I went alone. No one from CA was going to fly to NY when the LA summer conference is so close. But I didn’t care about that. I had finished my first novel, and I was ready finally. I was ready to research how to get it into the hands of agents and publishers. And here’s what I found out:
Friday: Writer’s Intensive
I paid extra to have the privilege of reading my first 500 words in front of two editors. Registration began at 8:00 AM. The time change threw me off a bit, but adrenalin kept me awake. The sign-in was easy and organized. The volunteers were polite and helpful. And the speakers began promptly at 9:00.
There were 3 speakers for this portion of the conference: Edward Necarsulmer IV, Julie Strauss-Gabel, and Liz Szabla. Below are my brief notes on them:
ENIV (Mclntosh and Otis Inc.) He spoke with a dry, yet humorous tone. He cracked jokes. He smiled a lot. He seemed approachable. He believes in the business and his authors.
JSG (Dutton Children’s Books) publishes 10-15 books annually. Loves new voices. She is not interested in Picture Books. She is into Middle Grade and YA. She loves SCBWI.
LS (Feiwel and Friends) Lives in the SF Bay area. She acquires 40 books a year. She loves plot-driven material with a strong voice. She is excited about SCBWI and loves to find new talent among the attendees.
The whole weekend flew by with such inspiration pouring over everyone. It was fun, intense, and eye-opening. I found that I know I am ready to search for an agent for me. And not just any agent will do. I will wait for the right one. She must love my work. He must go to bat for me. She must fit my personality. He must understand the way I work. There are so many agents out there that it does pay to be picky, even though I am eager.
I also realized that these SCBWI annual events are not for everyone. I met some writers/illustrators who were not ready. They were not open to critique, or they thought kid’s lit was going to be easy to get published in because, well, it’s for kids. I had to bite my tongue a few times, but I know from experience that they will soon fall out.
But I would say that these big events should be attended by professionals. And I don’t mean published. I mean someone who is choosing writing or illustrating as a career. If you’re unsure, check out the smaller events in your area. That way, you are not wasting money and time.
In all, I had a wonderful conference. I am glad to have met such interesting creative people, and I wish everyone luck.
My goals are set for the next year - GET AGENT! Finish a new project and continue on my path to one day being published in the book arena.
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