Comments on: Writing Conferences: Should You or Shouldn’t You? http://kidlit.com/2009/06/16/should-i-go-to-a-writers-conference/ A place for people who love, read and write children's literature. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:53:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: uberVU - social comments http://kidlit.com/2009/06/16/should-i-go-to-a-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3380 uberVU - social comments Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:05:48 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=479#comment-3380 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kid_Lit: From the archives, perfect for new year resolutions: Should I go to a #writing conference? http://ow.ly/WoKV... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kid_Lit: From the archives, perfect for new year resolutions: Should I go to a #writing conference? http://ow.ly/WoKV...

]]> By: Martha Flynn http://kidlit.com/2009/06/16/should-i-go-to-a-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3314 Martha Flynn Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:32:55 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=479#comment-3314 Six months later and so little has changed of your dream-killing ways.... Six months later and so little has changed of your dream-killing ways….

]]> By: Mary http://kidlit.com/2009/06/16/should-i-go-to-a-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3313 Mary Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:04:35 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=479#comment-3313 Daisy -- Of course you do, that one came from Martha! Thanks for popping by. :) Daisy — Of course you do, that one came from Martha! Thanks for popping by. :)

]]> By: Daisy Whitney http://kidlit.com/2009/06/16/should-i-go-to-a-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3312 Daisy Whitney Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:02:52 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=479#comment-3312 I haven't been to a writer's conference but am a big believer in general of the power of in-person networking. I think writers can get a lot out of it and agents, editors and dream-killers too! (Love the comments here on this post!) I haven’t been to a writer’s conference but am a big believer in general of the power of in-person networking. I think writers can get a lot out of it and agents, editors and dream-killers too! (Love the comments here on this post!)

]]> By: Jean http://kidlit.com/2009/06/16/should-i-go-to-a-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3307 Jean Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:31:49 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=479#comment-3307 That's it! I'm saving up to get myself to a conference! (See my knees shaking?) If I have to, I'll bring a tent and camp out behind the hotel eating PB & J. ;) That’s it! I’m saving up to get myself to a conference! (See my knees shaking?) If I have to, I’ll bring a tent and camp out behind the hotel eating PB & J. ;)

]]> By: Mary http://kidlit.com/2009/06/16/should-i-go-to-a-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3306 Mary Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:27:01 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=479#comment-3306 Ellen -- Thank you so much. And seriously, readers, Ellen is a phenomenally hard-working and dedicated regional adviser (and she's got stiff competition from other amazing SCBWI mentors, authors and advisers) and I have heard absolutely NOTHING BUT THE BEST about SCBWI NV's programs. Highly, highly recommended. As for getting an author as your critique appointment, celebrate! I couldn't agree more. We have authors on faculty at the Big Sur conference and, every year, attendees say that they got so much out of being paired with successful working professionals. Ellen — Thank you so much. And seriously, readers, Ellen is a phenomenally hard-working and dedicated regional adviser (and she’s got stiff competition from other amazing SCBWI mentors, authors and advisers) and I have heard absolutely NOTHING BUT THE BEST about SCBWI NV’s programs. Highly, highly recommended.

As for getting an author as your critique appointment, celebrate! I couldn’t agree more. We have authors on faculty at the Big Sur conference and, every year, attendees say that they got so much out of being paired with successful working professionals.

]]> By: Ellen Hopkins http://kidlit.com/2009/06/16/should-i-go-to-a-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3304 Ellen Hopkins Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:08:01 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=479#comment-3304 As a regional adviser for SCBWI NV, I'd like to say that (and don't get me wrong... I love the national conferences!!) regional conferences may actually offer BETTER opportunities to connect with editors/agents, specifically BECAUSE they are smaller. Nationals may have 1200 attendees, while smaller ones may have 50 to 100. So even with more editors/agents at the big ones, odds are probably better at the regionals. I'd also like to say that while these connections are valuable, the craft workshops are probably more valuable, especially for newer writers, whose work is often not ready for an editor's eyes. In that vein, if you do pay for a critique and happen to get paired with an author, rather than an editor/agent, the input you get is likely to be as or even more valuable because we've been there. We have found our way out of the slush, onto publishers' lists, and we know they way to get there. So if you get a well-published author (as is often the case at SCBWI LA), celebrate that fact. And hey, I'll go ahead and invite you to check out the amazing programs SCBWI NV offers, including an upcoming novel immersion retreat (May) and our mentor program, which has been attended by writers from all over the country and Canada. Truly, some programs are more worth your investment $$$ than others, so do research them. As a regional adviser for SCBWI NV, I’d like to say that (and don’t get me wrong… I love the national conferences!!) regional conferences may actually offer BETTER opportunities to connect with editors/agents, specifically BECAUSE they are smaller. Nationals may have 1200 attendees, while smaller ones may have 50 to 100. So even with more editors/agents at the big ones, odds are probably better at the regionals. I’d also like to say that while these connections are valuable, the craft workshops are probably more valuable, especially for newer writers, whose work is often not ready for an editor’s eyes.

In that vein, if you do pay for a critique and happen to get paired with an author, rather than an editor/agent, the input you get is likely to be as or even more valuable because we’ve been there. We have found our way out of the slush, onto publishers’ lists, and we know they way to get there. So if you get a well-published author (as is often the case at SCBWI LA), celebrate that fact.

And hey, I’ll go ahead and invite you to check out the amazing programs SCBWI NV offers, including an upcoming novel immersion retreat (May) and our mentor program, which has been attended by writers from all over the country and Canada. Truly, some programs are more worth your investment $$$ than others, so do research them.

]]> By: Mary http://kidlit.com/2009/06/16/should-i-go-to-a-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3302 Mary Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:48:52 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=479#comment-3302 Ev -- Wise words, darling, as always! Ev — Wise words, darling, as always!

]]> By: J.H. Everett http://kidlit.com/2009/06/16/should-i-go-to-a-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3301 J.H. Everett Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:46:11 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=479#comment-3301 I think it is worth reiterating that there are a lot of smaller local opportunities, as well, if you want to get your feet wet. National conferences are great, but I know a lot of folks who worked their way up to them. Working your way up through smaller, local events introduces a person to similar elements of the industry, in incremental doses. The local attendees will be more familiar and travel time and expenses are much more managable. Look for conferences attached to local events at colleges and universities, local museums and galleries, or sometimes bookstores (with your local SCBWI critique group)! By involving yourself locally, you commit professionally and still give yourself time to grow into the bigger conferences. Having an established set of local friends and work under your belt can be a big confidence builder at large events. It can also help focus your needs, so that you know what to aim for at the national conferences. ~Ev I think it is worth reiterating that there are a lot of smaller local opportunities, as well, if you want to get your feet wet. National conferences are great, but I know a lot of folks who worked their way up to them. Working your way up through smaller, local events introduces a person to similar elements of the industry, in incremental doses. The local attendees will be more familiar and travel time and expenses are much more managable. Look for conferences attached to local events at colleges and universities, local museums and galleries, or sometimes bookstores (with your local SCBWI critique group)! By involving yourself locally, you commit professionally and still give yourself time to grow into the bigger conferences. Having an established set of local friends and work under your belt can be a big confidence builder at large events. It can also help focus your needs, so that you know what to aim for at the national conferences.
~Ev

]]> By: Mary http://kidlit.com/2009/06/16/should-i-go-to-a-writers-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-3299 Mary Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:35:12 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=479#comment-3299 Kate -- Great points and a great resource link. Thanks! Kate — Great points and a great resource link. Thanks!

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