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I'm leaving this week for the SCBWI Summer Conference! If you haven't yet registered, you're out of luck....the conference is sold out. However, you can follow along virtually via the #LA15SCBWI hashtag on Twitter as well as the SCBWI conference blog.
Here's my updated SCBWI Conference Advice post for first-timers (as well as a challenge for the many-timers):
If you're a conference newbie who is nervous, I encourage you to browse my SCBWI Conference Newbie comics. I created these when I was a nervous newbie as well! So many people think I'm an extrovert, but I'm actually very much an introvert and was terrified (to the point of sweating palms, pounding heart, hating the idea of having go up and introduce myself over and over) about attending my first regular SCBWI conference back in 2009.
(Edit re: above comic: I did end up meeting Jay at the conference and he was really nice! And he didn't mention his Amazon ranking EVEN ONCE! Heh.)
I've posted advice for first-timers before and will post it again at the end of this piece, but now that I've attended other SCBWI annual conferences (and had my career jumpstarted because of the 2010 SCBWI-LA Conference), here is some additional advice I have for those who have attended more than once:
Don't get offended or disheartened if people you've met before don't remember you.
This is something I've learned from both sides. As a 2nd- and 3rd-timer (and so on), I've sometimes gone up to a person or group I've met and had my confidence deflated when it becomes clear they don't remember me at ALL from the previous year. My inner reactions ranged from embarrassment, humiliation, irritation, frustration and even brief anger ("I guess I'm just NOT IMPORTANT enough for xxx to remember!! Hmph.").
Having attended many times now, I've learned the following:
- I'm terrible at remembering people unless I've had multiple conversations or interactions with the same person.
- Even then, especially if I'm tired or am in a noisy crowd (remember what I said earlier about being an introvert?) or have met many new people in a row just before, I may still forget having met someone before.
I still accidentally re-introduce myself to people whom I've met before, sometimes whom I've met EARLIER IN THE CONVENTION. I'm always horribly embarrassed when this happens.
Make sure your name badge is easily visible.
As Lee Wind points out in his helpful SCBWI blog post, having your name badge visible even at dinner or drinks afterward is an obvious visual clue to others that you're part of the tribe, and helps them remember your name as well. You can stash a few business cards in the back so they're handy.
Also, when I approach someone whom I've met before but with whom I don't have constant contact, I usually try saying something that will help remind them of our mutual context, or remind them of having met at xxx. Until I'm sure they actually do remember me, I try very hard NOT to put them on the spot (e.g. I don't say, "So, what did you think of my most recent post?" etc.).
When someone does this to me (subtly or unsubtly :-) setting the context and helping me remember), I immediately feel more at ease with them and am more likely to want to chat with them in the future.
Another tip: if someone DOES remember you, never assume that they're up-to-date on all your exciting news. I've had the occasional person react badly when they realize I'm not aware of their new book ("?? But I posted it all over Facebook!") I never assume anyone reads all my posts or keeps up with all my news. People have busy lives and different priorities.
Something else I've learned: even so-called Big Name authors, illustrators, editors, art directors and agents can be insecure. I am faaaar from being a Big Name, but having had a bit more experience at conference-going now, I also realize how some of the Big Name types who seemed standoffish to me actually weren't.
Be gracious, be forgiving and try very hard to assume the best about a person rather than the worst.
And I apologize ahead of time if I don't remember your name or re-introduce myself. :-\
And here some tips for first-timers who feel nervous about attending for the first time, or are normally very shy or introverted and dread the idea of having to meet a lot of new people:
1. Be brave and make the first move. You'd be surprised at how many other attendees feel exactly the same way as you do. Introduce yourself to people you sit beside, stand in line with, notice standing alone.
2. TAKE BUSINESS CARDS. Yes, even if you aren't published yet. We're all going to meet a lot of people over the weekend, and taking away a business card from an encounter or introduction will help the people you meet remember you. If you're an illustrator, take postcards or make sure a sample of illustration style is on your business card.
