No, this isn’t a trick. No plastic thumb or fake dove here. Smoke and mirrors? Nah. This is a real treat. Better than chocolate. It’s a PiBoIdMo Retreat!
Yes, I’ve been kicking around this harebrained scheme to host a picture book writing retreat and workshop weekend with a PiBoIdMo theme in late November or early December. Am I nuts? Yes, of course! Only crazy pants people can be children’s authors, silly!
Cozy, no? Don’t you wanna just relax and write?
The Grand Summit Hotel in Summit, NJ is the proposed venue. Located in downtown Summit, The Grand Summit offers walking access to the NYC train, shops and restaurants, plus this mid-sized hotel provides personalized service and well-appointed rooms with a comfortable, hometown feel. (OK, with that description it’s painfully obvious that I’ve been obsessed with “The Price is Right” game on Facebook.)
Two picture book authors (moi included), one picture book literary agent and one picture book editor from a major house comprise the potential faculty.
And you, 24 PiBoIdMo devotees, will be the small, intimate group of lucky attendees.
There will be four workshop classes plus smaller break-out sessions. And plenty of time to write and gossip. How about a Friday night dinner soiree with open bar, too? Cranberry Cosmos for all! (Saturday-morning hangover optional.)
I am busy crunching numbers to determine if this is possible. So, if this sounds even remotely intriguing, please speak up in the comments. Tell me how much is a reasonable attendance fee (bear in mind you’d also have costs for hotel accommodations and transportation) and what you’d want out of the weekend.
I need your input, PiBoIdMo’ers! Let the comments commence!
It sounds very intriguing and I’d love to come, but for me scheduling is an issue and I’m not sure I’ll be able to pull it off. As for cost, I’m not sure what would be reasonable. I’m just so helpful, aren’t I?
But I think it’s a GREAT idea!!!
I’m no help at all on costs but I think I have enough airfare miles to travel there for free so I’d be interested to hear what you come up with!
I’ve never been to one but this sounds exactly like what I would love to be a part of! Woohoo!
For me, I think I’d love to have some chances to work on existing manuscripts with a group of other people who are also author/illustrators. I think hearing more about how to present yourself as the combo would be really fantastic, too. I don’t know that I could afford it but would do everything in my power to make it work!!!! How would you pick the 24?!
Oh man, my husband will probably kill me for saying this (I’ve traveled A LOT this year), but I so want in! Also, I am considering planning a similar retreat for illustrators next fall, so if you go through with this, I will totally be picking your brain.
I don’t think I could swing paying more than $250 for it, considering that I’ll have airfare as well as the hotel cost. (Our conference fees average less than $200, but they are a bigger affair, and I know more people=lower fees.) The faculty would be a big factor, too. If they’re someone I have already critiqued with/heard present at another conference, I’d be less likely to attend.
Count me in!!! Just can’t do Dec 8th..
Tara,
I wish I could but it’s not in the budget this year. Maybe you’ll come to NC to present at our SCBWI Conference one year. I hope that happens!
This sounds lovely, Tara, but not possible for me. My question is why November or December? November is NanoWriMo, but maybe not many who do PiBoIdMo also do NaNo, anyway. December is such a busy month for most people, but maybe it would be a needed and welcome change.
I wish you success with this; it sounds like fun.
Wish I could do November/December but I’m out of town twice those months. Not sure how much help I can be with costs. But I sure do need a retreat to write and stay focused, along with some quality feedback. Great idea, maybe at a different time of the year?
Love this idea and would totally be on board. Difficult time of year but would love to make it happen!! Let me know if I can help! Thanks!
Yes, difficult time of year with our traveling to see family and such around holidays. I would pay around $200 for a retreat, but travel from southeast Arkansas would be pricey. Depending on the amount of instruction, interaction, and chances to really work on the WIP, it might be something I would swing for.
Sounds very tempting. I would have to wait and see details.
Tara, this sounds amazing! I’d love to participate!
Travel would be a tough thing that close to the holidays, but that’s only because I’m about as far away from Summit as possible and still in the lower 48. Otherwise? Totally in. Something specifically for PBs is a huge hole in the ‘retreat-slash-conference market.’ Would you foresee any overlap for Andrea Brown’s Big Sur Writing Retreat for faculty or attendees? Just a thought…think that’s usually the first weekend in December.
Bomb idea though!!
Sounds great. Keep me in the loop. Along with my PB’s I’m working on a new graphic novel style. If anyone is interested in learning about it with me, I’d love to discuss.