The Saturday Workshops

Editor Stacey Barney, Putnam/Penguin (http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishers/yr/putnam.html/):
    How To Get An Editor (to fall in love with your manuscript)
Making an Editor fall in love with your work isn’t a feat necessarily out of your control. Ultimately, snagging your dream editor is about being the best writer you can be. We’ll discuss how to literally and figuratively dot all your i’s and cross all your t’s in order to find the best reader, champion and yes, editor for your work.

Agent Michael Bourret, Dystel & Goderich (http://www.dystel.com/):
    How To Get An Agent (to fall in love with your manuscript)
Straight from the mouth of a literary agent, you'll find out what does, and maybe more importantly, what doesn't, get an agent's attention, from the query letter, to correspondence, to the manuscript itself.

Author Lee Wardlaw, award-winning author (PB to YA) (http://www.leewardlaw.com/):
    Ten Things I've Learned from My Cats about Being a Children's Book Author

Author Terri Farley: author of all 24 books in the "Phantom Stallion" middle grade series (http://www.terrifarley.com/):
    Fetch Me A Dream, PDQ
Writing drove Stephen King to drug addiction, Dr. Seuss to drink & Balzac to eat handfuls of coffee beans. The Bronte sisters had to pretend they were the Bronte brothers and J.K. Rowling was asked to drop her first name. We do it all for the chance of seeing our names on a book cover, though the odds against us are about 10,000 to 1. Despite these odds, TERRI FARLEY talks about what drives us to write on.

Author Dawne Knobbe: Moonbeam award-winning author and madcap Mad Hatter from the L.A. region's Down The Rabbit Hole (http://deknobbe.com/):
    Busting out of the Box — Creative Marketing for Published/Unpublished Writers
Discover your USP (Unique Selling Position). Learn how to upsell yourself and make contacts that can lead to Paying gigs and return visits. Whether you’re published, unpublished, or thinking of starting your own small press, you will discover unique ways to market yourself and your work.
Topics covered:
    — The dos and don’ts of running a small press.
    — The bucket list and other ways to make you “a stand out,” for visits.
    — The exploration of unique venues to showcase and sell your work.
    — The Piggyback marketing way to return visits.
    — The insider tricks to running contests and giveaways.
    — The best ways to “propping yourself up” and leave your audience wanting more.

Author Sara Wilson Etienne: debut author (http://www.sarawilsonetienne.com/):
    Book Trailers and Blog Tours and Swag, Oh My!
Promoting a book can seem overwhelming and uncomfortable. When there are so many books, how do you make yours stand out from the rest? And how do you capture people's imaginations without sounding like a broken record? Sara talks about how she got the word out for her first book, Harbinger.

Traditional Publishing Panel - "Harbinger":
    Debut Author Sara Wilson Etienne, Agent Michael Bourret, and Editor Stacey Barney

The Saturday Professional Forum - The Real Deal on Contracts and Taxes

Bonnie Berry LaMon, Esq. (http://www.bonnieberry.com/):
    More Than You Ever Wanted to Know about Children's Book Publishing Agreements
This presentation will discuss the basics of standard book publishing contracts, as well as what an ideal agreement would contain. I will also be discussing ancillary agreements such as merchandising, multimedia licensing and trademark considerations.

Monica Haven, EA, JD, LLM (http://www.mhaven.net/):
    Fact or Fiction?
The US Congress has authored the largest work of non-fiction (currently amassing 72,536 pages) which is still subject to revision and ongoing editorial review. It’s a profitable endeavor which gives the US Treasury the ability to collect over $1 trillion in annual revenues. Can you do as well?

Let Monica Haven, E.A. help. She will parse the Code and teach you how to get your business license, report your royalty income, amortize your start-up costs, claim a home office, deduct qualified creative expenses, travel, education and entertainment costs. And she’ll teach you all this with fewer pages and far more clarity than what Congress has published. With Monica’s tips and your talent, you’ll soon be on your way to your first trillion…

Click Here to Register

The 4 Hour Sunday Intensives

Session 1:

    Pitching - Agent Michael Bourret   &   PB/Chapter Book Revision - Editor Stacey Barney

Pithy & Precise: How to Pitch Your Story in Person
It's easy to get tongue-tied when you're talking to a publishing professional--it's natural to be nervous. That's exactly why you need to have your "elevator pitch" down pat. In this intensive workshop, literary agent Michael Bourret will help you hone your pitch into a short, focused, relaxed talk that helps answer the question you're bound to be asked: "So, what's your book about?" Come ready to pitch your book in 30 seconds or less. We'll work to help each person craft their own perfect pitch.

A Picture Book revision intensive that focuses on narrative picture books. We’ll discuss how to build a compelling story that will allow illustrations to tell at least 50% of the story in a 32-page format. Please bring two copies of a complete narrative picture book for readers between the ages of 6-9. You’ll be working with a partner, so please bring material you are comfortable with sharing. We will only be able to work on picture books with a narrative story.

