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 […]
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Blog: Write About Now (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Paige Britt, Rachel A. Marks, SCBWI, Uncategorized, publishing, new books, writers, SCBWI Summer Conference, writing community, SCBWI-LA, debut novels, writing inspiration, writing journey, writer's conference, good books, milestones, writer friends, New book releases, writing and publishing, encouragement for writers, good fortune of blogging buddies, author friends, awesome books, friends, writing, Add a tag
Blog: sketched out (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: illustration, drawing, sketch, stuff, children's illustration, sketchbook, sketching, SCBWI Summer Conference, giraffe, meerkat, Add a tag
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It has already been a year since I feverishly put my portfolio together for the 2013 SCBWI L.A. Summer Conference and this was the art I used for my promo postcard. And here we are, the 2014 starts next week! Where does the dang time go?
I won’t be making the conference this year, but I am really jealous happy for all y ‘all that are attending this year! Yessss, so, so very happy (clenches jaw.)
But seriously! I’m thrilled for you, especially the folks who haven’t ever attended before. You’re going to love it and get so much out of it!
I’ll be waiting with baited breath for photos and to hear all about it!
Blog: Hazel Mitchell (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: freelance illustration, dummies, schooners, hazelmitchell, SCBWI Los Angeles, manuscripts, children's illustration, deadlines, portfolio, freelancing, scbwi summer conference, Add a tag
Deadlines are good things. They make you stretch yourself. You achieve things you thought were impossible. Sometimes things are even better because you have to work quickly. I relish them and - I dread them. But I know I am happier when I have them, than when I don't. I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy working in the illustration field. Mostly you are working for a client, and that client has expectations - after all they are putting food on your table. I often hear freelancers (in all kinds of work) saying that they have a hard time getting motivated. My advice: get yourself a deadline. And if you don't have one, create one for yourself.
The reason I am rattling on about deadlines is that there's a few on my calendar. This is excellent, means I am busy. Who doesn't want to be busy? I handle my deadlines by making a written calendar, right now it goes until August 31. I have 2 manuscripts to illustrate by then (the next two books in Anastasia Suen's cheerleader series for Kane and Miller publishing). Before you 'gasp' they are black and white with colour cover, so it's not colour double spreads!)
Mid way through this is wham bam ... SCBWI Summer Conference in LA. Just to make things difficult for myself I've decided to redo my portfolio with totally new pieces. So that's F-I-V-E weeks away. Plus I want to take 2 dummies with me. I will be entering the Portfolio Showcase again ... this year I feel like I know what I am doing. Well, more than last year anyway!
As I said, nothing like a deadline ... here's one of the new pieces with a more whimsical style than usual.
On the board for next week I also have designs to do for a pottery company in CA, they produce planters for the trade market (Target, Lowes etc). I used to do a lot of work for them, and was lucky enough to go to China to the trade fair and factories several years ago ... and then the economy nosedived. It's a good sign they are sending me work again. Of course, you can't choose when it comes along, so hence the planning calendar.
I guess I will be working some late nights on the portfolio!!
As a nice treat at the end of August I get to teach a drawing cruise on the Schooner Isaac H Evans. It's shaping up to be a busy, fun and fruitful summer.
The trip to LA will be welcome - a big conference like this is always intense, as you want to hear all the awesome speakers and still network. (And have some party time). Bring it on. Last year I knew very few people ... this year I feel like I am going back to family. In the lonely life of the freelance illustrator I think that's an unusual feeling. If you are an aspiring children's illustrator or writer - make sure you join the SCBWI and go to conferences and workshops!
Talking of deadlines, must get back to them.
Just want to say many thanks to everyone who sent me sympathy on the loss of my dog ... it's been a hard week.
Toodles!
Hazel
Blog: Write About Now (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: SCBWI Summer Conference, Add a tag
Somehow it managed to sneak up on me. This summer has been so busy and I've been so wrapped up in my rewrite and traveling that I didn't realize it was already time for SCBWI-LA! Squee!!
My son and I did our first Skype call last night. (Gotta love technology and the 10-year-olds who are so eager to try it out!) Hopefully it will work smoothly when I'm in a hotel over a hundred miles away. My daughter still likes to hear Goodnight Moon every night, so we'll try the virtual tuck in tomorrow night, now with live video :)
I've packed a stack of books that I want to get signed, enough clothes to get me through the conference and then some, and of course, my computer. But I always manage to forget something...
Hope your weekend plans are just as wonderful!
Blog: Day By Day Writer (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Karen Cushman, Disney/Hyperion editor Ari Lewin, Sherman Alexie, SCBWI Summer Conference, writing conferences, Eve Bunting, Add a tag
Check-in: No writing today. As I finished my revision yesterday and have been feeling under the weather, I decided to not set my alarm and sleep in. Guess what? I woke up at 4:30, then 6:30 and got up at 7:30. So much for sleeping in.
But I haven’t been far from writing. I’ve been enjoying keeping in touch with what’s going on at the SCBWI Summer conference on its blog. Children’s Writers & Illustrators Market editor Alice Pope is leading a blog team that’s blogging live from the show and they’ve delivered up some great posts. Thanks Alice and your great team!
I went to the SCBWI Summer conference two years ago and it was a fantastic experience. It’s a huge, sprawling event but the people are all nice and excited about the same thing — children’s books.
Here’s some of my favorite posts so far from the SCBWI Conference blog:
Author Eve Bunting talked about the importance of emotion in a story in her Creating an Extraordinary Picture Book Panel.
Author Karen Cushman talked about how writers help each other.
Disney/Hyperion senior editor Ari Lewin discussed what their editors do and says he focuses on the writing not the pitch when he receives a manuscript.
Author Linda Sue Park talked about point of view in her Scene Building Workshop part 1 and part 2.
And my favorite from the show so far, author Sherman Alexie talks about how books can change lives.
Enjoy, and let me know which parts of the conference you’re enjoying the most, whether in person or from home.
Write On!
Blog: Cheryl Rainfield: Avid Reader, Teen Fiction Writer, and Book-a-holic. Focus on Children & Teen Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: SCBWI, children's books, SCBWI conference, SCBWI summer conference, children's writer workshops, children's writers conference, Add a tag
Can’t go to the 37th Annual Summer SCBWI conference this year? Yeah, I can’t either; I just can’t afford the air flight, hotel, etc. Well, we’re in luck, because Alice Pope, editor of the Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, will be covering the conference on her blog.
The conference is from August 1-4 in Los Angeles, CA. Pope will report on all the sessions she attends, the people she meets, the portfolio event, the parties and schmooze opportunities, and maybe even some things she overhears.
I’m sure there’ll be other people blogging about the conference, too. Know someone who will be? Or you’ve written a blog post yourself? Let me know and I’ll update this post.
Blog: Fox In Socks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: polar bear, little boy, windy, summer night, evening, fire fly, lightning bugs, Add a tag
Soooo love this!
Well done, ADORABLE illustration, as usual!
Don’t think I saw this one. It’s a winner. Cute lil Meercat!
love it :)