Conference Junkie #2
Okay, so I couldn't NOT post on this topic ... I just couldn't resist despite looming design deadlines!
Have you been?
If it wasn't for the fact of having a baby just a few weeks before, I would've been present at this year's NY SCBWI gig, and probably LA, too, come to think of it. However, I was at both last year. I also attended the New Jersey annual conferences which happen in June, this year and last year. (Those are very affordable in my opinion and you get the opportunity to book in for manuscript — and portfolio critiques). I attended a 2-day writer's mentoring workshop in Princeton back in April. In October, I attended the Rutgers One-on-One conference — you need to apply for that one, but I was fortunate to be accepted. And throughout the past year and a half I have attended a slew of local panels and events in NJ and NYC featuring illustrators and authors. Some are book signings and some are teaching workshops. Told ya I was a junkie! My latest being at Parsons just this past Monday for a presentation by Leo & Diane Dillon — OMG, they have the most amazing background and completely convinced me I defintiely want to continue with children's books (as if I wasn't gravitating beforehand). Turns out there were some editors and publishers there, too!
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE A glimpse of LA 2006: The portfolio display; Tomie dePaola's masterclass, including yours truly, but also: do you see Cecilia Yung (who came in as a surprise guest and gave us a workshop), pal David Ezra Stein (now has four books published and two more under contract) and published illustrator Mary Peterson (red shirt next to Cecilia) — and of course, Tomie? Finally, Mo Willems, whose talk was less crowded than I expected so I got to really bug him and ask tons of questions.
Planning on going?
I intend on going to NY in 2008 and definitely the NJ conference, but I am still debating LA, because I might attend Icon5 in NYC instead (The beauty of living near the city!) It will depend on the lineup for LA. BTW: My offer is still open if anyone wants to come to NYC in Feb, save some money and crash at my pad. I'm also attending another writer's mentoring workshop in February again in Princeton but with a different set of editors.
Were they worth it?
Absolutely! Everytime I attend a conference, big or small, I always walk away learning something more than when I arrived; made a new friend or three; or been inspired or motivated to get back to my studio and create new work. The editor whom I met with for my critique in Princeton currently has one of manuscripts and is waiting on my dummy to make her presentation to her colleagues, so I'd say the money was worth that foot in the door. The Rutgers gig scored me another foot in another door with Abrams. The A.D wants to see some stuff of mine later this month — including my finished Hansel & Gretel piece, asking if I had plans to develop the rest of the story!!! (Worth the $150? You betchya!!!!) I have discovered the most valuable part of some of these conferences has been the one-on-one critiques. Whether it is for 15 minutes or 45, I have walked away with a stronger sense of myself and my work and which direction I am headed in and made a connection with a publisher, I might normally find impossible to get through the door of. Even though I know I have so much more work to do, I feel quietly confident — because of those art directors and editors — that I can make a go of this as a career ... and that my lovelies, gives me the fuzziest, warmest feeling in the world!
What ones would you recommend to others in our field?
All of them! Hahaha. Well, if money is tight then, sometimes, going to a couple of the smaller gigs pays off more. A lower number of attendants means a better chance of actually getting to talk in person for a decent amount of time with employees of your target publishers. I had almost an hour for my portfolio review at the Rutgers conference. BTW: you MUST all apply next year. For the number of attendees, it's the same number of editors etc. So that means 65 mentees and 65 mentors. It's incredible. I was just telling Courtney, I was sat next to two editors from Bloomsbury and one of their imprints and an agent who's company reps. Mo Willems. (He glimpsed my portoflio briefly and asked me to send some samples - yay! Not Mo, but the agent).
I have so much more to say about conferences, but my closing line is basically to treat them as major networking events. I bumped into so many editors at the Rutgers day, whom I had met at previous conferences and they all remembered me, one even gave me a big hug!!! Priceless.
The other thing I need to mention is the amazing sense of community I discovered and how I felt welcome, the moment I started looking into chilren's books. Unlike adult publishing, everybody wants to help each other and everyone's in it for pretty much the same reason: to create beautiful books for children no matter what age. Even though I was completely intimidated and overwhelmed at first, I persevered and I am so glad I did. I met some great new friends, including Courtney and Dee (although I can't say I 'acosted' Courtney, I merely jumped up and down with delight and excitement ... ahem!) You can read more about my NY Conference experience here.
Have you been?
If it wasn't for the fact of having a baby just a few weeks before, I would've been present at this year's NY SCBWI gig, and probably LA, too, come to think of it. However, I was at both last year. I also attended the New Jersey annual conferences which happen in June, this year and last year. (Those are very affordable in my opinion and you get the opportunity to book in for manuscript — and portfolio critiques). I attended a 2-day writer's mentoring workshop in Princeton back in April. In October, I attended the Rutgers One-on-One conference — you need to apply for that one, but I was fortunate to be accepted. And throughout the past year and a half I have attended a slew of local panels and events in NJ and NYC featuring illustrators and authors. Some are book signings and some are teaching workshops. Told ya I was a junkie! My latest being at Parsons just this past Monday for a presentation by Leo & Diane Dillon — OMG, they have the most amazing background and completely convinced me I defintiely want to continue with children's books (as if I wasn't gravitating beforehand). Turns out there were some editors and publishers there, too!
