Final Call for 2013 NESCBWI Conference Proposals

August 27th brings with it the close of
2013 New England SCBWI Conference Proposals,
so take a moment and submit your most awesome idea today! 

Proposal Due Date: August 27, 201

Presenter Notification Expected: October 15, 2012

For Additional Information go to NESCBWI

Presenters from New England who send in more than one, well-crafted and detailed proposal will receive preferential consideration. Also, you may be asked to present your workshop twice during the conference. You might consider doing a 120 or 180 minute presentation and then tweaking it to fit a 55 minute format. With so much talent in our New England and surrounding regions, bringing you together to share knowledge and skill is what makes New England SCBWI the largest regional conference.

Types of Presentations:
55-minute workshops; 120-minute intensives; 180 studios w/15 minute break.

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. 

Selection Criteria and Topics

Every year SCBWI New England receives so 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 that spotlight elements of craft: outlining, story arc, tools, tips, character, dialogue, sketching, etc.
• Hands-on illustration workshops
• Publishing 201 session for intermediate authors or illustrators
• Developing an idea from conception to completion
• How to complete a Detailed Novel Outline
• 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, organizing your mystery
• Planning Out Clues
• How to write chapter books
• How to design an eBook
• Writing Teen Romance
• What I publish/represent and why
• Historical Fiction for middle grade and YA - What makes it work!
• How to reinvent yourself as a writer and reignite your career
• What exactly happens at BEA, ALA, Frankfurt, Bologna and how can it help you with book sales? 
  
• How to write suspense for MG & or YA
• Illustration techniques - making the magic happen
• Defining the terms: High Concept, Realistic Fiction, Magical Realism, etc.

Got Questions? Ask in the comments section below!

Ann Haywood Leal, Children's Author

Ann Haywood Leal braved the 98 degree temperature to spend time at Market on the Green in New London, NH to sign her books, A Finder's Keepers Place and Also Known As Harper. It was a pleasant (and very hot) afternoon.

An interested reader get's to meet the author.





















 Boys do read!

Ann and my daughter, Kendra had so much to talk about.
You can follow Ann @AnnHaywoodLeal


Thanks for sharing your wonderful books!

Why I Like Teaching

I am very lucky to teach at a school full of amazing students. Yes, it's small and it's private, and I wish all schools could be.

What makes this school so wonderful, are the students! They each bring something so special into my life. This year, I have been especially lucky to have had had the chance to work with students I wouldn't usually interact with because I was able to sponsor two creative projects. These project were outside of my Learning Skills realm, and the students chose to take these classes.

The first, was an introduction to stained glass and the second, was recycling, Bottle Beauties .

Here are a few of the amazing pieces of art these kids made.

Stained Glass creations

Bottle Beauties

I LOVE MY JOB!

Spring Fling Hop W1nners!

The winners are:

Drum roll please....

Bridget H.

Melissa F.

Tobi H. 

 The winner of Timeless will receive their ebook copy in June when the book is released.

Thanks to all who entered! Check back often so you can enter the next book giveaway coming this summer.

Thanks

Z is for Zepplin

That is - Led Zepplin!
So now you know a little about me and what I grew up with!

 

My kids listen to these albums with us now.

These were the good old days!

Y is for YOU Made It!

On day left in the A to Z challenge and this year, I've made it! This being my second year, I knew what I was up against. I had a better plan, a list of ideas and several set in stone topics to write about. This planning, made it so much easier.

What this challenge has really done is made me sit and write, every day for a month. No excuses. This has established a new pattern for me. One that makes me think of writing every day. After I write my A to Z post, I've been working on an outline for a new book.

I only spend 20 minutes researching the different themes that I want to include, it keeps me writing.

This is an exciting time. This idea that has been with me, festering for a few years, now feels fresh and new. I can't wait to work on it more.

So tomorrow is Z and I look forward to to it, knowing that I and many others have made it through this challenge. 

I finish with more than I started. Thank you!

Stop The Presses!

I've wanted to shout this since I was kid!

Just saying!

ISBNs

I've known what an ISBN is for as long as I can remember. I've been a reader since I was 4 years old and those numbers on a book cover or jacket flap always represented something secret. Add a barcode and you have a secret language.

The Approaching NESCBWI Conference

As the conference gets closer (only 22 days), my family wonders what I'm actually doing when I say I am working on conference stuff. My daughter has dubbed Kathryn and I, "Thing 1 & Thing 2." I doubt you'll find us wearing red catsuits at the conference with numbers on them.

I do hope anyone with a Cat in the Hat hat, will bring it to the conference this year. If I had my way, we'd be selling them. I've always loved the red and white stripes and the jaunty way that cat strutted around the page.

Anyone out there know where I can get a good deal on 650 Cat in the Hat hats?

 

You can order your  CAT IN THE HAT hat Here! 

(Disclaimer: I get nothing for promoting this website. If you find it cheaper elsewhere, go for it!)

Co-Directing a Conference

I am so excited to be co-drecting the 2012 NESCBWI "Keeping it Real" Conference. The past eight moths have flown by and now we are truly in the throes (it's like giving birth, Really) of getting it done.

I've traveled to the heart of Springfield, MA, twice, to tour the Sheraton Monarch Hotel and plan out where each workshop, academy, and event will take place. It is an amazing building, with an amazing soaring atrium, plenty of comfortable seating for intimate conversations or robust group gatherings between workshops.

There are some excellent restaurants you can walk to if the weather is nice. Here are a few you can check out now.

Pazzo

1000 West Columbus Avenue

(413) 737-5800 ‎ · pazzohof.com

Category: Italian Restaurant

 

Theodore's Inc

201 Worthington Street,

(413) 736-6000 ‎ · theobbq.com

Category: Barbecue Restaurant

 

Nadim's Mediterranean Restaurant & Grill

1390 Main Street

(413) 737-7373 ‎ · nadimsmediterranean.com

Middle Eastern · Lebanese · Eastern cuisine

 

Sitar Restaurant

1688 Main Street

(413) 732-8011 ‎ · sitarindianrestaurant.net

spices · tandoori · curry

Max's Tavern

1000 West Columbus Avenue

(413) 746-6299 ‎ · maxtavern.com

Student Prince Cafe (my fave)

8 Fort Street

(413) 788-6628 ‎ · studentprince.com

Category: German Restaurant Deli 

 

Montenia's

137 State Street

(413) 301-6286 ‎ · montenia.net

Down Home - sweet potato pie · mac and cheese · soul food · comfort cuisine · the ribs

Dillweedz Cafe

91 State St.

(413) 306-3151 ‎ · dillweedzcafe.com

Cornerstone Cafe

1414 Main Street

(413) 746-1025 ‎ · cornerstonecafe.net

Tower Grill

1500 Main Street, Springfield, MA

Tower Square Parking Garage

(413) 746-9435 ‎

The train and bus stations are approximately 4 blocks from the hotel. So get planning! Want to reserve your room now? Go to NESCBWI 2012 Conference, Springfield, MA.

See you in April!

NESCBWI 2012 Conference Invitation

You should be checking your mailboxes starting next week.
You've seen the front.

But ... if you turn it over...

You will see what's happening in April 20-22, 2012 at the
Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place, Springfield, MA.

NESCBWI 2012 Conference Reminder

I'd like to remind everyone that proposals for workshops at the 2012 NESCBWI conference are due September 16th! Use the link on this page to submit one:

http://www.nescbwi.org/2011/07/nescbwi-2012-conference-call-f.php

Also, we're seeking volunteers for the 2012 conference. Please fill out this survey if you are interested in helping out:

http://www.nescbwi.org/2011/08/call-for-conference-volunteers.php