3. Be sociable. Don't just attend the keynotes and scheduled workshops. Check out the informal activities listed in your program, like Yoga with Lori Snyder, the LGBTQ Q&A, the Illustrator Social, Nonfiction Social, International Member Social, Peer Group Critiques with Jim Averbeck, and Saturday night "Sparkle & Shine" gala. Also keep an eye on conference Twitter chat, where some meetup planning might happen ("Hey, who wants to chat? I'm in the lobby").
4. Have realistic expectations. Don't expect to be "discovered" at the conference. Instead, set achievable goals. These can be as specific as "I'm going to introduce myself to agent xxxx sometime during the weekend" or as vague as "I'm looking for inspiration to get back on track with my book" or even just "To try having some fun at the conference and then see what happens." I think of this type of event as planting seeds. There's no guaranteed outcome, but you never know what might come out of all those seeds you're planting as you meet people, attend talks, watching and listening and chatting.
My own conference seeds have blossomed, directly or indirectly, into: friendships, invitations to speak at events, book contracts, publishing industry info that helped guide my career decisions, learning about new techniques and tools, helping others get published, and SO much more. I continue to plant seeds, because I want to keep growing as a writer and illustrator, plus I'm also well aware how quickly the industry can change.
5. In my experience, you're much more likely to meet new people if you're alone. If you're always chatting and hanging out with the same person or people, you're not as approachable. I'm not saying that you SHOULDN'T hang out with people you like, of course! Just keep in mind that as a group, you're probably not going to meet as many new people as someone who is by themselves.
6. If you're on Twitter, write your Twitter handle on your name badge somewhere.
But most of all: TRY TO HAVE FUN.
***** A CHALLENGE TO THE "MANY-TIMERS" OUT THERE ****
Try to remember what it was like when you attended your very first event, or how insecure you felt in the beginning. Then make it a personal challenge to find at least one lost-looking or nervous conference newbie who is sitting or standing alone. Introduce yourself, chat with them, find out what they're working on, perhaps (if appropriate) offer some advice.
Several years ago I attended the SCBWI summer conference and one of the wonderful people I met was Rachel Marks. Super talented as both a writer and an artist, she had an incredible joy for life, due in part to being a cancer survivor. Rachel was rooming with Paige Britt and both of them had […]
0 Comments on When Good Things Happen to Good People as of 1/1/1900
Last year when Wish You Weren’t came out, I was happy with the cover and hopeful that it represented the story well. I still love the cover, but I also started to realize that the static image implied a “quiet” type of story. If you’ve read Wish You Weren’t, you know that’s not the case. […]
I am not actually going to be an attendee at the now sold-out SCBWI Summer Conference here in LA, but as a local, I will be coming by and hanging out, at least a little. I'm not attending because I can't actually be there the whole time - a disappointment on multiple levels. Still, I'll get there... and I hope to see YOU!
I suspect you can find me in the hotel lobby a lot, but you most certainly can on Friday night from 8:30 to 9:30 for a #kidlitchat Tweetup. Yes, it's time for us all to meet in person (or see each other again). Hopefully, by doing this Friday night, folks will have a richer weekend cuz they'll know the, oh... 100+ others at the conference who have also come by #kidlitchat.
By that hour, I doubt many of us will still be tweeting, so just look for a chatting crowd or me or Bonnie Adamson and jump on in.
Oh, and for those Tweeting the Con or hoping to follow along at home... the Conference tag is #LA12SCBWI.
Hope to see you there, whenever I get there!
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I’m just back from the SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles. I came back on the “redeye,” one of those overnight flights that fool you into thinking you’ve had a night’s sleep. So I’m into dangerous blogging territory just now. Anything can happen. I’m just sayin’.
There are noticeably beautiful people in LA. Noticeably. And you look at somebody and you say to yourself, “That must be somebody.” Which, of course, it is. Somebody. Not necessarily somebody famous.
