SCBWI

Society of
Children's Book Writers
and Illustrators

Iowa

Iowa

Together at Last! Spring Conference

Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/05/2023 - 05/07/2023
12:00 pm

Location
Together at Last! Spring Conference
161 St. Anthony Avenue - Saint Paul, Minnesota 55103


Art by Donna Eicher

Together at Last!

SCBWI IA & SCBWI MN Conference

May 5-7, 2023

St. Paul College, 235 Marshall Ave, St Paul, MN

 

Breakouts Sessions ~ Illustrator Workshops ~ Round Table Critiques ~ Art Show ~ Manuscript Critiques ~ Portfolio Reviews ~ Networking and Social Opportunities ~ and more!

 

Registration will open SATURDAY, February 25 at 9:00 AM.

https://iowa.scbwi.org.

– Early Bird Special for SCBWI Members through March 31: $250.00

– SCBWI Members April 1-April 30: $300.00

– Early Bird Special for Nonmembers through March 31: $325.00

– Cost for Nonmembers April 1-April 30: $375.00

 

Registration Opens at 9:00 AM, Saturday, February 25, 2023

Written Critiques and Portfolio Reviews are First-Come-First Served

Registration Closes Sunday, April 30, 5:00 PM. No exceptions.

 

Payment can be made online during registration with a major credit card or sent by check to Iowa SCBWI, 6732 Northview Drive, Urbandale, IA 50322

 

Meals: 

The following meals are included with the cost of registration. There will also be a cash bar available on Saturday night.

Note: no coffee or breakfast will be served on Saturday and Sunday.

– Friday: Pasta Bar

– Saturday: Lunch with sandwiches, chips, apple, cookies, soda, water; Dinner with Taco Bar; Cash Bar

 

Hotel Reservations:

Radisson Hotel St. Paul Downtown, 161 St. Anthony Avenue, St. Paul MN

– For individual reservations or rooming list bookings, reservations may be confirmed by calling toll-free at +1 (800) 333-3333. Individual reservations can also be made by visiting www.radissonhotelsamericas.com/en-us/brand/radisson and using Promotional Code 2305SCBW. The block of rooms is reserved under SCBWI GROUP.

– King rooms are $124.00 a night, plus tax, for Friday night and $147.00 a night for Saturday night.

– Two queen bed rooms are $131.00 a night, plus tax, for Friday night and $147.00 a night for Saturday night.

 

Art Show: Illustrator’s Showcase

– Please bring an illustration based on the word Reunion. Attendees will have the chance to vote. Best of Show and Honorable Mention prizes will be awarded.

– Please submit an unmounted color copies or prints of an original work, no larger than 11”x17”

– Art will be affixed to wall with double sided tape.

– Art will be dropped off at registration and labels will be available to share media, title and artist’s name and website.

– The artist is responsible for retrieving their art by the end of the conference. Any art left behind will not be mailed.

 

Written Critiques:

Written critiques are assigned as first-come-first-served basis and are $50.00 per critique. There will not be any face-to-face critiques at the conference.

Submit the first 10 pages and a synopsis in standard manuscript format or full picture book manuscript (double-spaced; 12 point Times New Roman or Arial font) to iowa-ra@scbwi.org by 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Late submissions will be charged, but not critiqued. Your subject line should include your first and last name and the title of your manuscript. Example: Eileen Boggess, The Best Novel Ever Written. Please use .doc, not a pdf.

– Winsome Bingham (Editor at ReyCraft Books): 10 written critiques

– Savannah Brooks (Literary Agent for KT Literary): 10 written critiques

– Carol Hinz (Associate Publisher of Millbrook Press and Carolrhoda Books, divisions of Lerner Publishing Group): 10 written critiques

– Mandy Robbins (Senior Editor at Capstone Publishers): 10 written critiques

– Jennifer Rofé (Literary Agent for Andrea Brown Literary Agency): 10 written critiques)

– Lisa M. Bolt Simons (Author): 10 written critiques

– Erin Casey Westin (Literary Agent for Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency): 10 writtten critiques

 

On-Site Portfolio Reviews:

In-person portfolio reviews are assigned first-come-first served basis and are $75.00 per review.

