Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators: Writers’ Day 2011

CONFERENCE FEES  (lunch included)

SCBWI members: $95, Non-members: $110

Manuscript/Portfolio Critique: $45

SPECIAL STUDENT RUSH $20 seats will be available on the morning of the event. Students and faculty with a valid CLU ID will be able to queue up in the morning of the conference and receive a priority number. Ten minutes before the event begins, they can purchase and entry ticket and fill available seats. We are hoping this discount will bring this writing conference within the reach of CLU students and faculty members who may be aspiring children's writers.

PROGRAM

Guest Speakers

"The 15 Most Important Things I've Learned About Writing"
Lin Oliver, Author and Co-Founder and Executive Director of SCBWI

"Get Your Foot in the Door! A Highlights Editor Shares Tips, Tricks, Do's and Don'ts" 
Judy Burke, Managing Editor. Highlights for Children

"Dear Editor: Writing a Query Letter that Gets You Noticed."
Elizabeth Carpentiere, Editor, FACES, Cobblestone Publishing

"From Shelter to Shelf: "How an Author, Editor & Illustrator Turned the Story of a Homeless Cat into a Three-Star Picture Book"
Sally Doherty, Executive Editor, Henry Holt and Company
Lee Wardlaw, Author, WON TON A Cat's Tale Told in Haiku
Eugene Yelchin, Illustrator, WON TON A Cat's Tale Told in Haiku

"The Shape Shifting of Paranormal Romance"
Catherine Linka, Children's Book Buyer & Writer2Writer Coordinator, Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse

"EDITORS' PANEL and FIRST PAGES"
Anonymous first pages will be randomly selected and read aloud to the audience, followed by comments from guest speakers. Bring FIVE copies of the opening page of your manuscript for our First Pages Panel (double-spaced, 12-point type) and paper clip them together. Identify the GENRE but DO NOT put your name on your entry.

Spotlight Presentations

"Writing In the Heart's Field"
Cynthia Hand (Author) Unearthly (HarperTeen, 2011)

"Being a Writer is Tough, But So Worth It"
Ross R. Olney (Author, 180 fiction & nonfiction books) SCBW Member of the Year

"From Grandma's Kitchen to Grandma's Chocolate"  
Mara Price (Author) Grandma's Chocolate/El chocolate de Abuelita (Arte Público Press/Piñata Books, 2010)

MANUSCRIPT, DUMMY and PORTFOLIO CRITIQUES

Our guest speakers & published reviewers are available to provide critiques of manuscripts, dummies and portfolios. All children's genres welcome. Written manuscript and dummy critiques will be handed out at the end of the conference day. Portfolios will be reviewed face-to-face in 10-minute slots. Okay to submit a duplicate manuscript of one contest entry. Send full picture book manuscripts, and up to 10 pages plus 1-page synopsis for all others.

Space is limited. The fee for a manuscript, dummy or portfolio critique is $45, payable to SCBWI CenCal.

This offer is available only to registered Writers' Day participants who attend the event.

If paying by check, write one check for the registration and a separate check for the critique. DO NOT combine your registration fee and your critique fee.

Fill out the Manuscript Submission Form and attach it to the front of your entry. You will be assigned to either an editor, agent or published reviewer, depending on space available.

Contest and critique entries and related fees must be postmarked by Sept. 9, 2011, or they will be disqualified.

There are limited slots for critiques. If selected for a portfolio critique, bring your portfolio with you on Writers' Day.

WRITING CONTESTS

Categories

Fiction, Nonfiction or Poetry:

Picture Book(send whole, double-spaced manuscript)

Easy Reader/Chapter Book, Middle Grade or Young Adult  - Send up to 10 double-spaced pages, 12-point type, plus a 1-page single-spaced synopsis

NOTE: Place your name on cover sheet only, not on the manuscript. No dummies.Judges reserve the right not to give awards in any category. You must be pre-registered and present to win. Contest manuscripts will not be returned.  

ILLUSTRATORS' GALLERY

Illustrators - you are invited to display a 16" x 20" vertical, self-standing "gallery" of your work. No handouts on the table. Brochures and "gallery" must be contained in same display.   Bring it with you on Writers' Day.

DEADLINES

Contest & MS Critique Deadline: Postmark by September 9

Registration fee must arrive before or with your entry.  DO NOT send manuscripts by certified mail, etc. (It requires our signature at the Post Office which makes us cranky.)

Registration Deadline: Postmark by October 21

(This is for those NOT submitting a manuscript)

BOOK SALE & DISPLAY

Conference speakers' books will be for sale.  SCBWI P.A. L. members are invited to bring their latest book to display.

Register by Nov. 5, 2011