I am terrible at spotting celebrities. The only time I ever spotted a celebrity was one Thanksgiving in Sardi’s Restaurant years ago. Yul Brynner walked in wearing full King and I regalia—bare-chested, with pantaloons.
Exactly. Not much gets past me.
Somebody told me they saw Abigail Breslin of Little Miss Sunshine fame sitting in the hotel lobby. According to IMDB, she is up 35% in popularity this week.
Probably because she was spotted by over 1100 SCBWI members who then went to the IMDB page.
I signed up for the SCBWI Pro Track this time, which includes perks such as lunch with editors and being honored at a wine and cheese reception/book sale. Here I am at the book sale signing away next to Samantha Berger. Somehow, Samantha talked the bartender out of a second glass of wine for each of us…
Highlights included keynotes by M.T. Anderson, Carolyn Mackler, Jon Scieszka, and Rachel Vail. Rachel had us all mopping away tears.
And I must be in love with M.T. Anderson (or Tobin, as we 1100 really close friends call him) because I took seven pictures of him.
Those who spoke about the future of the publishing business were of three minds: 1. this is the best of times, 2. this is the worst of times, and 3. I have no idea what’s gonna happen. I’m in the group that gets tired when I hear about it.
Other things energized me. I learned some key technical enhancements at Bruce Hale’s session on Skyping the School Visit. I loved the panel on Narrative Nonfiction, which included Elizabeth Partridge, Tanya Lee Stone, and Deborah Heligman, whom I know from Kindling Words
0 Comments on Flyin' Into Los Angeles...SCBWI-LA as of 1/1/1900
My critique group met Friday night to talk, review and, of course, eat. (Don't all good critique groups feature food?) The best part of the evening was realizing that my first three chapters are done, never to be rewritten again...at least not until I get notes from my agent, and then my editor...well, you get the picture. How do I know they're done? Holly Black says so.
Holly Black was one of my favorite speakers at SCBWI-LA. She's bubbly and enthusiastic, she has great advice and she writes books that I love to read. We all know that finding critique partners can be difficult. But as Holly pointed out during her breakout workshop on critiquing, you don't just want people that you trust. You also have to not be so annoyed by them that you ignore everything they say, or so intimidated by them that you can't offer honest critiques of their work. You don't all have to write in the same genre, but these people need to get you.
She also offered up my favorite tip for knowing that something is ready to send out. She called it "The Envy Test."
If somebody's work makes me sort of envious, and maybe a little bit angry, then I know that it's ready to go out. Like if I'm thinking Oh my god, you totally nailed it! I'm really angry right now. I wish I wrote that! then it's ready. You want to have a little jealousy, because if you don't, it's not gonna spur you, it's not gonna push you. You're not going to want to rise up to that level.
Since I was the only one who attended this session, I had planned to bring my notes to share with everyone. But as I scrambled on Friday night to get out the door, finish making dinner for my family and bring along my comments on everyone else's writing, I forgot to grab my Holly notes. They'd have to hear about the Envy Test another time. So when Gwen commented about some scenes that she thought were perfect, I held my breath. And when Lori said that she was totally jealous of my chapter endings, I got giddy. If Holly Black's Envy Test is to be trusted, then my chapters are finally ready! Finally!
Of course, that's just the first three chapters. My task for this week is to make sure the remaining chapters make critiquers equally envious so that I can send this baby on its way.
Has somebody else's writing ever made you jealous? Tell them! It just might make their day :)
21 Comments on The Envy Test, last added: 9/2/2009
That is AWESOME advice. We recently read an MS and were eaten up with jealousy. The author is about to go on sub so she'll probably go to auction and then we'll really hate her! Ha!
It's certainly a great gauge. There's a telling difference between feedback that can be interpreted as being nice (honestly or not) and feedback that goes beyond that into true excitement and, yes, even jealousy.