– Jeanette Levy (Assistant Art Director for Bloomsbury Publishing): 10 portfolio reviews

– Kerry Martin (Creative Director at Holiday House): 10 portfolio reviews

 

Workshop Key: G (general); I (illustrators); NF (nonfiction); PB (picture book); MG/YA (middle grade/young adult)

Friday, April 24, 2020

G  12:00-1:00 PM: Registration

G  1:00 PM: Welcome (Theatre)

NF/ PB/ MG/YA  1:30-4:30 PM: Round Table Critique

15 authors per 8 rooms for a first page, a pitch, or a one-page scene. Editors, Agents, Authors, RAs (10 minutes per person)

Each author will be assured a spot with an Editor or Agent for one of the sessions.

Select your top two choices at registration and we will do our best to match you with one of them (not guaranteed).

  1. Carol Hinz: (Conference Room 1506)
  2. Mandy Robbins: (Conference Room 1508)
  3. Winsome Bingham: (via Zoom)
  4. Jennier Rofe: (Conference Room 1512)
  5. Erin Casey Westin: (Conference Room 1518)
  6. Savannah Brooks: (Conference Room 2205)
  7. Daniel Bernstrom: Theatre (Conference Room 2215)
  8. Eileen Boggess: Theatre (Conference 2225)

 

I 1:30-4:30 PM: Jeanette Levy Illustrator Workshop: Book Cover Type Design for Illustrators,  Illustrators will workshop on type design from the outset of a project, how to develop art that can accommodate type, and what type can add to a composition.

G 5:00-6:00 PM: Daniel Bernstrom Keynote  (Theatre): Three Reasons Why Souls Must Touch,  The foremost problem artists face, no matter their medium, genre, style, or tenure, is finding a meaningful life as an artist. Of course, the artist wants to improve and sustain her craft, but what she’s ultimately looking for is finding life in her craft. What if I told you there is a way to improve your craft while simultaneously sustaining you on the artist’s way? And this way is not secretive or elusive. In fact, it stares us all in the face. For art is the exercise of touching the soul. Souls must touch, bump into one another, influence, teach, shape, and interpret one another. I have three reasons why this is important. But let me also show you how to touch your soul with another so that you can find life in writing.

G  6:00-7:00 PM: Pasta Bar Dinner

 

Saturday, May 6, 2023 

Breakout Session #1

9:00-10:00 AM  

PB/ MG/YA  Savannah Brooks: The First Page, how to use tension, motivation, and voice in the first page to make it irresistible (Theater)

NF/ PB/ MG/YA Carol Hinz: The Back Is Where It’s At: Why Back Matter Matters, Using research to write both nonfiction and fiction. (Room 1514)

NF/ PB/ MG/YA Mandy Robbins and Lisa M. Bolt Simons: An Inside Peek at Writing Work-for-Hire Books from Start to Finish, which looks at working with an editor on fiction and nonfiction books for education from the outline to the final product. (Room 1512)

I  Jeanette Peters Art File Preparation & Presentation. Jeanette has literally heard publishers say “This artist is so professional, let’s hire them again,” based on nicely formatted files (which were of course also showcasing beautiful art!). Good file prep can help a project go smoothly, make a great impression on an art director, and save an illustrator time in the long run. Topics in this presentation include: bleed, resolution vs file size, working in layers, how to present variations on a design, file delivery methods, and file naming.

I Kerry Martin Portfolio Reviews

Breakout Session #2

10:15-11:15 AM

NF/ PB/ MG/YA  Erin Casey Westin, What to Ask on “The Call” (when an agent offers representation)

You queried! You got a full manuscript request! An agent wants to have a call! Hooray! But what do you ask them? What do the answers mean? And how do you know if you’re the right fit? Have no fear! This presentation will cover everything you need to know before having The Call, including important questions to ask, questions NOT to ask, possible red flags, and what to do when the call is over. Ideally you’ll leave this session confident that when the time comes, you know what to ask to find the best representative for you and your work.

NF/ PB/ MG/YA Jen Rofe: Don’t be Weary, It’s Just a Query 

PB/ MG/YA  Winsome Bingham: It Doesn’t Have to be Fake All the Way: Mixing Reality and the Fake World (Zoom), This session will teach you how to create a story with empathy and heart by wielding in your lived experience.

I Kerry Martin: How I Met My Illustrator – Picture books, We will discuss the long-term project that a picture book endeavor is. I will show some recent picture books and talk about the process of matching the manuscript with the illustrator.  I will talk about the stages that go into the process: sketches, final art, proofs—all the things that go on behind the scenes while illustrators wonder where the heck their books are.

 

Breakout Session #3

11:30 AM-12:30 PM  

NF/ PB/ MG/YA Carol Hinz: Biography and Beyond, looking at the wide range of possible approaches for biographies as well as many other types of nonfiction books.

