I have one word.
Well, seven.
SCBWI. or Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. If you're not a member, I highly encourage you to go sign up and become a member now. It's an amazing organization. I just got back from my third conference with them--the LA Summer conference.
Aside from meeting up with 1,234 other authors, you can bump shoulders with agents and editors and do what we love best. Talk "writer talk."
The whole weekend was jam-packed with workshops on how to perfect your craft, key note speakers who were beyond inspiring, and plenty of time to network, schmooze, and learn.
Each conference I go to brings new conversations, connections, insights, and shifts in my own self-perception of what I want to accomplish and who I want to be as a writer. When you meet with other people who have the same passion and drive that you do, and when you're completely drenched in words that overfill the inspiration cup sitting in the middle of your chest, the fire that ignites is enough to carry you for a long while. It's fabulous.
I got to spend time with several writers I've had contact with in the past year--and several of my CP's. And each person was just as I expected them. Amazing. And I only got pictures with some (Jolene Perry, and Nyrae Dawn, WHY didn't we get pics together?!?!?)
But I did get to connect with:
Ryan Dalton and Cortney Pearson: (Ryan who has a fabulous book he's about to query, and Cort who is my number one partner in crime)
Wendy Higgins: (Who is the cutest little person ever! I was bending down in this shot! Plug: Have you picked up her book Sweet Evil yet?)
Liz Briggs and Rachel Searles: (Liz who is probably the smartest person I know and Rachel is just plain cool--and cute Cort again, who was an amazing trooper being dragged around by me 4 months preg!)
Have I convinced you to join? SCBWI. Amazing. Any conferences for you this summer? Any in the future plans?
Red. Head. Out. :D
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If I wrote childrens books...I'd be there! :)
ReplyDeleteMorgan, you are so freaking cute! I am always so jealous of you guys getting to these conferences but I'm glad you enjoyed it!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a great time and met up with some buddies. Sorry, don't do children's books.
ReplyDeleteThough the adults are lucky to have your talent, the MG/YA community would LOVE your presence ;) Maybe some day!
DeleteLooks like you had a great time, Morgan! :) Great pics!
ReplyDeleteSmartest person?!? Bah, that is all an act. ;)
ReplyDeleteCome back to LA soon!
Sounds like a great time, Morgan! Really hope I can make it to a conference some day. Would be so much fun to harass my blog buddies in person! :)
ReplyDeleteLUCKY GIRL!!! I'm totally green with envy!
ReplyDeleteI used to be a member of SCWBI. Maybe I'll join again. I do have a couple YA books rolling around in my head, but it might be awhile until I get to them.
ReplyDeleteI e-mailed them awhile ago and asked if they had a discounted membership rate for students and people on a limited income, and they said they don't. Maybe someday I'll be able to justify an $85 a year membership. It does have a lot of great benefits, so I was pretty disappointed that they don't have lower rates for certain people. It looks like you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteCarrie-Anne, It is the best investment you can make if you want to pursue writing for children. You will earn back the membership many times over in the amount of time you will save flailing around in the water by yourself. You will learn so much and have so much information at your disposal that you will kick yourself for not joining sooner. It's only $7 a month. That's substituting a peanut butter sandwich once a month instead of a fast food lunch. We don't apologize for a membership fee, because it's probably the cheapest membership to a professional organization you will ever find.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, I want to join!!! Maybe I will, in a few years :) I love meeting writerly people.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to the LA SCBWI conference in two years. I was supposed to go last year, but went to the RWA nationals instead, but the RWA nationals had more for YA writers. I'm not sure if I'm going to renew my SCBWI membership. The only thing I've used it for is including it on my queries. It made more sense when I was going to their conferences. Hmm. Maybe that just means I need to go to NYC in Feburary. :)
ReplyDeleteI've decided the two conferences I need to do in 2013 are in Salt Lake and LA. ;0) So that is my goal. It looks like you guys had tons of fun. And I followed along with the Twitter feed so it was kinda like I was there.
ReplyDeleteI was reading the tweets from this conference; it sounded fabulous. :)
ReplyDeleteThat looks like so much fun! I'm totally jealous. Maybe next year :)
ReplyDeleteSo jealous. Would love to participate...maybe someday.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a great time! Wish I could have gone!
