A Spring Conference, Imagine That!

WORKSHOPS

8:30 – 12:00 – Master Class A – Mina Witteman – Aristotle’s Cat! – A Revision Intensive

From the gentlest narrative picture book to the edgiest young adult novel, every story needs a solid plot. It is the foundation of your story and, like a building without a sturdy base, plot holes will cause your story to rattle and shake when the first winds that blow through. How do we use plot structure to move your story forward? How can we use plot structure as a revision tool?

This hands-on revision intensive will briefly introduce plot theory and different plot structures which attendees will apply to their own manuscripts (anything from a first draft to the tenth draft, a story idea or a fully fleshed out story). Attendees can then identify plot points, plot twists and possible plot holes in each story in a visual way. The intensive will prompt attendees to ask and answer challenging questions to locate snags and hitches in their stories.

To get the most out of this revision intensive, attendees are encouraged to bring a full or a partial printed copy of their manuscript, together with a synopsis, but the intensive is equally beneficial to those who would like to up their knowledge of plot and plot structures, or simply want to get renewed inspiration for their next work-in-progress..

Mina will also offer 25 manuscript critiques (for an additional fee) to attendees of this session. Participants will submit 10 pages + half page synopsis + half page of what the author changed after the master class (Times New Roman 12pt, double spaced, 1-inch margins all around, page numbers, author name on each page).

Skype critiques: 20 minutes (critique based on the Gold Form, but with the opportunity to ask questions).

Deadline submission: July 31, 2019 (to give you time to revise after the conference)
Deadline critiques: October 1, 2019

8:30 – 12:00 – Master Class B –  Picture Book Cover Illustration Workshop with Art Director Saho Fujii

Participants will illustrate and submit a cover for The Three Billy Goats Gruff, which Saho will review in advance of the class.

Text:

THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF (FOLK TALE)

Once upon a time there were three billy goats, who were to go up to the hillside to make themselves fat, and the name of all three was “Gruff.”

On the way up was a bridge over a cascading stream they had to cross; and under the bridge lived a great ugly troll, with eyes as big as saucers, and a nose as long as a poker.

So first of all came the youngest Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge.

“Trip, trap, trip, trap! “ went the bridge.

“Who’s that tripping over my bridge?” roared the troll .

“Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff , and I’m going up to the hillside to make myself fat,” saidthe billy goat, with such a small voice.

“Now, I’m coming to gobble you up,” said the troll.

“Oh, no! pray don’t take me. I’m too little, that I am,” said the billy goat. “Wait a bit till the second BillyGoat Gruff comes. He’s much bigger.”

“Well, be off with you,” said the troll. A little while after came the second Billy Goat Gruff to cross thebridge. Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap, went the bridge.

“Who’s that tripping over my bridge?” roared the troll.

“Oh, it’s the second Billy Goat Gruff, and I’m going up to the hillside to make myself fat,” said thebilly goat, who hadn’t such a small voice.

“Now I’m coming to gobble you up,” said the troll.

“Oh, no! Don’t take me. Wait a little till the big Billy Goat Gruff comes. He’s much bigger.”

“Very well! Be off with you,” said the troll.

But just then up came the big Billy Goat Gruff .

Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap! went the bridge, for the billy goat was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him.

“Who’s that tramping over my bridge?” roared the troll.

“It’s I! The big Billy Goat Gruff,” said the billy goat, who had an ugly hoarse voice of his own.

“Now I ‘m coming to gobble you up,” roared the troll.

Well, come along! I’ve got two spears, And I’ll poke your eyeballs out at your ears; I’ve got besides two curling-stones, And I’ll crush you to bits, body and bones.

That was what the big billy goat said. And then he flew at the troll, and poked his eyes out with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body and bones, and tossed him out into the cascade, and after that he went up to the hillside. There the billy goats got so fat they were scarcely able to walk home again. And if the fat hasn’t fallen off them, why, they’re still fat; and so.

Participants should submit their work to wwa-ra@scbwi.org by March 29 so that Saho Fujii can return comments by April 22. You can then revise your sketch and receive additional feedback during the Sunday masterclass. Art should be a 10”x10” trim and black and white or color are both fine.