NF/ PB/ MG/YA  Mandy Robbins: Best Practices When Working with an Editor, which focuses on how writers can get their foot in the publisher door and best work with an editor.

PB/ MG/YA  Savannah Brooks: The First Page, how to use tension, motivation, and voice in the first page to make it irresistible.

I Jeannette Levy: Color Theory & Application. How strong color choices can elevate apiece and get it to approval. Picking palettes to fit a mood or purpose. Using color consistently and for good effect throughout a picture book. The presentation will cover an overview of the color wheel, color combinations, and contrast.

 

12:30-1:15 PM Lunch

G Sandwiches, wraps, chips, apple, cookie, pop, and water

 

Breakout Session #4

1:15-2:15 PM  

NF/ PB/ MG/YA  Erin Casey Westin, Advocating for Yourself: Offers of Publication and Contracts 101

This presentation will cover the most important things to understand and advocate for when negotiating an offer of publication and a contract. Whether you have an agent or not, knowing what is standard, where you can ask for improvements, and what might be missing from a contract is empowering and keeps you protected. Come learn the basics you need to enter negotiations with a publisher with confidence.

NF/ PB/ MG/YA  Jennifer Rofé: So what?”, For a story to stand out, there must be a good answer (or many) to the “so what” question after every single plot point. Jen will walk attendees through a scene-by-scene “so what” analysis of popular movies and books. 

PB/ MG/YA  Winsome Bingham: It Doesn’t Have to be Fake All the Way: Mixing Reality and the Fake World, This session will teach you how to create a story with empathy and heart by wielding in your lived experience.

I Kerry Martin: How I Met My Illustrator – Novels, We will talk about the process of matching novel manuscripts with illustrators and how that is different from picture books. How there is one image that must advertise the book in multiple formats and venues, from the print book in the bookstore and library, to the digital ebook on the device, to the tiny screen on your online bookseller you shop for on your phone. We will also talk about specs such as spot gloss lamination, glow-in-the-dark etc. I will show and tell some recent jacket projects and describe the varied ways that went into finding the illustrators on each book.

I  2:30-4:30 Portfolio Reviews with Kerry Martin and Jeanette Levy

 

Breakout Session #5

2:30-3:30 PM

NF Carol Hinz: Biography and Beyond, looking at the wide range of possible approaches for biographies as well as many other types of nonfiction books.

NF/ PB/ MG/YA Mandy Robbins and Lisa M. Bolt Simons: An Inside Peek at Writing Work-for-Hire Books from Start to Finish, which looks at working with an editor on fiction and nonfiction books for education from the outline to the final product.

PB/ MG/YA  Savannah Brooks: Using Facts in Fiction, the how and why of incorporating research into fiction writing

PB/ MG/YA Winsome Bingham, You Don’t Have to Be a Songbird: Poetic Devices That Make a Manuscript Sing (Zoom), How adding rhythm to your manuscript will elevate your story.

 

Breakout Session #6

3:45-4:45 PM

NF/ PB/ MG/YA  Erin Casey Westin, What to Ask on “The Call” (when an agent offers representation), You queried! You got a full manuscript request! An agent wants to have a call! Hooray! But what do you ask them? What do the answers mean? And how do you know if you’re the right fit? Have no fear! This presentation will cover everything you need to know before having The Call, including important questions to ask, questions NOT to ask, possible red flags, and what to do when the call is over. Ideally you’ll leave this session confident that when the time comes, you know what to ask to find the best representative for you and your work.

NF/ PB/ MG/YA  Jennifer Rofé: “So what?”, For a story to stand out, there must be a good answer (or many) to the “so what” question after every single plot point. Jen will walk attendees through a scene-by-scene “so what” analysis of popular movies and books.

NF/ PB/ MG/YA  Brian Farrey: The Middle, Stop me if you’ve heard this one: you’re 30-50 pages into your shiny new manuscript, all pistons are firing, the ideas are flowing, and you’re on fire. And then you hit…the middle! *screeching of brakes* Why do so many writers get stuck in the middle of their books? Brian will break down the anatomy of the Middle, discuss expectations (real and imaginary), and offer tips for pushing through and defeating this common enemy of storytellers.

