SCBWI members’ publishing news is something to celebrate! Check out whose book is coming to a platform near you or around the world:
Toot Your Horn!
29 Wednesday Aug 2018
Posted in Toot Your Horn!
Tag Archives: SCBWI community
Great News!
22 Wednesday Aug 2018
Posted in Great News!
SCBWI loves celebrating our members’ successes and noteworthy news, and there are many! Read on to find out who’s got something to shout about. Digital high-fives welcome in the comments!
LitMingle Minute: Future Shock and The Query Review at Westchester Writers Mingle
25 Wednesday Jul 2018
Posted in LitMingles!
By Renee Carter
It began at a chain restaurant. I was meeting with my writers’ group, munching on a salad when suddenly a woman approached.
“That’s me,” she proclaimed, tapping the front cover of the YA novel near my elbow on the table.
I looked at the image of a Latina, teenaged girl on the book cover and turned to the woman. She must have noticed my skepticism because she promptly turned the novel over.
“I’m Elizabeth Briggs,” she smiled. “Do you like my book?” Continue reading
Peer2Peer Critique Day 2018: Inspirational Setting and Writers
27 Wednesday Jun 2018
Posted in Critique Day
By Renee Carter
It was a spectacular Saturday morning. The temperature was in the low seventies and the sky blue. The Peer2Peer Critique Day facilitators, Daka Hermon and Pamela Rippey, arrived early to the Skirball Cultural Center, armed with candy and great attitudes. I was warmly greeted, efficiently signed in, and encouraged to pick any spot for my group. Within minutes, other SCBWI members arrived. There were several familiar faces; two from my mingle group and two from prior Critique Days.
The table where I sat was composed of four other middle grade writers. We were a diverse group: a teacher, life coach, retired banker, retired physical therapist and a full-time author. Our common ground lay in the areas of writing children’s literature and a positive, supportive attitude.
Ask an Editor: Where Can I Find a Critique Group?
20 Wednesday Jun 2018
Posted in Ask an Editor, Critique Day
Tags
critique groups, critiquenic, critiques, critiquing, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members
“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered as part of our quarterly Kite Tales blog.
Dear Editor – I think my YA novel is finished but would like to show it to other people for feedback. Where can I find a critique group?
—Effie, Culver City Continue reading
LitMingle Minute: Westside Writers Say Goodbye to Lori Snyder, Hello to Rebecca Light
30 Wednesday May 2018
Posted in LitMingles!
By Laurie Young
After two-plus years as our marvelous co-coordinator of the Westside Writers Mingle, Lori Snyder stepped down in December 2017. We are so grateful for her invaluable energy and spirit, and her contributions to our group. She leaves us with these parting words: “I’m happy to say that it was really fun to do and to work with you, and I’m excited to get to come as a participant again.”
When Lori and I were thinking about who could fill her very large shoes, we immediately thought of Rebecca Light. Her intelligence and enthusiasm, as well as an eagerness to volunteer, made a big impression on us from her first Mingle. Rebecca was a natural and obvious choice. Continue reading
Toot Your Horn!
11 Friday May 2018
Posted in Toot Your Horn!
SCBWI members’ publishing news is something to celebrate! Check out whose book is coming to a platform near you or around the world:
Los Angeles Is…, by Elisa Parhad, illustrated by Alexander Vidal, Cameron Kids, ages 0-6, Board Book, ISBN: 978-1-944903-23-7, released 04/24/2018. Continue reading
Great News!
09 Wednesday May 2018
Posted in Great News!
SCBWI loves celebrating our members’ successes and noteworthy news, and there are many! Read on to find out who’s got something to shout about. Digital high-fives welcome in the comments!
“The Jackpot,” a memoir by Karen Gorback, has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul – My Amazing Mom (March 2018).
Joan Bransfield Graham’s poetry is featured in two recent Lee Bennett Hopkins anthologies: “Teacher” in School People (Feb. 13, Wordsong) and “Great Indian Fruit Bat” in World Make Way (March 27, Abrams, a book in conjunction with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.)
Shireen Hakim blogged for NaNoWriMo (National November Writing Month), a motivational writing community site with 250k followers. She wrote her tips for getting traditionally published, based on her experience writing and publishing her children’s refugee story, Rabbi the Rabbiti.
Community Corner with Susan Lendroth: From the Sue Alexander Grant to Publication
02 Wednesday May 2018
Posted in Community Corner, Contests & Grants, Writers' Retreat
Tags
awards, published, publishing, SAG, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, Susan Lendroth, Working Writer's Retreat
By Susan Lendroth
In 2010, I submitted the picture book Not So Loud, Natsumi! to the Sue Alexander Grant contest sponsored by SCBWI-LA. Little did I realize the winding road my story and I would take over the next eight years from contest entry to manuscript submission to eventual publication. Continue reading
The Sue Alexander Grant is Open. Why Should You Submit Your Writing?
25 Wednesday Apr 2018
Posted in Contests & Grants, SAG, Writers' Retreat
Tags
Andrea Custer, contests, critique groups, critiquing, pitching, SAG, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, Sue Alexander, Sue Alexander Grant, writing
By Karol Ruth Silverstein, SCBWI-L.A. Contest Coordinator
It’s time once again to polish up those manuscripts and submit to the Sue Alexander Grant, the winner of which receives a guaranteed spot and free tuition to the SCBWI-L.A. September 2018 Working Writers Retreat.
The WWR is an intense critiquing weekend with critique sessions, revision time, and parties — including karaoke! The retreat culminates in a first-pages pitch session with four acquiring editors and agents.
I recently caught up with last year’s Sue Alexander Grant winner, Andrea Custer, for her insight on the retreat, how it influenced her writing, and why you should apply for this grant to attend.
KAROL RUTH SILVERSTEIN: Did you put in a lot of work on your manuscript before submitting it to the Sue Alexander Grant or did you have a polished manuscript ready to go?
ANDREA CUSTER: I workshopped it with my critique group as I was writing the first draft. They are an amazing group, quite astute, and so I had the benefit of their comments early on and had already revised the first half of the manuscript based on their feedback. Submitting it for consideration for SAG was actually a bit of an impulse! I saw the reminder on Facebook that the submission deadline was coming up, and thought why not go for it? I had about a week to re-read, polish, and get it ready. I found out I’d won on my birthday! It was the best gift I’ve ever gotten.
KRS: What was your favorite part of the retreat? What was most valuable? Continue reading
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