| 9:00-9:30 |
General
Assembly/Introductions |
|
9:30-10:15
|
Frances
Gilbert:
Scoop from the
Coop—Secrets to Getting Out of the Slush Pile |
| 10:15-11:00 |
Tammi
Sauer:
Ruffle Some
Feathers—Writing Slice of Life Grandma Stories
Picture Books that Sell! |
| 11:00-11:15 |
Break
(or Dan challenges Tammi to a hot dog eating
contest…we haven’t decided) |
| 11:15-11:45 |
Dan
Santat:
Not Just Chicken
Scratch—An Illustrator’s Process REVEALED |
| 11:45-12:00 |
Writing
Exercise or Intense Physical Exercise
(attendee’s
choice) |
| 12:00-1:00 |
Lunch:
Out of respect for Marge and Lola, we ask that you please
refrain from eating anything of the poultry variety.
Thankyou.Thankyouverymuch. |
| 1:00-1:45 |
Frances,
Tammi, and Dan:
Two Chicks and a Rock Star—The Making of Chicken Dance
(brainstorming, writing, acquiring, editing, searching,
illustrating, marketing, bawking, flapping, and shaking) |
| 1:45-2:15 |
First
Page Critiques |
| 2:15-2:30 |
Break
(or
Dan finds out what really makes Frances tick…we haven’t
decided) |
| 2:30-3:00 |
Dan
Santat:
Fun with Chicken Feed—Creating Trailers on a Shoestring
Budget |
| 3:00-3:15 |
Writing
Exercise or Intense Physical Exercise
(attendee’s
choice) |
| 3:15-4:15 |
Panel:
Don’t
Be Chicken—Ask Your Burning Questions |
| 4:15-4:30 |
Loose Ends |
| |
|
| |
BACK TO TOP |
|
MIDDLE GRADE TRACK SCHEDULE
|
| 9:00-9:15 |
General
Assembly/Introductions
Show of hands to
sort out who is writing what and the skill level of the
attendees. |
| 9:00-10:00 |
Alvina
Ling:
One editor’s story “My path to publishing, your path to
publication” |
| 10:00-11:00 |
What sets MG apart? (KD and AL)
discuss the ways MG is different from YA, ready-for-
chapters, and picture books—audience, language, content,
voice, etc. and talk about MG genres including literary vs
commercial, mystery, fantasy, sci fi, contemporary,
historical, nonfiction. |
| 11:00-11:15 |
Break |
| 11:15-12:00 pm |
KD: Developing a memorable MG character and realistic MG
dialogue. Character voice vs narrator voice and how to
use both.
Writing exercise. |
| 12:00-1:00 |
Lunch -- while eating, please write
down whatever is hardest for you as a writer, what you most
need help to master. Coming back from lunch, please turn in
your notes. |
| 1:00-1:45 |
First page critiques, editor’s reaction, author’s
proposed/possible ways to address the “fixes”
What editors are looking for: AL will discuss both what she
is looking for personally, as well as trends and industry
focus—and the things writers of MG books should probably
avoid. |
| 1:45-2:15 |
|
| 2:15-2:30 |
Break |
| 2:30-3:00 |
AL and KD: The wide world of MG
characters and plots. Within the age group, reading skills
and maturity vary widely. The creative possibilities are
endless! |
| 3:00-4:00 |
Q & A: AL and KD will look at the “lunchtime
notes” and call on anyone with a hand in the air.Take this
opportunity to make sure your issues are
addressed/answered/discussed!!! |
| 4:00 |
General assembly/closure |
| |
BACK TO TOP |
|
YA TRACK SCHEDULE
|
| 9:00-9:15 |
General
Assembly/Introductions. (Who are these people?). |
| 9:30-10:00 |
Editor/Author
Relationship: How does it work? Are you BFFs yet? |
| 10:00-10:45 |
Crafting a
short synopsis without any bloodshed |
| 10:45-11:00 |
Break |
| 11:00-11:30 |
Create the
Perfect WOW Pitch |
| 11:30-12:00 |
Live Pitch
Sessions (Give us what you've got) |
| 12:00-1:00 |
Lunch (Yum) |
| 1:00-2:00 |
Continue Live
Pitch Sessions |
| 2:00-2:15 |
Break |
| 2:15-3:15 |
First Page
Critiques (editor and author instant feedback) |
| 3:15-4:00 |
Q&A and/or
tap dancing (ask questions or show us your dancing skills) |
| |
BACK TO TOP |
|
MARKETING TRACK SCHEDULE
|
| 9:15-9:25 |
Who We Are, Who You Are, What We’ll Cover |
| 9:25-10:15 |
Before the Book: Pre-release strategies (for before and
after contract) |
| 10:15-11:00 |
Take off: How to Launch a Book |
| 11:00-11:15 |
Break |
| 11:15-12:00 |
It’s Already Out There… Now What? |
| 12:00-1:00 |
Lunch |
| 1:00-2:00 |
Building and/or Busting Your Brand |
| 2:00-2:10 |
Break |
| 2:10-3:10 |
The Perilous Question of Balance & Your Writer Within |
| 3:10-4:00 |
Q & A (Plus Review of Your Action Steps to Take) |
| 4:00 |
General assembly/closure |
| |
BACK TO TOP |
|
SERIES TRACK
SCHEDULE
|
|
SERIOUS ABOUT SERIES?
