2016 SCBWI-LA, Part 1: Crispy nuggets of wisdom. Yum!

It's been a week since the LA SCBWI summer conference was over.  I am delighted I went, and sad it's over. I have a mountain of notes, so I thought I'd share a few blurbs and quotes with you that knocked me off my socks, pointed me in a new direction, or gave me a warm fuzzy hug. 

Pam Muñoz Ryan

"Any success in writing is the tip of an iceberg of accumulated failures." - Pam Muñoz Ryan

"If you are not struggling, you are setting your goals too low." - Pam Muñoz Ryan

Justin Chanda

"Diversity is not a trend. Diversity is not the new Vampires." - Justin Chanda 

"Children's Book people are good citizens of the planet." - Justin Chanda

Melissa Manlove

When creating quirky picture books Melissa Manlove said,"You can't do things badly. But if you do them well, you can do whatever you want."

Jon Klassen

"Don't wait 'till you get better to start." - Jon Klassen

"You don't have to own success or failure." - Jon Klassen

Marie Lu

"There is no such thing as 'being behind.' Everyone goes at their own pace." - Marie Lu

Lauren Rille

When writing your picture book story, Lauren Rille says, "Pack all the pages with heart and emotional punch."

"Don't be precious with your work. Especially at the beginning." - Lauren Rille

Carole Boston Weatherford

"A premise is a promise that your manuscript will deliver on." - Carole Boston Weatherford

Susan Rich

"We expect picture books to be revisited a gazillion times... to stand up to weary parents and antsy toddlers, over and over again. - Susan Rich

Sophie Blackall

Concerning your ideas: "Do not hoard what seems good for later." - Sophie Blackall

Richard Peck

"If our readers don't like the first line, they'll never see the second." - Richard Peck

It was such a delightful conference. I'm so grateful to meet knew friends, rejoice with old friends and their successes, and to be reinvigorated and rejuvenated on my own projects. Like I said, I'm sad it's over. But I'm happy to be home, working on my projects, with my corgi sitting happily on my feet.

(Do keep posted for Part 2. I'll share some of my character sketches from the illustration intensive sometime this week. Yippee!)

“Run for your lives, she’s got rabies! No, she’s just inspired.”

Judy Shachner

No, that was not just a voice in my head. I was privileged enough to go to SCBWI’s LA conference last weekend. That was a direct quote from the talented Judy Shachner, author and illustrator of the Skippyjon Jones series. 

It was a wonderfully manic experience. Let’s just say I came home feeling like I got hit by a semi and my “To Do” list’s size has tripled.

I thought since you all love children’s literature like I do, that there was a good possibility that you were a writer or illustrator yourself and that you might be interested in what was said. But since I typed like 20 pages of notes I think I would be better to share a few quotes and ideas that inspired me.

Meg Rosoff

"The imagination can be dangerous. It can change the world. And that is why we write." - Meg Rosoff

“Embrace your flaws.” - Meg Rosoff

Stephen Chbosky

“Do you recognize what’s beautiful and transcendent in you?” - Stephen Chbosky

“There's no such thing as an aspiring writer. If you write, you are a writer.”  - Stephen Chbosky

Justin Chanda

“Your individual voice is the biggest capitol you have in this industry.” - Justin Chanda 

Bruce Coville

“You can use coincidence to start a story, but the farther in the story it occurs, the less believable it becomes. Coincidences to get a character into trouble are great. If you use them the get out of trouble you are cheating.” 

- Bruce Coville

Maggie Stiefvater

         “I don’t write for a living. I observe for a living. I steal for a living.

          I stylize for a living.” - Maggie Stiefvater 

Megan McDonald

“If you want to write, find your splinter. Find the thing that pierces you and won’t let you go.” - Megan McDonald

“If you listen to your own voice, unknown friends will come and seek you.” 

- Megan McDonald

Linda Sue Park

   “I try to make everything I write worth reading 62 times.” - Linda Sue Park

Eugine Yelchin

“Sometimes the goal we want the most is the hardest to pursue because we are afraid of failure.” - Eugene Yelchin

Yes, THE Judy Blume spoke at the conference!

“Do not let anyone discourage you. If they try, get angry, not depressed.” - Judy Blume

“Determination is more important than talent.” 

- Judy Blume

Nick Clark

  

“Creativity is rarely a virgin birth.” - Nick Clark

Some friends and the former Knights who say "Ni!"

I’m sad it’s over. I miss my community. Hugs and warm fuzzy appreciation to the brilliant publishers, editors, art directors, agents, writers and illustrators that inspire the next generation. And many hugs to my old and new friends that I've found from the SCBWI community. I LOVE how warm our clan is. Till next time chums 

I found Erin McGuire there (who illustrates the new Nancy Drew)!