5:00-6:00 PM Cash Bar and Art Show voting

6:00-7:00 PM Taco Bar Dinner

 

Sunday, May 7, 2023

NF/ PB/ MG/YA  8:30 AM – 11:30 AM Second Round Table Session 

Each author will be assured a spot with an Editor or Agent for one of the sessions

  1. Carol Hinz: (Conference Room 1506)
  2. Mandy Robbins: (Conference Room 1508)
  3. Winsome Bingham: (Conference Room 1510)
  4. Erin Casey Westin: (Conference Room 1512)
  5. Jen Rofe: (Conference Room 1518)
  6. Savannah Brooks: (Conference Room 2205)
  7. Brian Farrey: (Conference Room 2215)
  8. Lisa M. Bolt Simons: Theatre (Conference 2225)

 I 8:30-11:30 AM Kerry Martin Illustrator Workshop: Choose an existing picture book that you think could use refreshing. Create thumbnail drawings to map out a 32 page format. Create character sketches. Do 3–5 finished sample pieces of art that measure 8”x10”. Do at least 3 jacket sketches (if you’d like to include your jacket in one of the above pieces, feel free to do so). We will structure the class like a group critique where everyone is welcome to participate.

G  11:45 AM-12:00 PM: Announce Winner of Art Show, Remarks and Marvelous Door Prizes

 

Faculty

  

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS ONLY: This is an onsite event in St. Paul, MN, USA. However, if you are planning to attend and our payment system isn’t processing your credit card payment, please email Cindy Johnson at iascbwi.registrar@gmail.com to request an alternate method of payment. Please include your name and address in your request.

If you have any issues with or questions about registration, please email Cindy Johnson at iascbwi.registrar@gmail.com.

 

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Ticket Information

Early Bird Member - Author Track - $250.00

This price is only available for SCBWI members.

Registration through March 31 for SCBWI members participating in round table critiques


Early Bird Member - Illustrator Track - $250.00

This price is only available for SCBWI members.

Registration through March 31 for SCBWI members participating in Illustrator Workshops


Early Bird Nonmember - Author Track - $325.00
Early registration for nonmembers of SCBWI participating in round table critiques


Early Bird Nonmember - Illustrator track - $325.00
Early registration for nonmembers of SCBWI participating in illustrator workshops


The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy
The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy
To register for an SCBWI event, you are required to acknowledge our Anti-Harassment Policy.
Scroll to the bottom to read the policy.

You will then be able to click the checkbox indicating that you have read our policy.

 

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is dedicated to providing a safe and harassment-free environment for all of its members and will take any and all necessary steps to address and prevent harassment at events associated with SCBWI. Harassment under this policy may include verbal comments, written comments, displayed images, or behaviors such as intimidation, stalking, body policing, unwelcome photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, unwelcome sexual attention or advances, and bullying or coercion. 

The SCBWI Member Anti-Harassment Policy applies to all situations of harassment or intimidation at any SCBWI Event. An “SCBWI Event” is any event, meeting or activity that is authorized by an SCBWI Regional Manager to be sponsored by, or affiliated with, SCBWI. SCBWI events may include, if properly authorized by an SCBWI Regional Manager, the Annual Summer Conference in Los Angeles, the Annual Winter Conference in New York, regional conferences, meetings and meet-ups. This SCBWI Member Anti-Harassment Policy also applies to “SCBWI On-Line Interactions,” which include Zooms, Webinars, online meetings, communications and content posted on, or directed towards, SCBWI’s Social Media accounts or sent through any of the communication tools available on SCBWI’s website, www.scbwi.org. SCBWI’s Social Media accounts under this policy include the official SCBWI accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn.

 

Code of Conduct

All participants in SCBWI Events and SCBWI On-Line Interactions, including faculty, volunteers, staff, and attendees, are required to comply with the following anti-harassment code of conduct. The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy prohibits harassment, including but not limited to the following behaviors:

  • Intimidation, stalking, or following;
  • Sustained disruption of talks or other events;
  • Unwelcome sexual attention or advances;
  • Abusive verbal comments;
  • Quid pro quo– sexual harassment that occurs when one in an authority position requests sex or a sexual relationship in exchange for professional consideration or favors;.
  • Harmful or prejudicial verbal comments, written comments, or visual images related to gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion, socio-economic status, disability, age, appearance, body size, or other personal characteristics;
  • Inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images
  • Unwelcome or uninvited attention or contact
  • Physical assault (including unwelcome touching or groping);
  • Real or implied threat of physical harm;
  • Real or implied threat of professional or financial damage or harm;
  • Body policing, unwelcome photography or recording;
  • Doxing
  • Harassment does not include respectful disagreement or reasonable and respectful critique made in good faith. SCBWI continues to welcome and appreciate presentation of appropriate controversial ideas, free speech, and creative artistic expression. SCBWI encourages members to hold one another accountable to the Code of Conduct as stated in this part of the Policy and to take the perspectives of others seriously when a disagreement arises.