In addition to critiquing the submitted art, Saho will also discuss the process of creating a cover.

1:00 – 4:30 – Master Class C – Raúl Colón –  Colors Can Sing Too!

Raúl will lead participants through small exercises in layers of color as they learn how colors affect each other. We’ll discuss the reasons why. We may draw simple objects to make use of these effects in color. I’ll bring examples and rework them.

Suggested materials

Attendees should bring the following materials if they have them (or if budget allows them to purchase them in advance). Sharing materials will be encouraged.

Prismacolor pencils. These specific colors, if they can buy pencils individually:

•                     Violet Blue
•                     Dark Purple
•                     Dark Green

Windsor & Newton Watercolors:

•                     Aureolin Yellow
•                     Rose Madder Genuine
•                     Cobalt Blue

A watercolor palette / some sort of cup for water.

Arches or Fabriano HOT PRESS watercolor paper. ( A couple of sheets- we can divide into smaller pieces).

Small or medium watercolor brushes.

1:00 – 4:30 – Master Class D – Nisi Shawl – Representing the Other: Dialect and Narrative Voice

How do we clearly convey our characters’ culturally specific voices to readers through our words?  In this class we’ll practice techniques meant to let characters reveal themselves and their world to readers everywhere.  From word choice to aphorisms to rhythm, slang, dialect, and code-switching, we’ll cover the wisdom and work of representing nonstandard speech with the help of discussion, lecture, and immersive exercises.

1:00 – 4:30 – Master Class E – Allyn Johnston – The Power of Picture Books

Join us for a special afternoon of craft learning with Vice President and Publisher, Beach Lane Books, Allyn Johnston.

The best picture books go straight into the hearts of everyone who experiences their unique combination of words, pictures, a reading-aloud voice, and a time-out-of-time storytelling connection between the reader and the children who are listening.

What gives picture books that power? How can we aspire to it always? And why would we want to?

Allyn will delve deep into the mysteries of this incredible art form in a practical, invigorating, and inspiring workshop.

Roundtable Critiques

Each conference attendee may register for one roundtable critique only. Sessions are limited, so please register early!

Participants will have 10 minutes to get feedback from their chosen faculty member and, if time allows, other participants on the opening of their work.

Writers will bring 10 copies of their opening, 500 words maximum, to be read by the group.

Illustrators will bring 5 illustration samples or portfolio pages for review. (No full dummy books, please, though five sequential images or spreads is fine.) You may wish to bring several sheets with thumbnails of your images for viewing by other participants.

Sunday roundtable sessions are $60 for SCBWI International members/$80 for non-members.

8:30 – 10:00 – Round Table Session 1

1. Garrett Alwert – MG & YA contemporary
2. Britt Siess – MG & Graphic Novels
3. Adria Goetz – PB, MG & YA
4. Mandy Hubbard – Middle Grade and Young Adult novels, and select NF for the same audience.
5. Allyn Johnston – Picture Book text only, MG & YA
6. Kathleen Ortiz – PB / Ch Bk, YA, and NF (any age)

10:30 – 12:00 – Round Table Session 2

1. Garrett Alwert – MG & YA contemporary
2. Britt Siess – MG & Graphic Novels
3. Adria Goetz – PB, MG & YA
4. Mandy Hubbard – Middle Grade and Young Adult novels, and select NF for the same audience.
5. Allyn Johnston – Picture Book text only, MG & YA
6. Kathleen Ortiz – PB / Ch Bk, YA, and NF (any age)

1:00 – 2:30 – Round Table Session 3 

1. Asia Citro – PB, Chapter Book, Graphic Novel, MG
2. Kathleen Ortiz – PB / Ch Bk, YA, and NF (any age)
3. Saho Fujii – illustration portfolio
4. Tricia Lawrence – PB, Chapter Books, MG, & YA
5. Garrett Alwert – MG & YA contemporary

3:00 – 4:30 – Round Table Session 4 

1. Asia Citro – PB, Chapter Book, Graphic Novel, MG
2. Kathleen Ortiz – PB / Ch Bk, YA, and NF (any age)
3. Saho Fujii – illustration portfolio
4. Tricia Lawrence – PB, Chapter Books, MG, & YA
5. Garrett Alwert – MG & YA contemporary