I have a few of these gems and they're what I turn to when I'm feeling down about my writing.
Congrats on the great feedback you got on your first three chapters!
PJ: It IS fun to see the story progress, isn't it?
LiLa: I have a feeling YOU two will be the ones on auction, then we'll all be green!
Debra: Here's hoping your crit partners hate you =)
Casey: 'Nice' feedback isn't usually helpful. If something's wrong, I want to know where so I can fix it. And when people love it, that's great to know, too!
That is a cool way to look at it. I so have read some of my group's work and said, "I wish I could write like that." or "I wish I would have thought of that." Congrats for passing the envy test!!
This taps into the reality of writing groups. We are all human and we do sometimes feel envious of others. What a great idea to put it to positive use!
I get jealous of people's writing all the time! I agree that the Envy test is a great way to go. The only problem is that I never know if people are jealous or not because they never tell me. I'm always getting critiques that tell me how to improve. But that's what I want! I'll get there one day. :D
Thanks for this post. I didn't attend Holly's session because I went to another one. I loved her keynote speech with the white board, though. It was like being back at school.
So I just have to make my crit group jealous? Hmmm. I'd better get to work then. :D
Yeah, I know that title doesn't belong to me, but it fits so I'm using it. I mean, wouldn't you rather be hugging Bruce Hale (Mr. Chet Gecko himself!) instead of doing laundry? But sadly, laundry is my reality.
After the collective high of being surrounded by so much creativity and energy and success, it's hard to come home to wash dishes and clean up dog barf. I'd rather be writing. But the kids want my attention, the house needs my attention and it might be a while before I get to hole up with my WIP and apply some of the wonderful thoughts that filled my brain for the last four days.
I'm grateful that Team Blog provided crib notes on some of the workshops I wanted to attend. There was so much great stuff to choose from, sometimes it was hard to decide where to go. And sometimes I just had to find a place to chill. Information overload can be harmful to your system (or maybe that was just an excuse to get away from the crowds and hang out with some of the great people I met!)
In the final speech of the conference, Kathleen Duey had these recommendations for preserving the best of SCBWI-LA at home (and of course these would apply to any type of writing event you're at):
Write down important conversations.
On the back of business cards, write down how you met the person. (I saw Rachel doing this days before Kathleen Duey's speech =)
Annotate notes (or blog about them!).
Contact everyone who gave you a business card.
Put the gems that people said on the wall.
Take a few days before you jump in to where you were and experiment with some of what you learned.
Try hard to hold on to the validation of your art.
Announce your renewed serious intent and explain it to family and friends.
That last one is hard, at least for me. Until I'm published, family and friends see this as a hobby. They don't understand why it's taking so long, why they can't buy my book at B&N yet or why I don't just self-publish. The looks on their faces mirror the doubt I sometimes feel. Am I good enough? Yeah, I think I am. And getting better, thanks to conferences like this, critiquing buddies and constant writing and revising.
So here I go, to put it into action. I guess it's not so much that reality bites. What bites is trying to have a real life when all you want to do is write about somebody else's life...without interruption. Here's to all of us working toward that dream =)
22 Comments on Reality Bites, last added: 8/14/2009
Welcome home! I just had an ex-coworker tell me about this fabulous deal I could get if I self published. I did my best to resist telling her to go...well, it's not blog appropriate. I'm sure you get the idea. Totally understand your frustration!
I'm still doing laundry from our 11 day vacay away. Ugh! I hear you on the "hobby" thing. I even was so naive when I started writing. I never realized how extremely competitive this biz is. So I try to explain that to the family. But still some of it doesn't sink in I think.
The housework. The kids. The husbands. The stuff and the things that keep us from writing. I know them so well. But, life is good anyway, huh? Though, I'm sure we could stand to lose some housework. Ha!
