WINTER CONFERENCE SCBWI NY 2013
Mary Christine Wissner, Tomie dePaola, ME and David Diaz
It started with the Illustrator and writer intensives. I did
not attend, but was told that the over all take away from other illustrators
was that you should NOT quit your day job and that the failures that you may
encounter may actually be a good thing. You will always learn from your
mistakes.
Speakers were…
Illustrators:
Spoke a about how printing can be a difficult issue. The end
result may not be a perfect match to what you have illustrated because almost
all printing is being done in China for the larger publishers.
Panel speakers where:
Brenda Bowen,
Sanford J. Greeenburger Associates, Inc.
Chris Tugeau,
Christinea A. Tugeau Agency,
Jan Constantine,
Author’s Guild
Meg Rosoff spoke about how her mother always questions her
about “When she is going to write a REAL book!” Apparently Children’s books
aren’t real. Anyone can write a children’s book. Celebrities all write
children’s books, even Barack Obama wrote a children’s book. Sarcastically Meg
said,, “children are idiots, that’s why anyone can write a children’s book”
She also said, “Good books remind us of how important it is
to change the world.”
Booksellers
Panel: Talked about what's selling?
Something that I thought was interesting was that
educational publishing makes up for about 70% of their sales.
Paperbacks are their best sellers, because of the lower
price. That we should all be looking at content creation. Meaning “what can
this book do digitally.”
Shorter novels are doing better for school curriculum.
BREAK OUTS:
ILLUSTRATOR
Emotional connections must be strong in an illustration.
How Piglet relates to Pooh…
Barack Obama’s book –illustrated by Loren Long.
The children in this book really interact with each other.
I was so proud of our own Austin
Illustrator Patrice Barton when Isabel mentioned her. She said
something about being a “SQUEEBY” and that she had such lovely characters in
her illustrations.
Her advice to illustrators was to send postcards to Art
directors regularly. This is primarily the way that you get noticed. If they
like your work or have project that your style would go perfectly with then
they are most likely to contact you.
The smaller 4x5 cards are the best to send because it is
easier to file away.
Also make sure you have all your contact information on
them. I was told to put your best illustration on front with your website, then
on the back put all forms of contact information. You may also include sketches
or other work on the back if there is room.
For the best luck make sure you research your audience. Find
the right publishers that do the kind of work that you like to do. I just spent
several days researching my audience for the book that I am currently trying to
find a home for. I also spent many hours and lots of money on printing.
Hopefully it will pay off and I will have contacted the right publishing houses
for my project.
I use the
Children’sWriter’s and Illustrator’s Market. They publish it every year. It is a
great investment and a must have if you don’t have an agent. Also if you are an SCBWI member there is a book available to you for free called
THE BOOK the essential guide to publishing.
He also spoke that he liked strong characters. He also
mentioned that he likes action and also humor in an illustration.
If you can do nice black and whites. You should include them
in your portfolio. They need them for chapter books for early readers.
Simplicity that makes the characters come off the page. He
also mentioned that postcards where his main way of discovering talent.
He showed us several books he has worked with that have strong
characters.
Shaun Tan
He creates very interesting and beautiful drawings from
simple everyday objects. Shaun’s work speaks to everyone because he is
illustrating something that we can all relate to. Most of his work has a sense
of migration or crossing into a new universe and having a strange encounter. He
provides the stage and the reader creates the story. Many of his images let the reader empathize with in animated
characters. Kids want to know the world through stories.
His Motto: Don't tell too much of the story, Let the readers
tell the story.
She writes about adventures not found in our normal day-to-day
life. She likes spunky main
characters, ones that feel like they are the reader’s friends. Margaret also
spoke about letting yourself fail big and keep on trying. You will never get
better if you don’t show your work and let others criticize you. This is how
you improve.
You’ve got at least one story to share, so tell it because
that’s what kids need…your stories.
They are a mother daughter team for the Julie Andrews
Collection.
Emma is a professor and a theater play writer. So she has
does have some credit to her name. And her father Tony Walton is in the
publishing industry. He also illustrates some of their books.
They draw from their own life for their characters. Julie
and Emma use Skype to write together since Julie’s schedule is very
unpredictable. They spoke about consistency in a series.
Their reoccurring theme is “No matter how small you may be
you can make a difference.”
Julie gets her since of wonder because she always see’s the
glass half full. No matter the circumstances she says “Aren’t we so lucky of
what?”
I really enjoyed his presentation. He is really funny.
Mo said his job is to make books for illiterates…He has nine rules
for writing, which are on his blog.
1. More is not better it is just more!
2. Avoid repeating yourself , it’s a waste
of time.
3. Try to ensure every word counts
4. Write about what hare passionate about.
5. Never think for your audience let them
do the thinking.
6. Are questions more compelling than
answers?
7. Find out what works and leave the rest.
8. You may own the story’s copyright, but
your audience owns the story’s meaning
9. Be Superlative.
Ideas are like gardens...sometimes weeds grow...sometimes
something beautiful could grow...everyday plant even if they it doesn't work.
For the illustrators:
When you draw a book you should start from the middle and save the cover
for last. Trim size and shapes of the book and can dictate the story.
For Everyone: The written word is very powerful!
Your job is to be someone’s best friend. Childhood suxs
because…you have to ask to go to the bathroom and if you are playing someone
could physically pick you up and move you!
Be Superlative !
