SCBWI LA 09 Conference

I just signed up for the next SCBWI LA 09 Writer's Conference. Sigh of relief....one more off my check list for writing To-Do's (it's a long list). Four days long with lots of workshops and lots of editors/agents to work out listening to and trying to get a feel for. I have been trying to work the schedule so that I can see almost everyone that will offer me a chance to submit my manuscripts. It's a tricky thing discovering who will accept and what they will accept and if it is someone who would be a good match. It's kind of like dating (that's what I'm told). After studying the schedule many times and working out a rough spread sheet, and swinging my pendulum at some names (really, I'm feeling unsure of some so why not?), I think I have a good strategy going.
So, back to writing on my YA novel and some more editing for my picture books.

REWRITE AND REWRITE AGAIN & AGAIN

I'm working on a major rewrite for one of my Emma Jean picture books. My first or I should say my at least fifth draft was at 2500 words. After working it and re-reading and re-thinking, and sleeping on it some more, I have it down to 1000 words. Whew! It's a task to keep the essence of the characters and the heart of the story in so few words. Writing a novel has its advantages. I love descriptive detail that I can create paragraph after paragraph. But, it's a great exercise in saying only what you mean and want.

Attending Writer's Conferences

Magic happens when I go to Writer's Conferences. I'm sure of it. Yesterday I went to the SCBWI (Society of Children's Writer's and Illustrators) Conference in NorCal at Davis. It was a bitty one, but still had all the essence with it. Linda Joy Singleton gave a great talk on networking on the Internet. She wrote the Dead Girl Series. I saw the book at the last Writer's Conference at the Asilomar in Feb. 09 and it reminded me to buy it this time. After a long drive home, I began reading the great beginning. And as they say, "Read, read, read, and write, write, write." It was perfect for me, cause I needed to work on my beginning for my middle grade novel I'm working on. I received some great advice from agent Nathan Bransford with Curtis Brown Ltd. about reworking my beginning. Ah, new beginnings are always interesting. After being surrounded by so many inspiring people and beginning again, I woke jazzed and inspired to write.