Thank You, SCBWI
Posted By Vonna on November 9, 2009
Today I want to say thank you to all the wonderful people who work so hard to put together the SCBWI conferences.
I’ve been on the periphery of this undertaking a few times now and know that it takes a lot of work to make one of these events successful. Any big event requiring meeting facilities, catering, raffles and give-aways is time consuming. Organizing airfare, ground transportation and hotel accommodations for the conference’s faculty takes a great deal of effort. Plus, finding editors, agents, illustrators and authors— and let’s not forget the independent booksellers who organize the conference bookshop— who are willing to spend a weekend presenting informative talks to aspiring authors is no easy task. People are busy.
And then there are the editors, agents, authors and illustrators who give up their weekend to help us out. Many of these people generously visit one regional SCBWI group after another, sharing their knowledge and inviting the conference attendees to submit manuscripts and portfolios to publishing houses and agencies that might otherwise be closed.
I know several writers who have found their agents or editors through these conferences, but even if we do not meet an agent or editor who is the right match for our work, we gain immensely from the time they share with us.
There are two upcoming SCBWI conferences in Texas at the beginning of 2010 that I will get to attend— Austin and Houston. I am so lucky to live in a state with such great regional SCBWI chapters.
Thank you, SCBWI.
I love SCBWI! And I’ll look forward to seeing you in January!
I’ve never been to an SCBWI event but I’m going to the one in NY in January. I can’t wait!
Ooo! You’re going to the National! I hope you plan to blog all about it.
I have never been to either the New York or LA conference but I would love to. I’m too busy with the two Texas conferences to go to New York in January, but I might try for the La conference in August.