Why Conferences are Important for Writers and Illustrators.

I could start and end by answering that conferences are incredibly FUN! This week attending the four day SCBWI Australia and New Zealand in Sydney was amazing. If we had any more fun it would be illegal. I’ve never laughed so much – my goodness – Susanne Gervey is a funny lady!

Deborah Abela wrote a hysterical ode to Suzanne borrowing the tune of 500 miles by the Proclaimers. It was hard to laugh and sing at the same time. The band was great – the people great – the conference GREAT!

The atmosphere was electric, like a flame on a dry turps rag – BOOF! The sessions where back-to-back, full of wisdom and covered an array of topics too numerous to document in one post. Check out the SCBWI blog and others and have a read. I’ll be back for the 2016 event for sure.

I learned a few tips on fine dining as well. Apparently you DON’T eat the paper covering the swordfish – it is NOT pastry! I must admit it tasted okay at first – well the soaked bit. It got a bit tough after the first bite though. Don’t laugh – I wasn’t the only one … ahem…Tania McCartney and others *wink*

Speaking of Tania, we caught up with a few of the #illo52weeks challenge members too. I also met up with some of the Wombat Book family.

I also learned that if Bruce Whatley instructs you to draw his portrait with black cont’e in one hand and white in the other, ensuring you finish with an even amount of both, he means draw ONE portrait not TWO at once! Yep, there is always one in the crowd isn’t there? I had to be the only one trying to draw two portraits at once – but hey I did it! At breakfast the following morning, Bruce and I agreed that what I was really doing was paving the way to his next advanced lesson plan in left handed drawing. That is my excuse anyway and I am sticking to it.

But seriously, (if I have to) there are so many reasons for attending industry conferences. It is fantastic to connect on a genuine level with great people with the same passion for children’s books and with individual stories to tell. We all walk different paths and it is great to share.

Conferences are chocked full of valuable information, much of which you wouldn’t have access to any other way. In Sydney, the sessions were back-to-back. It was intense and a lot to take in but it was value for time away from family and work. I HIGHLY recommend it. Financing all the events is challenging but I do try to attend as many as I can. I appreciate their value and really enjoy my time there. What I learn inspires me to a new level every time.

On the final day of the conference I attended two Master Classes: Meredith Costain instructed on Hooks to Keep Readers Turning Pages. We focused on “Stellar opening sentences” and read examples.  Bruce Whatley’s Master Class, Advanced Techniques had us working with our left hand and developing fun ideas and expressive line.

I can’t tell you how valuable I found this day. I couldn’t wait until I got home, so I pulled one of my manuscripts up in the airport to work on. I needed to get those hooks and page turns documented and out of my head. Do you know what it is like when a gem of information makes something  click into place and you can see your work’s new potential? I feel like all of this will change my writing tremendously, transporting me to a more advanced level. Can you tell I am excited? I am re-writing EVERYTHING!

Meredith is a beautiful lady and generous in her teaching. I will be on a look out for her workshops in the future and truly recommend them. More details about this on SCBWI blog.

Bruce was just as awesome; a friendly man, talented, generous in information and a pleasure to get to know. His wife and partner in children’s books, Rosie and I spent time chatting on the dinner dance night and at breakfast. It was interesting hearing about their journey and how they work so wonderfully together. Bruce passed around his original work (pass me the drool bucket!) We picked his brains thoroughly – as you do. More details about this on SCBWI blog.

The publishers were wonderful; open and generous with their information and incredibly good sports. I often wonder what it would be like for them at these events. I don’t think I would like to be a publisher – people either jumping on you for attention because of your influence or avoiding you through fear. They are doing life with family and work just like us. I haven’t met a pretentious or unpleasant one yet.

We witnessed writers pitching to publishers; a real live example of what to do when pitching you manuscript-informative and helpful watching their examples.

SCBWI raised over $1400 for Room To Read through an illustrators auction. Illustrators Bruce Whatley and Stephen Axelsen went head-on in a friendly, fast paced and stressful public scribble to the end. The illustrations were auctioned off at the end. The audience in hysterics as the bids got more and more competitive and sneaky. There were dark horses popping up all over the room at the last minute.

Illustrators Showcase

This was my first time presenting a portfolio at the conference or anywhere! I was surprised to hear an unconfirmed report of over 50 industry professionals viewing the showcase. There were as many portfolios too. We were permitted to browse later over morning tea and the work was impressive. It was great to see what other illustrators submitted and the presentation of their business cards and postcards. I’ll share my portfolio on here later so you can see an example.

I could go on, but I won’t. I will post more on Bruce’s workshop with pics. It would interest the illustrators who visit my blog I am sure.

No wait…I nearly forgot…HOW COULD I? …we launched our new book – Celia and Nonna! Author Corinne Fenton introduced the launch and made a short hand joke. I now know my name looks like duck chasing a fish. Victoria Lane spoke about her story and her journey and thanked everyone – a very exciting moment as a debut children’s author. I spoke about the child Celia in me and other children I worked with and introduced the dyslexic font.

Others who launched books were:

Meredith Costain—The Cuddliest Hug (Koala Books / Scholastic)
Jackie Hosking and Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, —The Croc and the Platypus (Walker Books Australia)
Gabrielle Wang—Pearlie the Spy (Penguin)
Pamela Rushby—The Ratcatcher’s Daughter (HarperCollins)
Peter Taylor—illustrated by Nina Rycroft  (Five Mile Press)
Gabriel Evans—A New Pet (Five Mile Press)
Wendy Binks—10 Clumsy Emus (Scholastic) 

Even though I didn’t cover everything, you can see how conferences can be so important. Maybe I will see you at the next one?