Spring Catch-Up: NESCBWI 2014

My fourth NESCBWI conference was a little bittersweet. But we'll get to that later. First, the fun things!

1. I got to meet my amazing agent in person! Joan was very patient with me as I totally confused her in our first conversation...then phone call...then second conversation. But I think I finally made sense by lunch the next day.


2. I had two spectacular marketing sessions with Mitali Perkins and Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Instead of panicked, I'm now feeling pumped to start that whole process!


3. Katherine Quimby Johnson had a truly remarkable session about character and gender, and I wish everyone in the universe could've attended.


4. I learned how to make a non-fiction book proposal with Loree Griffin Burns, and this has sparked an amazing idea in my secret writing brain vaults...


5. The keynotes, as usual, left me ultra-inspired. How does that always happen? Not that I'm complaining!


6. And last but not least, I got to hang out with my awesome critique group all weekend. These people are seriously the best.

But this brings me to the bittersweet: two members of my crit group are leaving.

The conference was our last hurrah as a group. Since then, Lisa has already packed up and gone to Texas, and Julia will be heading out to St. Louis later this summer. I'm going to miss them terribly. They're two of my dearest friends and just plain old amazing people.

BUT. We've made tentative plans for a reunion at NESCBWI 2015, so cross your fingers! The t-shirted gang might be back to take the conference by storm yet again!

Love you guys.

Post-Conference: NESCBWI 2013

Another NESCBWI, come and gone! And, in what is now tradition, I'm here to give my thoughts on the conference two days after returning from Springfield.

Before I dive into what I learned about my fiction writing, I need to discuss two major realizations that hit me on Sunday:

A travel mug I clearly need.

1. I've been so scared of dabbling in nonfiction, but thanks to Catherine Reef's nonfiction intensive Sunday, I now understand that I've been "writing" children's science nonfiction for years. I've just been doing it verbally. Several times a week, I go into schools and spend fifty minutes introducing a science topic to kids, experimenting with it, and giving them takeaway conclusions/inspiration. Oh, and I'm AWESOME at it.

2. Speaking of what I do for a living, after Kellie Celia's intensive on school and library outreach, I've come to understand that I possess an incredible knowledge bank and skill set that few authors have.  I am a professional outreach educator. I shine in front of audiences of all ages and sizes, and can entertain and teach even the dreaded "middle schoolers". This session showed me how little the average author knows about speaking to kids at schools--something I just take for granted as common knowledge, because of the nature of my job. NESCBWI 2013 taught me that I really should find a way to help other authors learn the ins and outs of outreach and presenting to children. (2014 session anyone?)

So yes. Two surprising revelations that taught me that I'm cooler than I thought I was. But what about my Work In Progress manuscript? Did I learn anything about that?

Of course! I challenge anyone to go to an NESCBWI conference and not leave armed with some great ideas.

First, I've confirmed that I need to make my manuscript 20% shorter. I knew it deep down, but it was helpful to have that told to my face.

Second, Kate Messner's great revision workshop helped me identify the true heart of my manuscript, which will make cutting 20% of it much, much easier. (Thank you again, Kate.)

Finally, and this is going to sound cliché, but I learned that the world really does need my book. I won't go into details, but I have more conviction than ever that a science-driven novel (with a female lead) needs to get out there in the hands of kids.

So thank you, NESCBWI 2013. It was another fantastic conference, and I got a chance to help spread the word about my critique partner's debut novel, GOLDEN BOY by Tara Sullivan, coming out June 27th!

Yes, we were the group with the shirts!

Pre-Conference: NESCBWI 2013

Going to NESCBWI is a lot like attending high school. At least, if high school was a heck of a lot friendlier.

I came to this odd realization a couple days ago, as I thought back on how I've progressed and matured as a writer through the past three years. Let me explain.

My Freshman year of NESCBWI (2011) I was innocent, excited, and had zero idea of what I was actually in for. I knew a few people from my critique group...sort of. I didn't know much about agents or editors or the publishing process. I just knew I wanted to experience it all. I was overwhelmed that year, but nevertheless learned a ton and became much closer with my fellow writers.

My Sophomore year (2012) I knew what to expect. I took it up a notch. I attended sessions aimed at authors further along in their careers, and I hung with my critique group "clique" most of the weekend. We even initiated a new member that Sunday. However, I was still finding my way in some regards during that conference. I didn't know it, but I still had a bit of "frosh-writer" innocence left.

