, but hung out awhile with fellow 2K8er's Terri Clark and Brooke Taylor. Lynda is so funny. Just love her.

Q: What tips would you give other writers to get the most out of a conference?

Brooke: Pace yourself. Take breaks, like Teri said. I always take one night off for room service and to rest my feet (they don’t do well in conference shoes!). If you’re a workshop junkie—buy the CD’s—well worth it. I’ve listened to workshops from each year. I pull out my CD’s whenever I have a writing issue to work through and it is just like being there. So don’t kill yourself to get to them all. Make sure you get out and meet people. Take advantage of your local chapter, online friends, and any other networking group you are involved in, find an outgoing person and ask them to introduce you around. Talk to the person sitting next you—I’m still friends with a lady I met at my first conference, at the very first workshop—we were both new and hung out from that point on.

Teri: Don't pack your schedule too full. Leave room for serendipity. At one conference I started talking to a woman who turned out to be Julia Quinn. She invited me to sit with her friends, Jayne Ann Krentz, Catherine Coulter, and Stella Cameron. I had a workshop I was going to take, but figured I could learn more where I was!

Stay tuned all week for more conference advice and gossip from both RWA and SCBWI!

More from The Class of 2K8 at NJSCWBI!

Class of 2K8 & 2K9 at NJSCBWI

Marissa Doyle, Daphne Grab, Albert Borris (2k9 Co-Pres), Nancy Viau, Nina Nelson

Editors! Agents! And Authors, Oh My!

New Jersey has one of the largest SCBWI chapters on the East coast, and writers from Maine to Maryland sign-up early to attend the annual conference in lovely Princeton. This year top editors like Cheryl Klein, Robin Tordini, Jessica Dandino Garrison, Samantha McFerrin, Stacy Cantor, Nick Eliopulos, and came ready to dish out advice, provide critiques, and give workshops. Approachable agents were in the mix, as well, and the line-up included Dan Lazar of Writers House, Stephen Barbara of Donald Maass Literary, and Linda Pratt of the Sheldon Fogelman Agency.

Author Daphne Grab and Agent Stephen Barbara

Author Marissa Doyle signs her book Bewitching Season for fellow author Susan Steen

Agent Stephen Barbara, Hallee Adleman, Daphen Grab

Nina Nelson and Bringing Home the Boy

Nancy Viau and conference organizer Kathy Temean