ReplyDeleteSo glad I got to meet you, Morgan! You are such a lovely person :)
ReplyDeleteSCBWI is awesome! I need to get involved more regionally. I sat on the far right side of the ballroom most of the time, so perhaps we bumped into each other at some point. I loved Tony Diterlizzi's keynote speech. He was amazing! Now I need to start using some of my newly acquired insight. :)
ReplyDeleteI want to go. Just to meet all these great writers. Well, and for the other stuff too. I'm hoping someday...
ReplyDeleteI seriously am baffled as to how you escaped w/o use getting a pic together. SRSLY.
ReplyDeleteBut like I said before - I WILL be seeing you...
And we'll do it then!
Sounds exciting! My first meeting with other writers was a taste of what you have been able to experience. There is a conference in October- so maybe I'll have a chance to go.
ReplyDeleteAhhh schmoozing with other writers... perfect! How cute do you all look!! Morgan, I didn't realise you were tall! (*makes mental note to wear platform shoes when I meet Morgan in the future*)
ReplyDeleteLOL! I'm totally not tall... I'm 5'5... (I guess that's tall to some!) I was wearing my tall shoes though which made Wendy even more miniature! She's seriously so cute. It was funny!
DeleteOh I wish I could do that! I used to be part of the American Night Writer's Association, but I let it fall by the wayside. Right now, I have an almost-3-week-old, so going to conferences is on the back burner. The writing bug is starting to bite me again though! (During pregnancy, it was non-existent. Dang hormones.)
ReplyDeleteDid you see Michael Pierce? He was at this conference. And Morgan, I just heard on NPR that there is another fire on Eagle Mountain and people are being evacuated. I hope everything is all good in your part of Utah.
ReplyDeleteOh and I wanted to tell you (in case you love free Jazz music) that every Tuesday night at Sugarhouse Coffee (close to 1100 East and 2100 South), there is a free outdoor concert held by the Wasatch Jass Project. I go every week and you need to bring a folding chair if you and hubs come. They have this amazing singer who does songs like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", and it's just an all out wonderful experience. You are not obligated to buy anything from Sugarhouse Coffee BTW. You can just sit and enjoy the music as the sun goes down.
Starts at 7:30 and goes to 9:30.
I am so jealous ;) Still haven't been to a conference. But I do love hearing the excitement in your words and seeing the pictures that you shared. It looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteAaah, you're so on the ball!! It was such a FABULOUS time, and hanging out with you the whole time made it that much better! Guess I'd better get my post up sometime soon, lol!! :D
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ReplyDeleteSo sad I missed it this year, Morgan. Perhaps next year we'll be able to rock the bunny ears and pilfer cocktails.
ReplyDeleteSo jealous! Looks like fun :)
ReplyDeleteI JUST joined like last week. There's a regional conference in WI in October that I'm going too. Never been to a writing conference so I'm PUMPED!
ReplyDeleteLove seeing so many writing/blogging buds!
This looks like so much fun!!! Now we just need to get you to go to Storymakers :)
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome I'll have to join. I really need to get out to these types of things.
ReplyDeleteWere you there? Oh my! HOw did I miss you? It really was awesome, but also exhausting. I'm still recovering from all the excitement. :)
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Looks like you had a ton of fun. Love the pics.
ReplyDeleteHey Morgs,
ReplyDeleteSounds like you (all) had a great time... love the smiles in all the pics :)
I know you mentioned I should join - and maybe I will one of these days - post WIP :)
gur post,i read your articles its very intresting,thanks for share its
ReplyDeletemis sold ppi
Looks like you had tons of fun. I'm jealous you were able to meet Ryan. Maybe next year I'll go. Gotta have some cash, though. Crossing fingers.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous. I miss hearing Lin Oliver speak. I love the RWA nationals, but I miss the keynote addresses by YA and kidlit authors. It's not the same thing listening to authors of adult fiction. Fortunately the YARWA workshop had Simone Elkeles do the keynote speech (kind of). I love listening to her talk.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of going to NYC SCBWI 2013. I'm just waiting to see who speaking.
Sounds like fun. One day, we need to get together. It would be fun to catch up with you and learn more about writing conferences :)
ReplyDeleteI joined in June. I'm going to my first conference in October. Super excited!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a member. I need to check out their resources. The conference pics are great!
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