I have to say, just mentioning the words "dog barf" makes me think HUMOR WRITING! Even better, dog poop on the carpet right next to where daddy and son are wrestling.
Who DIDN'T let the dog out?
Seriously, though, thanks for sharing about your experience. I love to glean as much conference goodness from those who are fortunate enough to attend.
Despite the piles of laundry, the taking care of family, and other bits of reality (don't you just love comments from well-meaning friends and family?).
You're working toward your goal and getting the word out about your work. Keep going! You are going to do it!
For me, when I write, I finally feel like I have a life. All the other stuff I do all day is for everyone else, but the writing is for me. I know where you're coming from.
For me, when I write, I finally feel like I have a life. All the other stuff I do all day is for everyone else, but the writing is for me. I know where you're coming from.
It must have been awesome to listen to Kathleen Duey speak. I love her!
I can relate to this post. W/ 3 kiddo's 2 dogs and a cat, there is always house work to be done and when I'm writing, I know that something is being neglected. It makes it harder to stay focused.
Corey - You've already got a book out so no one should be giving you grief about self-publishing!
Shelli - Thanks! Loved hanging out with you =)
Kelly - I know it doesn't sink in with my family. My mother gave me an article on self-publishing that was in the Costco magazine and I just had to grit my teeth and smile.
Casey - I would love to lose some housework!
Rebecca - Oh, my life is FULL of that kind of humor. Only I'm not laughing as I clean it up (and I'm sure you're not either)! I'm glad my notes on the conference were useful to you =)
Vivian - Thanks for the encouragement.
PJ - I'm glad the tips were useful for you. Your mini conference looked great, too!
ElanaJ - I hope when you go, I'm there too. I'd love to meet you!
Anita - I do think of writing as me time. And we don't get enough of it, do we?
Jolie - I think there was a lucky vibe going through the whole weekend. We just might have to be patient enough for that luck to show up =)
Christy - Kathleen was an amazing speaker. She signed a book for my daughter later and I really enjoyed talking to her in person as well.
Hey, Sherrie! I kept meaning to ask if you were "Solvang Sherrie" but never got around to it at the conference. I always see you over at Suzanne C's blog. Nice meeting you in person! (I was the blond with the slutty-girl-scientist story, sitting next to Rachel in our Sunday night critique group.) Anyway, loved your work! : )
Have you seen Julie & Julia yet? There's so much of this in there--and I just hadn't heard that yet. It's SUCH a juggling act, and the thing we have to remember, I think, is that it's important TO US and it's up to us to keep at it. Sounds preachy, probably just cause I'm trying to pound that into my own head these days!
I've tried to figure out specifically what I'm so excited about. Much as I'd like to return home with a signed contract in hand, I'm realistic enough to realize that's not going to happen. So what do I expect to happen?
I expect to meet a lot of writers I've only known through the blogosphere. I expect to get some books signed (hopefully, without being too much of a fan girl!) I expect to be overwhelmed with information. I expect to be inspired.
I'm really looking forward to these four days. I'll try to post while I'm there, but I'm making no guarantees. And of course, if I do end up with a contract (ha!) you'll be the first to know =)
----------------------------------
On a completely different note, I was touched and amazed to receive two blogging awards in the last week. Thanks, guys! And since I'm supposed to pass them on, here goes!
The first is the "Humane Award" for blogs that love writers and laughter in equal measures. Thanks, Glam! I'm awarding this to:
Awww! Thanks Sherrie! Is it awful that creating the d-bag-o-meter is one of my proudest moments in the past year? Why yes, yes it is.
Have a fabulous time in LA! Take pictures and tell us EVERYTHING! Good luck pitching agents and editors and all the glamorous publishing folk. Can't wait to hear all about it!
Oh yay! Thanks for the award!!!! And have soooooo much fun in LA, the midsouth RA will be there, Tracy Barrett, she's amazing. Enjoy, and BLOG IT. A LOT!!!