We expect all participants at SCBWI activities, meetings, and networking events to abide by this Anti-Harassment Policy in all venues, including sanctioned events, ancillary events, unofficial events, and social gatherings.

 

Reporting Procedures

Any person who believes there has been a violation of the SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy can report the offense in one or all of the following ways:

  • Certain SCBWI Events, including the Annual Summer Conference in Los Angeles and the Annual Winter Conference in New York, will designate one or more Safety Team Members who will be available during the conference to provide a safe space for members to report an incident. The Safety Team Member will report directly to the conference director or regional advisor in charge.
  • A complainant may submit a complaint under this policy to the Director of Community Marketing and Engagement, the Director of Illustration and Artist Programs and/or your Regional Manager.
  • SCBWI has a dedicated email address for reporting any potential incident of harassment under this policy. Anyone who chooses to report an incident can find the Anti-Harassment Report Form on the SCBWI website (About > Anti-Harassment) or use the following link: https://www.scbwi.org/anti-harassment-report-form/. Reports should include the substance of the complaint, date, and whenever possible, a list of witnesses or a reference to the relevant URLs, if the offense occurred through an SCWBI On-Line Interaction.

SCBWI will investigate all complaints subject to the SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy. If the policy applies, SCBWI will investigate the matter and take whatever action is necessary and appropriate to prevent a recurrence and protect the environment at SCWBI Events. If a complaint is made anonymously, please note that SCBWI will not be able to follow up on an anonymous report with the complainant directly, as SCBWI will not have contact information for the anonymous complainant. Moreover, anonymous complaints may hinder SCBWI’s ability to investigate the complaint.  SCBWI will take steps to protect the confidentiality of the complaint, to the extent possible.  However, complete confidentiality may not be possible in all circumstances.  SCBWI will make every attempt to respond to a named complainant in a timely fashion.

If appropriate, SCBWI may report the incident to local authorities.

 

Non-Retaliation

The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy prohibits retaliation against a member of the SCBWI community for reporting harassment, intimidation or discrimination, or for participating in an investigation relating to any complaint made under this policy. The sanctions for retaliation are the same sanctions available to address any other violation of the SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy.

 

Sanctions

SCBWI takes all allegations of harassment seriously. Complaints will be investigated by SCWBI if they fall within the scope of SCWBI’s Anti-Harassment Policy. Depending on the results of the investigation, SCWBI will determine whether a sanction is appropriate.

Sanctions for faculty, speakers, volunteers, staff or board members may include any of the following:

  • warning the party involved that the particular behavior is inappropriate and must be ceased;
  • immediate removal from a particular event;
  • denial of access to SCBWI spaces and venues on a temporary or permanent basis;
  • withholding of a contracted honorarium;
  • prohibition from future speaking engagements;
  • prohibition from future faculty appointments;
  • expulsion from SCBWI; and/or
  • removal from the Board of Advisors or Board of Directors, when appropriate.

Sanctions for attendees, members, and guests can include any of the following:

  • warning the party involved that specified behavior is inappropriate and must be ceased;
  • immediate removal from a particular event, without refund;
  • denial of access to SCBWI spaces and venues on a permanent or temporary basis;
  • termination of SCBWI membership, without refund; and/or
  • prohibition of future SCBWI membership.

If the conduct at issue involves one of SCBWI’s employees, SCBWI will utilize whatever corrective action is appropriate based on the result of the investigation and subject to SCBWI employment policies and practices.

 

Confidentiality

SCBWI will make every reasonable effort to conduct all investigations into allegations of harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in a manner that will protect the confidentiality of all parties and witnesses. Notwithstanding the above, confidentiality is not absolute, and those with a legitimate business reason to know and be informed of the allegations will be so informed. Parties to the complaint should treat the matter under investigation with discretion and respect the reputation of all parties involved.

    

If you wish to file a complaint or an anonymous complaint, CLICK HERE to access the Anti-harassment Report Form.

If you have questions regarding this policy, you may send an email to tammybrown@scbwi.org. Please include the words "Anti-Harassment Policy" in the subject line. 

 

I have read and accepted the SCBWI Anti-Harassment policy.

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