...That innocence got crushed after the conference, as I spent the rest of 2012 and the beginning of 2013 querying a manuscript that received little interest. But you live, you learn, and I'm coming in hot this year with something newer, stronger, and shinier.

2013 will be my Junior year. I may not be agented yet, but many in my critique group now are. People with agents and book deals are like the Big Men On Campus at NESCBWI...they're basically demi-gods to the rest of us. And if you've got a book published already? You're in a whole 'nother tier. You're like a COLLEGE student. Whoa, man.

Anyway, this year I'm a Junior with Senior friends, and that gives me a bit of extra pride heading into the conference. I'm not at Senior level yet, but I'm the next best thing, and I'm not going to lie--I'm a little cocky about it. They're all so talented and badass, I feel awesome just by association. You'll understand after you read the works of my agented friends (debuts coming out over the next couple years, including Tara Sullivan's June 27th, 2013 debut: GOLDEN BOY).

I'm hoping the trend continues. With any luck, next year I'll be a Senior. But for now, just like I did last year, I'm going to set out some more humble goals for this coming conference:

1. Learn techniques to continue to improve my writing. This should go without saying, but I am particularly excited to embrace this year's "Art of Craft" theme.

2. Continue to explore the mysterious waters of nonfiction. I love writing fiction, but with my science background, I really shouldn't shun the idea of writing nonfiction just because it scares me.

3. Increase my professionalism. Make new connections and learn from everyone I meet.

4. Get useful feedback on my query letter and first 10 pages of my new manuscript. If I'm going to put it out there later this year, professional advice now will be of tremendous help.

5. Enjoy bonding time with my awesome writer friends. :)

So, what high-school year do you see yourself as? And what are your goals for the conference? Answer or link to your own NESCBWI 2013 blog post in the comments! Looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend!

Post-Conference: NESCBWI 2012

Wow, what a conference!

I got back from Springfield on Sunday evening and was far too wired from my post-conference high to sit down in front of my computer and write a follow-up. And yesterday I was naturally far too exhausted to do so.

Two days late, here I finally am. I'll be keeping this short, because I have another post I intend to write tonight. So, here is a brief list of takeaway lessons I learned from the conference:

1. Publishing will happen when the time is right. There is no rush. Rushing just hinders your own growth as a writer.


2. It pays to take the time to get to know the business and marketing side of the writing world before you actually land yourself a book deal. As Scar once famously said, "Be prepared!".


3. In my newest project, my kid character team apparently meets secretly in a old musty cellar that I didn't even know existed before Saturday. Thanks, writing prompts!


4. Real-life writing friends are the best things ever. My critique group kicks butt and takes names. We're going places, baby, and we're having an awesome time together on our journeys.


5. I'm ready to query. Really, truly ready. I had my query letter and first ten pages critiqued, and the agent and editor who did the critiquing found next to nothing wrong with them! A few touch-ups, and then full-steam ahead to the agent hunt! Huzzah!

All in all, a fabulous weekend. I'm already looking forward to next year. And in the meantime, I'm looking forward to reading the awesome new books I bought at the conference bookstore.

Pre-Conference: NESCBWI 2012

Here we go!

This will be my second year attending the annual NESCBWI conference, and I'm totally pumped. Especially for this year's theme: Keepin' It Real. (Dropped "g"/apostrophe addition mine. Just looks cooler that way.)

Reality is awesome, and it's great that it's getting attention this year. I mean, reality is where SCIENCE happens, so how can I not love it?

My goals for this year's conference:

1. To get over my fear of writing non-fiction and get comfortable with the idea that in my writing career, I can be both a fiction and non-fiction author. (Everyone under the sun wants me to write non-fiction, and the idea currently terrifies me.)

2. To learn more about the agent-author relationship and the road to publishing. (A road I hope to be on soon.)

3. To get solid critiques of both my query letter and first ten pages, so I can re-enter the agent hunt with more confidence. (I purposefully put querying on hiatus as the conference has grown closer. I'm eager to jump back into the waters.)

4. To get inspiration for my current project. (More than anything, I want the fantastical premise of my newest story to feel like it's firmly grounded in reality.)

5. Have a lot of silly fun with my fabulous SCBWI critique group. (Who's bringing the hummus?)

If last year is anything to go by, I'm positive all these goals will be reached. NESCBWI 2011 was amazingly helpful and gave me tons to think about. For NESCBWI 2012, I signed up for sessions that I believe both build upon last year's lessons and are also relevant to my current level of author "maturity". I want to make the most out of this weekend.

So here we go!