Call for Proposals NESCBWI 2013 Conference Word-By-Word: The Art Of Craft
It's that time of year when we start looking for the amazing workshops, intensives, and panels for next year's conference.
Here is what we are looking for:
The
workshop committee of New England SCBWI welcomes proposals for the 2013 Spring
conference, "Word by Word: The Art of Craft."
Art
of craft is always at the forefront of a venue like ours. This year’s focus
will be on improving ones crafting the various parts of writing and
illustrating NEEDS MEGA WORK HERE!
We'd
like to invite more intensive, hands-on workshops and advanced and master level
studio proposals that focus on a specific aspect of the craft and would love to
see more than one proposal from each you. Of course, larger lecture-style
workshops are still welcome as well.
This
is one of the largest regional SCBWI conferences, and last year we sold out the
conference in two weeks. We welcome proposals from everyone involved in the
world of children’s writing and publishing.
Important Information
Conference
Dates: Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, May 3-5, 2013
Conference Location: Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel, Springfield, MA
To Submit a Proposal: Please complete a conference proposal form. Separate submissions are required
for multiple presentations or workshop/intensive versions of the same presentation.
Proposal
Due Date: August 27, 2012
Presenter Notification Expected: October 15, 2012
Types
of Presentations: 55-minute workshops; 120-minute intensives; 180 studios w/15
minute break
We will give presenters who send in
more than one, well-crafted and detailed proposal preferential consideration.
Also, you may be asked to present your workshop twice during the conference.
NOTE: Be very specific when designating level of experience,
pick only one level. (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, or Master)
55-minute workshops
What are we looking for?
- Presentations that relate to
our conference theme of Word-By-Word: The Art of Craft.
- A wide range of craft related presentations
for all SCBWI members, including illustrators and writers in all genres.
- Be very specific when
designating level of experience, pick only one level. (Beginner,
Intermediate, advanced, or Master)
- Leveled presentations. We are
not trying to find one presentation that everyone can attend. Instead,
presenters should direct material toward a specific experience level. For
example, an "advanced" illustration presentation should not
begin with "Why you should carry a sketch book," and a
"beginner's" writing workshop should not address marketing a
contracted novel.
- Presentations that last 55
minutes in their entirety. When planning, leave time for participant
questions and any required audiovisual setup.
- Intensives that last 120
minutes and focus on specific pieces of the craft. i.e. story arc,
character development, sex in YA, etc.
- Focused presentations with
clear learning outcomes. These should be clear, tangible "final
products" that attendees take away. Plan the presentation thinking,
"I want participants to leave with these tools or a real
understanding of this piece of the craft." A few examples: How to map
out an in-depth revision, a step-by-step outline or map, creating a
storyboard, A first draft of a non fiction proposal, how to develop
initial sketches, etc.
- Hands-on workshops where
attendees spend significant time working on current writing, illustration,
or marketing project so they can apply your presentation content to their
own work.
- Engaging lecture-style
presentations filled with information that participants can take back
to their desks to ponder and play with.
- Presentations that include a
range of examples. Attendees have expressed they want less presentations
that draw solely from the presenter's experience or body of work.
- Presenters who are published
members of SCBWI, as well as editors, agents, MFA graduates, and other
industry professionals. Past presentation experience is appreciated.
NOTE: Be very specific when designating level of experience,
pick only one level. (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, or Master)
120-minute intensives
Intensive proposals should meet all of the criteria listed
above for 55-minute workshops. Also consider the following:
- 120-minute intensives typically
take place on Sunday, but there will be several slots for Saturday
Advanced and Master level workshops.
- Two hours are provided; so plan
exercises or some interactive element in the workshop. An intensive should
not only be a lecture.
- Presentations that include a
range of examples. Attendees have expressed they want less presentations
that draw solely from the presenter's experience or body of work.
- Past presentation experience
and in-depth knowledge of the topic are required.
- Partner presentations are
welcome.
Note: If you apply to
present a 55-minute workshop or a 120-minute intensive and we feel your
presentation may better fit the other format, we will let you know!
NOTE: Be very specific when designating level of experience,
pick only one level. (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, or Master)
180-minute Studios
Studio proposals should meet all of the criteria listed
above for both 55-minute and 120-minute workshops. But you must also consider
the following:
- 180-minute, 12 person studios will
focus on Advanced and Master level authors.
- Three hours are provided, so
plan accordingly for intensive working sessions.
- These include attendees
submitting samples for you to review ahead of time.
- Past presentation experience
and in-depth knowledge of the topic are required.
- Partner presentations are
welcome as long as both are willing to work with a larger number of
attendees. Total number in studio would be 24.
Note: If you apply to
present a 55-minute workshop or a 120-minute intensive and we feel your
presentation may better fit the other format, we will let you know!
Selection Criteria and Topics
Every
year SCBWI New England receives many excellent proposals, more than can fit
into a conference schedule. Therefore, we must choose on the basis of
experience, quality, variety, novelty, attendant costs, and other factors.
Please use the 2013 NESCBWI
Workshop Rubric for more explicit selection criteria and standards.
We would
love to see presentations on the following topics. If you are an expert on one
of these topics, we would love to see your proposal.
- Hands-on writing
workshops: outlining, story arc, tools, tips, character sketching, etc.
- Hands-on
illustration workshops
- Publishing 201
session for intermediate authors or illustrators
- Developing an idea
from conception to completion
- Secrets of Story
Arc
- How to lay out a
picture book dummy
- How to start your
own publishing company
- Gesture and emotion
for illustrators
- School and library
visits and promotion
- Grassroots
Marketing strategies to libraries and other overlooked venues
- Writing nonfiction
articles and short stories
- Mystery writing
- How to write
chapter books
- How to design an
eBook
