Tag Archives: SCBWI events

SCBWI Community Corner with Sarah Parker-Lee

03 Wednesday Feb 2016

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The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is a dynamic community of professionals and aspirings. Here’s one member’s story about how SCBWI has influenced their work and connected them to publishing professionals, life-long friends, and the tools they need to share their stories with children of all ages.

SCBWI 2013 Summer Conference

SCBWI 2013 Summer Conference

My name is Sarah Parker-Lee. I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in 2013, at the suggestion of an editor from Simon and Schuster, who is also a member. She told me, if I was serious about writing for children, and I wanted publishers and agents to know it, I needed to be here. And she was right. Nothing has influenced my work more or guided me on my career path like the SCBWI.

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SCBWI’s Working Writers’ Retreat: Kes Trester Interview (Sue Alexander Award Winner); and Insider View from Writer Sara Bayles

18 Wednesday Nov 2015

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Kes TresterOn September 11-13, 2015, writers from all around the globe attended SCBWI’sAnnual Working Writers’ Retreat; this year in a secluded Encino, California, location. As usual, tickets for this event sold out quickly.

I met up with the 2015 Sue Alexander Award winner, Kes Trester, on that Friday. Most retreat attendees share simple rooms with another writer. Kes and I sat together outside her room. In the still-humid LA evening, Kes imparted insight about writing, the retreat, and how writers can apply for this coveted SCBWI award.

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Los Angeles Regional News

04 Wednesday Nov 2015

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LitMingles: Our new name for the Schmoozes. LitMingles are free meetings throughout L.A. County on a variety of topics. To learn more about one in your area, please visit: http://losangeles.scbwi.org/mingle-calendar/

2016 Contests:

Mentor Contest: Win a 6 month Mentorship for a MG or YA Author. Contest opens for entries from March 1-31, 2016. Watch for more information on the Mentor and contest details coming soon. SCBWI-L.A. members only. http://losangeles.scbwi.org/contests/mentor-contest/

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A Farewell to Schmoozes by Karol Ruth Silverstein

28 Wednesday Oct 2015

Posted by in LitMingles!

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Change is good, right? Everyone says so. It’s generally thought of as a necessity for growth. Adapt or perish and all that.

As writers and illustrators of material for children, we count on our audience changing, “graduating” from picture books to easy readers and chapter books, and then onward to the ever-expanding and constantly shifting world of novels for young readers and teens.

Similarly, SCBWI has made lots of changes as an organization over the years, and recently they made another one – they decided to rename our Schmoozes. The idea was to switch to something that sounded a bit more professional, and didn’t carry with it the possible negative connotation of gossip.

SchmoozeGroup

West Side Schmooze

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Central Coast Regional News

14 Wednesday Oct 2015

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SketchCrawl at the Santa Barbara Zoo

June 7, 2015

 Creative individuals met for a day of sketching, writing, and sharing.

 SketchCrawl 2015 copy

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SoCal Regional News

02 Friday Oct 2015

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It’s hard to believe that autumn is here! That means that Editor’s Day 2015 is right around the corner. It will be held at the Titan Theater, California State University Fullerton (located inside the Titan Student Union) on Saturday, October 3.

Our wonderful editorial speakers include: Erica Finkel – Editor at Abrams Books, Taylor Norman – Assistant Editor at Chronicle Books, Becky Shapiro – Associate Editor at Scholastic Books, Jeffrey Salane – Editorial Director of Little Simon – Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division and Kristine Brogno – Children’s Design Director at Chronicle Books. They will be joined by our terrific local talent: Jennifer Grey Olson, Spotlight Author/Illustrator, Henry L. Herz, Spotlight Author and Rodolfo Montalvo, Spotlight Illustrator. The delightful Sara Sciuto of Fuse Literary Agency (formerly Foreword Literary) will be joining us for panels and pitches. Our speakers will be focusing on craft so if you plan to join us be prepared to take lots of notes!

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Agent’s Perspective: A spotlight on three agents at the SCBWI Summer Conference By Clare Di Liscia Baird and Beth Navarro

28 Friday Aug 2015

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The 2015 SCBWI Summer conference had an impressive line-up of agents including Alexandra Penfold, Barry Goldblatt and Brenda Bowen. There is a good amount of information out there answering questions about how to get an agent and how to write a fabulous (the ever elusive and tricky) query letter, but much less talked about is what happens once an agent’s interest is piqued. We wanted insider information on how these top of the line agents work with potential clients. They were kind enough to take time out of their busy conference schedules to talk with us.

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SCBWI Summer Conference By Julia Markovich

26 Wednesday Aug 2015

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“In Reverence of Resonance”

At the 44th Annual SCBWI Summer Conference, the esteemed Mem Fox, Queen of children’s storybooks, told us that there are really only two themes in all of literature: the “Quest” and the “Stranger Comes to Town.” As a first-time conference goer, I certainly felt like the ‘stranger come to town’ as I navigated my way through the biggest Summer Conference to date – a whopping 1,173 people attending from 19 countries (including France, Japan, Spain and Bangladesh!) and 48 states represented. But with over 400 “pre-published” new attendees just like me, I knew I wouldn’t be alone for long.

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Schmooze Spotlight: San Fernando Valley Schmooze

19 Wednesday Aug 2015

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Writing means sharing. It’s part of the human condition to want to share things – thoughts, ideas, opinions. ~ Paulo Coelho

Sh. Oaks Library front view copy_Schmooze Spotlight

Sherman Oaks Library

On the fourth Monday of the month co-coordinators Karen Sampson and Jennifer S. Pitts gather together with a friendly group of writers and illustrators at the Sherman Oaks Library, in the heart of the beautiful San Fernando Valley. Their goal is to help Schmoozers assuage the solitary art of writing and illustrating while fulfilling their natural human desire to share.

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Los Angeles Critiquenic 2015 by Renee Carter

29 Wednesday Jul 2015

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What happens when a bunch of children’s literature writers gather together in a creative venue? The answer is a day of creative expression and constructive critique. The SCBWI Peer 2 Peer Critiquenic took place at the Skirball Cultural Center a couple of months ago. The weather graced us with a perfect spring afternoon. Arriving early, and carrying my lunch bag, I stepped up to the check-in table. The registration process was organized and easy. I was the first in my group (young adult) to arrive and was assigned to welcome the rest of the party. I waved a cute animal mask courtesy of SCBWI, greeted and mingled with fellow friendly writers. It was wonderful to run into others I’d meet through various schmoozes.

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