Planning, Writing and Selling Your Series for Young
Readers
Homework:
First pages, double spaced,
to be read aloud (anonymously) for suggestions and comments.
Homework:
Card game [click
here for instructions] |
| 9:15-9:30 |
INTRODUCTION
-
Collect first pages
-
Introduction of workshop participants and leaders
-
Outline of the day’s “lesson plan.”
-
Debunking myths about series
|
| 9:30-10:00 |
SERIES vs. BRAND EXTENSION
-
What’s the difference?
-
How popular are series these days? Are they more popular
with one age group than another?
-
What are the trends we are seeing?
-
How do you know you have a “series-worthy” idea?
|
| 10:00-10:15 |
WRITING EXERCISE:
Write the 30-second “elevator pitch” for your series
|
| 10:15-10:45 |
Read some of the exercises aloud and discuss. |
| 10:45-11:00 |
BREAK |
| 11:00-12:00 |
PLOTTING A SERIES
-
Where do ideas come from?
-
Do you plot out all of the books from the beginning?
-
How do you make sure each book stands on its own?
-
How do you introduce background information from
previous books?
-
Writer tips and tricks
|
| 12:00-1:00 |
LUNCH |
| 1:00-2:00 |
FIRST PAGE CRITIQUES |
| 2:00-2:15 |
EXERCISE:
Which of the following four series ideas are viable? |
| 2:15-2:45 |
MARKETING A SERIES TO AN AGENT OR PUBLISHER
-
What makes your idea unique?
-
What can you do to get a publisher interested in your
series?
|
| 2:45-3:15 |
MARKETING A SERIES TO THE CONSUMER
-
Covers as marketing tools
-
How do publishers establish a series?
-
How do publishers build reader excitement between books?
|
| 3:15-3:30 |
BREAK |
| 3:30-4:00 |
QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION |
| |
|
NOVEL INTENSIVE |
| |
|
*Homework:
First pages, double spaced, to be read aloud
(anonymously) for
suggestions and comments.
*Homework: Query letter
|
| 9:00-9:15 |
Introduction and ice breakers
Turn in query letters and first pages
...and...welcome |
| 9:15-10:00 |
Character: Each presenter
discusses the intensely personal topic of character and
character building. |
| 10:00-10:15 |
Writing exercise:
Introduce a character in half a page or less |
| 10:15-10:45 |
We will read some of the exercises
aloud and discuss why characters work well and how to make
them more engaging and authentic -- and how they can grow
over the course of the novel. |
| 10:45-11:45 |
Setting: Editor's and
writer will speak to setting, its importance as a novel
element, and how to make the most of it. |
| 11:45-12:30 |
LUNCH -- Please think about
whatever part of writing is the hardest, most daunting,
maddening, confusing, for YOU and describe it in a sentence
or three. As we resume after lunch, please bring your notes
to the front of the room. |
| 12:30-1:25 |
PLOT A roundtable
Editors and
writer will discuss common missteps and ways to build
convincing plots. Editors will share what kinds of stories
they are seeing too many of, what they love and more…
Writer will share a few easy tools that help keep plots
realistic (even if dragons, ghosts and vamps are involved) |
| 1:25-2:20 |
Lightning round reactions to first
pages |
| 2:20-2:30 |
Break |
| 2:30-3:30 |
A
personal discussion by each of the presenters about this
singularly weird process …followed by Q&A.