Session 2:

    MG/YA Revision - Editor Stacey Barney   &   Pitching - Agent Michael Bourret

A Novel revision intensive that focuses on first pages and chapter ends. In this intensive we’ll look at compelling ways to begin a novel asking the question am I beginning my novel in the right place using the right device? We’ll also take a look at the best ways to end a chapter to spur the reader onto the next and build tension. We’ll examine successful novel beginnings and chapter ends. Please bring a synopsis of one of your current works-in-progress as well as the first chapter and one latter chapter. You’ll be working with a partner, so please bring material you are comfortable with sharing.

Pithy & Precise: How to Pitch Your Story in Person
It's easy to get tongue-tied when you're talking to a publishing professional--it's natural to be nervous. That's exactly why you need to have your "elevator pitch" down pat. In this intensive workshop, literary agent Michael Bourret will help you hone your pitch into a short, focused, relaxed talk that helps answer the question you're bound to be asked: "So, what's your book about?" Come ready to pitch your book in 30 seconds or less. We'll work to help each person craft their own perfect pitch.

Session 3:

    Novel Workshop - Growing Your Writing Life: Soil, Seeds and Soul - Terri Farley

Terri Farley opens her writer's spellbox to share the tips, techniques and magic that help make a writing life part of real life. In this fast-paced, hands-on workshop, writers learn how to write like an animal, make friends with villains, build publicity platforms, find the 25th hour in every day, and more.

Session 4:

    Sparking Your Muse (for PB to YA) - Dawne Knobbe

When was the last time you really wrote? Be honest. Did you do the dishes then turn on your computer? Go walk the dog then scrub your kitchen floor? Bring paper and pens and up to three pages that are halting your move forward. Be prepared to confront your inner critic. We will work together to discover what is holding you back. Plus, I will arm you with secrets and exercises to tickle your muse back into play! This is a suitable workshop for all genres.

Published Author Session:

    School Visits: The Other Income - Alexis O'Neill, author and School Visit expert
            (http://www.alexisoneill.com/,     http://schoolvisitexperts.com/)

If you are trying to carve out a career in children’s publishing, royalties alone will not pay your bills. The good news is that school visits and other presentations can supplement your income significantly and carry the most important benefit: motivating kids to read (and hopefully become fans of your books.) This intensive will show what elements to include to make your school visits memorable, how to land gigs, and how to handle the business side of appearances. Hands-on activities will help you form a plan of action to implement immediately.

Click Here to Register

Faculty Bios

http://deknobbe.com/

http://Tidalzone.org/

http://Thenaturekid.com/

Blog: http://infusethemuse.wordpress.com/

Manuscript Critique:

Complete PB ms, 10 pages MG/YA, OR 10 Poems. Must be postmarked by March 16th, 2012. You must be registered for SCBWI-L.A. Writer’s Days 2012 and have paid for a critique. (As proof, please include a copy of your registration ticket. You will receive this ticket by e-mail when you register.)

Write “Critique” on manuscript cover sheet along with name, address, phone and email.

Mail to:

Writer's Days Critiques
c/o SCBWI-L.A.
P. O. Box 1728
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Contest Rules:

1. You must be a currently registered member of SCBWI.

2. You must be registered for the Saturday session of SCBWI-L.A. Writer’s Days 2012. (As proof, please attach a copy of your registration ticket in your e-mail. You will receive this ticket by e-mail when you register.)

3. Submissions must state entry category.

4. Submit one unpublished manuscript in manuscript format (Fiction or Nonfiction): Picture Book (text only, no illustrations or dummies), Middle Grade (first 10 pages), Young Adult (first 10 pages), Poetry (a collection of 10 poems on a single theme).

5. Please include the following information in your submission:

      a. SCBWI Current Member Name

      b. Address

      c. Contact Numbers

      d. E-mail

      e. Title of Your Piece

      f. Entry Category (Chosen from these Categories: PB Fiction, MG Fiction, YA Fiction, Non-Fiction OR Poetry.)

6. Please e-mail your entry to scbwilacontests@gmail.com with the subject title: WRITER’S DAY CONTEST 2012

7. Attach your submission as a Word Document/RTF File. If you aren’t able to, you may copy your work into the body of your e-mail.

8. All entries must be e-mailed by midnight (PST) on March 3rd, 2012.

9. An award may not be given if there are fewer than five submissions in a category or judges feel no submission is deserving.

10. Please be sure to follow these submission guidelines. Submissions not in compliance with these rules will not be considered.

11. The judges, while highly qualified, shall remain anonymous.

The Fine Print

Take advantage of the "Early Bird Discount" by registering before March 15, 2012

Current SCBWI Membership will be verified. If your membership is not current and you have signed up as a member, you will be given the option of renewing your membership or paying the Non-Member price.

Join SCBWI at registration and be eligible for the contests!

You may register at the door; however, only cash and checks accepted at the door.

Wait List: If a ticket sells out, you may be put on a wait list. E-mail your request to Sarah Laurenson. Please include the exact ticket description, your mailing address and your phone number in your request.

Please note: No refund after March 15, 2012. $15 charge for refund before March 15, 2012. To ask for a refund, e-mail your refund request and a copy of your registration ticket to Sarah Laurenson.