Serious about improving your craft? SCBWI's regional events provide opportunities for professional growth and help you connect with a supportive, creative community.
Writing a great query letter is an art and a science. This webinar examines the core elements every strong query letter has; you’ll learn how to add the extra pizzazz that will capture the attention of an agent or editor. Real examples from the instructor’s inbox, both good and bad, will be shared, as well as a specific formula workshop attendees can plug their information into in order to generate a great query letter.
We all know how important the first page of a manuscript is. But what do editors look for in this crucial first page, and what makes a first page shine? Editor Kat Brzozowski of Feiwel & Friends at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group will live-review picture book, middle grade or YA first pages (no graphic novels, please) from attendees, talking about the strengths of the page and areas where the pages can be improved. Even if you don’t submit a page, you’ll come away with valuable advice and insight from a seasoned children’s book editor--and a coveted submission opportunity. Also available for an additional fee: optional written Gold Form Critique by Kat Brzozowski (submit up to 10 pages).
Novels in verse are incredibly popular with young readers. But while it is a pleasure to read words that sing, it can be daunting to craft a novel that is spare in terms of words yet not sparse in its ability to paint emotionally rich scenes filled with three dimensional characters. Whether you're considering writing a novel in verse or have already plunged in and are ready to polish a manuscript, award-winning author Padma Venkatraman, whose poems have appeared in POETRY magazine, several anthologies and been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, will present tips to help make your work shine. She will also suggest exemplars and resources for further reading, so you can continue to hone your skills and grow as a poet and storyteller.
Do you struggle to finish projects amid a flood of shiny new ideas? Do those ideas all vanish when you’re faced with a blank page or asked: “What else are you working on?” Do you ever wonder whether you’re stuck on this particular story, or burned out on this whole writing and illustrating thing? Learn how to: o Balance getting stuff done with your own personal storytelling R&D. o Separate exploring an idea from market concerns o Find time to learn and grow your craft while still meeting your deadlines.
Do you write picture books? Informational books? Novels? No matter your genre, you can still infuse your daily life (and work) with poetry. Janet Wong will share prompts featuring poetic techniques and forms to inspire you to experiment and grow as a writer.
Have you wanted to write a mystery but not sure where to start? Could your current project benefit from more tension, plot twists, and the art of withholding, to develop your story and characters? In this presentation, Sheela will describe the main ingredients of any good mystery: a winning detective, a solid cast of (suspicious) characters, a well-conceived setting that supports your plot, and carefully planted clues that will keep your readers guessing until the end. She will also discuss how the mystery form can be the “breadcrumbs” leading your readers towards the deeper truths in your story.