Martha Brockenbrough is the author of YA novels THE GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH and DEVINE INTERVENTION, and THE DINOSAUR TOOTH FAIRY, a picture book with much more to come.
Martha wanted to write books her whole life. She had a couple transformative moments: 1) The decision to attend this conference in 2008. 2) A class she took with Linda Sue Park that turned on a lightbulb for her (on revising scenes).
The "if I could just" thought can be dangerous (If I could just get an agent... If I could just get published...). "What's really satisfying is building meaningful relationships."
Martha thinks resistance makes you strong. It means it takes effort. We all have to get stronger in order to progress.
Martha reminds us the first draft of a novel is not going to great. There can be great moments in it, but you can't let those moments become your enemy. As Martha struggled with her only draft, Anne Ursu advised: Just finish the draft. Martha, tell us, don't stop as you go.
Martha reminds us all: The work is the reward. The work is the joy.
Stacey Lee is the author of UNDER A PAINTED SKY, her debut young adult novel.
For Stacey it was writing for many years and then taking a risk. Stacey attended a local SCBWI conference that she nearly talked herself out of attending because of fear. There, her work was recognized as the most promising manuscript and things started rolling from there for her.
Stacey wrote 5 books before breaking in with UNDER A PAINTED SKY. You have to cut your teeth working on other projects to grow as a writer.
Stacey remind us that conflict makes us keep turning pages. We need to give our characters pain to make the payoff better.
Stacey shares, success is not what defines you.
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Isn't Lori cute? And so is whoever
is photobombing her. |
Lori Nichols, author/illustrator, is asked what was it that broke her through to the other (published) side:
"If I had to break it down to two things, it would definitely be SCBWI, I went to my first conference in 2002, I left two small children at home with the flu and drove five hours to a regional conference (where I then got the flu) but I learned so much. I met my agent at a SCBWI conference, and she's the other thing that's broken me through, my amazing agent Joanna Volpe."
Lee asks Lori about some craft tips: Lori quotes
Kelly Light, "Writing is like punching myself in the face."
Lori says, "That quote really spoke to me, for me, I have to show up every day, and sometimes what I write is going to stink. It's the showing up every day and not waiting for perfection. I think part of what makes a beautiful book are the imperfections, maybe a line is too scratchy, so what! Show up to your paper, your easel, your computer, and stay there, do it daily. Study other writers and illustrators, too."
Click on over to read this chat between SCBWI Team Blog's Martha Brockenbrough and debut author/illustrator Mike Curato.
They talk day jobs and publishing dreams, polka dot elephants and shows at cupcake stores. Martha even gets Mike's time-traveling advice to himself years ago, which includes this gem:
"Make things that make you smile inside."
Mike's publishing journey is one of our "SCBWI Success Stories" featured at the upcoming 2015 SCBWI Summer Conference on a Friday afternoon panel (that I'll be moderating, and that will also feature Martha herself!)
Mike will also be co-leading a Saturday Breakout session with agent Brenda Bowen on "The Artist Agent Relationship!"
We hope you can join us for #LA15SCBWI – and perhaps it will be the path to your own SCBWI Success Story!
Detailed conference information and registration here.Illustrate and Write On,Lee
I was happy to catch Jim Carroll between sessions, and he told me about how being part of SCBWI helped him get "The Boy And The Moon," his debut picture book as an author and illustrator, published:
Thanks, Jim!
Namaste,
Lee
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