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE A glimpse of LA 2006: The portfolio display; Tomie dePaola's masterclass, including yours truly, but also: do you see Cecilia Yung (who came in as a surprise guest and gave us a workshop), pal David Ezra Stein (now has four books published and two more under contract) and published illustrator Mary Peterson (red shirt next to Cecilia) — and of course, Tomie? Finally, Mo Willems, whose talk was less crowded than I expected so I got to really bug him and ask tons of questions.
Planning on going?
I intend on going to NY in 2008 and definitely the NJ conference, but I am still debating LA, because I might attend Icon5 in NYC instead (The beauty of living near the city!) It will depend on the lineup for LA. BTW: My offer is still open if anyone wants to come to NYC in Feb, save some money and crash at my pad. I'm also attending another writer's mentoring workshop in February again in Princeton but with a different set of editors.
Were they worth it?
Absolutely! Everytime I attend a conference, big or small, I always walk away learning something more than when I arrived; made a new friend or three; or been inspired or motivated to get back to my studio and create new work. The editor whom I met with for my critique in Princeton currently has one of manuscripts and is waiting on my dummy to make her presentation to her colleagues, so I'd say the money was worth that foot in the door. The Rutgers gig scored me another foot in another door with Abrams. The A.D wants to see some stuff of mine later this month — including my finished Hansel & Gretel piece, asking if I had plans to develop the rest of the story!!! (Worth the $150? You betchya!!!!) I have discovered the most valuable part of some of these conferences has been the one-on-one critiques. Whether it is for 15 minutes or 45, I have walked away with a stronger sense of myself and my work and which direction I am headed in and made a connection with a publisher, I might normally find impossible to get through the door of. Even though I know I have so much more work to do, I feel quietly confident — because of those art directors and editors — that I can make a go of this as a career ... and that my lovelies, gives me the fuzziest, warmest feeling in the world!
What ones would you recommend to others in our field?
All of them! Hahaha. Well, if money is tight then, sometimes, going to a couple of the smaller gigs pays off more. A lower number of attendants means a better chance of actually getting to talk in person for a decent amount of time with employees of your target publishers. I had almost an hour for my portfolio review at the Rutgers conference. BTW: you MUST all apply next year. For the number of attendees, it's the same number of editors etc. So that means 65 mentees and 65 mentors. It's incredible. I was just telling Courtney, I was sat next to two editors from Bloomsbury and one of their imprints and an agent who's company reps. Mo Willems. (He glimpsed my portoflio briefly and asked me to send some samples - yay! Not Mo, but the agent).
I have so much more to say about conferences, but my closing line is basically to treat them as major networking events. I bumped into so many editors at the Rutgers day, whom I had met at previous conferences and they all remembered me, one even gave me a big hug!!! Priceless.
The other thing I need to mention is the amazing sense of community I discovered and how I felt welcome, the moment I started looking into chilren's books. Unlike adult publishing, everybody wants to help each other and everyone's in it for pretty much the same reason: to create beautiful books for children no matter what age. Even though I was completely intimidated and overwhelmed at first, I persevered and I am so glad I did. I met some great new friends, including Courtney and Dee (although I can't say I 'acosted' Courtney, I merely jumped up and down with delight and excitement ... ahem!) You can read more about my NY Conference experience here.
6 Comments:
Hey girls-
I've been lurking over here for awhile and love what you guys can do! Your talents amaze me.
Anyway - I just passed on an award to you so come and pick it up!
Hey Leeza, I'm definitely interested in the Rutgers conference...it's only one day in the fall, right? I might be able to swing a plane ticket and crashing at your place would help. :) I'll mark it on my calendar so I can apply next year. Your experiences definitely piqued my interest about going.
(I squeezed Courtney's guts out the first time I met up with her in NY. Fortunately, we had already met and rid ourselves of formalities three months prior. But for all future meetings, I totally get to squeeze her senseless from now on! hahaha!)
Oh you guys are making me antsy about the NY conference! I had kind of written it off for 2008 but now I'm thinking..how could I miss it? They are so much fun! Isn't that what credit cards are for? Haha!
I know....I hadn't planned on going to 2008 conferences either, but since the Rutgers one is so small, I could probably justify the smaller price. :)
I don't think I could stand it if I knew all of you guys were going to NY after I've forbidden myself to go! argh!
I promised myself that I would make an effort for 2008, because I missed 2007. I think it's good to do alternate years, to help save money — but I guess it depends on the lineup. I'm def. going to reapply for Rutgers. You send your check with your application, but they only cash it if you are accepted.
Hi Guys... Courtney, next conference, please let me know..I want to come :) Haven't been to one...
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