|
| 3:30-4:30 |
THE
BUSINESS OF PUBLISHING
Editors: Read and remark on Query letters and discuss the
acquisitions process. |
| 4:30-5:00 |
Question and Answer: All
questions welcome. The “hardest thing” notes from lunch will
be used, and additional questions welcome as time allows. |
| 5:00 |
Everyone leaves, excited and eager
to get back to work!!! |
| |
BACK TO TOP |
|
ILLUSTRATOR'S INTENSIVE |
| |
| 9:00-9:30 |
Pat Cummings Presents:
Picture This
|
| 9:30-10:45 |
Homework spreads -- Show, Tell
Comment. |
| 10:45-11:00 |
Break (with Data Dump Power
Point Show) |
| 11:00-12:00 |
Revise/Advise |
| 12:00-1:00 |
LUNCH |
| 1:00-2:30 |
LOOK AGAIN
Your spread in context of your dummy or thumbnails. |
| 2:30-2:45 |
Break with Data Dump |
| 2:45-3:45 |
Practical Panel: Thriving in
a Bunny Eat Bunny Business |
| 3:45-4:45 |
Portfolio Reviews |
| 4:45-5:00 |
Q&A |
|
ILLUSTRATOR'S INTENSIVE |
| |
| 9:00-9:30 |
Pat Cummings Presents:
Picture This
|
| 9:30-10:45 |
Homework spreads -- Show, Tell
Comment. |
| 10:45-11:00 |
Break (with Data Dump Power
Point Show) |
| 11:00-12:00 |
Revise/Advise |
| 12:00-1:00 |
LUNCH |
| 1:00-2:30 |
LOOK AGAIN
Your spread in context of your dummy or thumbnails. |
| 2:30-2:45 |
Break with Data Dump |
| 2:45-3:45 |
Practical Panel: Thriving in
a Bunny Eat Bunny Business |
| 3:45-4:45 |
Portfolio Reviews |
| 4:45-5:00 |
Q&A |
| |
BACK TO TOP |
|
PICTURE BOOK INTENSIVE |
| |
| 9:00-9:15 |
Introductions
- We each say a few words about
ourselves and our craft
|
| 9:15-10:00 |
LISA DISCUSSES IDEAS AND ACCESSING
YOUR INNER VOICE
- Where do they come from?
- What makes an idea noteworthy?
- Is there really any such thing as
a new idea?
- How do you get inspiration to
visit more often?
|
| 10:00-10:15 |
Writing Exercises
for generating ideas |
| 10:15-10:30 |
Read some of the exercises
aloud and discuss |
| 10:30-10:45 |
BREAK |
| 10:45-11:30 |
LISA DISCUSSES CHARACTERS AND
AUTHENTICITY
- Every character is some aspect of
you, the author.
- How well do you need to know your
character
- Why do you need to know your
character better than your reader does?
- How do you create truly authentic
characters
|
| 11:30-11:45 |
Writing Exercises
for creating authentic characters |
| 11:45-12:00 |
Read some of the exercises
aloud and discuss |
| 12:00-1:00 |
LUNCH |
| 1:00-2:00 |
DISCUSSION ON PLOTTING WITH LISA AND
ALEX
- Seriously? A picture book needs a
plot?
- Different kinds of story-problems
for picture books
- How to generate story problems
that are unique, yet have universal appeal
- How to generate satisfying
solutions to your story problems
|
| 2:00-2:30 |
First Line Critiques
with Alex and Lisa |
| 2:30-3:00 |
Alex Dishes
Alex shares her views about what
constitutes a good picture book and shows us some of her
favorite examples |
| 3:00-3:15 |
Exercise - surprise writing exercise |
| 3:15-3:30 |
BREAK |
| 3:30-4:00 |
Journey of a Picture Book
Alex takes us from the submission
stage to a picture book sitting on the bookstore shelf,
sharing her insiders perspective on the process |
| 4:00-5:00 |
GROUP THERAPY SESSION (aka Q&A)
- We all reflect on the day's
events and share a forum for clearing up lingering
questions and sharing experiences. We'll laugh; we'll
cry; some of us might even hug.
|
| |
BACK TO TOP |