Kite Tales is the quarterly, free publication of the SCBWI-Los Angeles chapter. If you are at all interested in writing or illustrating children's books, the whole issue, edited by Rilla Jaggia, is well worth checking out. It's free and chock full of interviews, updates, and information. And...
I'm excited to point you all to an article of mine called Twitter, Tweeting and You that starts on page 25 of this issue! The article tells you step by step how to set up an account, find people to follow, use direct messages, tweet effectively, and more. The publication is a PDF, and the link to Kite Tales will take you straight to the download page.
I hope you download Kite Tales and enjoy it... and if you have questions about Twitter or SCBWI-LA, ask away!
I remember you blog oftenly on because of the content makes very nice to read. Also I got some of the social networking website and online friends community website to get more friends for fun and entertainment to reach right destination about online friends.
The book was thrown at me with a box of barbie bandaids and the triscuits were all but shoved down my throat in order to achieve the "peace" Leila needs to read. I'm so putting on some gangsta rap. I love having access to her blog. Wa-ha-ha.
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I love when I read great stuff from my crit partners! It is so nice to see it pre-publication.
Congrats on your great feedback. That is so way cool!
That is AWESOME advice. We recently read an MS and were eaten up with jealousy. The author is about to go on sub so she'll probably go to auction and then we'll really hate her! Ha!
I love this. Great post, Sherrie!
Great post, Sherrie. I'll remember the jealousy test when I sent out my new wip. Hopefully, my crit partners will say they hate me.;-)
It's certainly a great gauge. There's a telling difference between feedback that can be interpreted as being nice (honestly or not) and feedback that goes beyond that into true excitement and, yes, even jealousy.
I have a few of these gems and they're what I turn to when I'm feeling down about my writing.
Congrats on the great feedback you got on your first three chapters!
Oh, I love the jealousy test. It is so true! I'll be sure to tell someone when I am jealous of their work.
Oooh, I like this envy test. Very very true! I'm going to be sure to tell my crit group about this this week. Thanks!
PJ: It IS fun to see the story progress, isn't it?
LiLa: I have a feeling YOU two will be the ones on auction, then we'll all be green!
Debra: Here's hoping your crit partners hate you =)
Casey: 'Nice' feedback isn't usually helpful. If something's wrong, I want to know where so I can fix it. And when people love it, that's great to know, too!
Susan: Excellent--share the jealousy! :)
Elana: You are SO welcome!
Wow, that is a fabulous vein of thought!
I guess that's a really good way to figure out if they nailed it.
Oh, what a terrific post! I totally feel envious when I read a great PB manuscript!
Interesting. I shall keep this in mind.
Wow! sounds like a great "talk" from Holly and fabulous feedback from your group!!! YaY!
It must be great to find a group you can click w/.
Because "Holly Black says so." Man, I got chills from this.
Love this advice and even more, I'm thrilled your chapters passed The Envy Test. Congrats!
Hooray! That is the best feeling ev-ah :D
im jealous just hearing this :)
That is a cool way to look at it. I so have read some of my group's work and said, "I wish I could write like that." or "I wish I would have thought of that."
Congrats for passing the envy test!!
This taps into the reality of writing groups. We are all human and we do sometimes feel envious of others. What a great idea to put it to positive use!
Shelley
I get jealous of people's writing all the time! I agree that the Envy test is a great way to go. The only problem is that I never know if people are jealous or not because they never tell me. I'm always getting critiques that tell me how to improve. But that's what I want! I'll get there one day. :D
What a great post ... and so true!! Congrats to you ... what a great feeling!
Congrats on getting the chapters perfected. :D
And great advice. It definitely gives an edge to "I loved it" comments... ;)
Thanks for the great post.
~Merc
Thanks for this post. I didn't attend Holly's session because I went to another one. I loved her keynote speech with the white board, though. It was like being back at school.
So I just have to make my crit group jealous? Hmmm. I'd better get to work then. :D