SCBWI VICTORIA EVENT 13 JUNE 2015

We had a wonderful VIC SCBWI event in Melbourne on Saturday 13 June, with three industry professionals sharing their experience and expertise: Publisher for young children at Penguin, Jane Godwin; author and illustrator Judith Rossell and author Corinne Fenton.

Our first speaker, Judith Rossell, used PowerPoint to show what led to her multiple award winning novel, Withering-by-Sea. After a brief introduction to her early work, she talked about her interest in ‘Victoriana’ and how many of the amazing inventions that appeared in 1885, formed the background to her novel. Think telephone, electric light bulb, typewriter, bicycle, chocolate bars, compulsory schooling, heritage buildings and hotels, to name just a few. Her advice, which echoed throughout the afternoon, is to write about whatever sparks your passion, and to trust the process, because you might not come up with all the answers immediately. Above all, she emphasised the importance of careful research and well developed characters.

Our next speaker, Corinne Fenton, is known for her prize winning picture story books. However, this time she was speaking as a judge for the Primary School Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards. Corinne talked vast numbers of entries; some six thousand poems turned up in 2014, a large percentage coming from NSW and Victoria. This year the numbers seem to have fallen, but that may still change. We agreed that being asked to judge these awards is only for the brave hearted and thanked her profusely.

Our final speaker, Jane Godwin, is a multiple award winner for her books and also a publisher of books for young readers at Penguin Books Australia. She outlined twenty nine things she has learnt in both roles, claiming each new book presents another challenge. To condense these a little:

·      Every new book ultimately reflects one’s taste.

·      The book is the result of a relationship between creators and publisher.

·      A schedule must be established between author and illustrator.

·      People have very different ways of reading.

·      She likes books to be inventive and take risks.

·      Publishers and creators can’t control everything, no matter how hard they try.

·      Both creators and publishers should enjoy the process.

·      Know your market: education, bookshops, discount stores etc.

·      She is never elated at the end of a project, always thinks it could be better.

·      The writer and the publisher wear different hats.

·      A book can be published in many different ways.

·      No matter what the future holds, there will always be a place for paper books.

·      Writing and illustrating is always hard. We are ‘compost heaps’ who use all our experiences in our work.

·      Constructive criticism can be helpful. Mistakes will still happen.

·      Writing what you don’t know encourages research and imagination.

·      Character is everything. Without convincing characters a book will fail.

·      It is important to find your own voice.

·      Don’t be obsessed by markets.

·      Don’t see children as all the same.

·      Keep an idea or character in your head even when you aren’t creating.

All this information was appreciated by both established and emerging creators.

www.goldiealexander.com

A SCBWI Success Story: How Jellybean Got to School

by Margaret Roc

Have you ever travelled interstate or overseas and thought about getting in touch with the local SCWBI group, but decided not to bother? I hope my story may encourage you to think again. There are surprising experiences and opportunities out there that you may be missing.

Encouragement
A few years ago I was visiting Britain and Europe travelling through London twice, each time for about a week, some weeks apart. As I had people to visit and things planned I decided not to complicate my life by arranging more activities.

However, amazing author and inspirational Regional Advisor, Susanne Gervay always encourages Aussie members travelling interstate or overseas to check out the SCBWI website calendar for possible meetings/events that may interest them. Not long before my departure I was talking to Susanne at our Sydney SCBWI meeting and she told me again to check it out. Boy, am I glad I did.

Contact
The whole procedure was extremely simple. The regional events calendar listed only one SCBWI event in London the first week I was there.  It was part of their Professional Series - Meet the Publisher with Verna Wilkins, Founder and MD of Tamarind Books (Random House, UK). I sent off a quick email to the SCBWI contact address and received a friendly and welcoming email back. I discovered Verna was speaking on a topic I feel very passionate about – ‘enjoyable and superbly illustrated stories which reflect the cultural diversity of the world in which our children are growing up’.

Networking
The evening meeting was held upstairs at the Theodore Bullfrog pub, a quaint, popular pub near the Thames, in central London. I was made to feel welcome and it was a pleasure to be introduced to many interesting authors and illustrators and I thoroughly enjoyed Verna’s presentation.  At the end of the meeting I was standing with Margaret Carey, my British SCBWI contact, and some other authors talking to Verna when Margaret mentioned I had recently written a picture book MS about the excitement and misgivings of a little girl starting school. Verna said she was interested in the topic and asked me to email her a copy of the MS from Europe as I was leaving the next morning for Spain. If she liked it she would arrange a meeting for the next time I visited London.

Contract
I sent the MS and Verna arranged the meeting. With Verna’s wonderful enthusiasm and her insightful input, some suggested changes were made and I signed the contract a couple of months later after I returned to Australia.

Publication
Unfortunately, not long after that Verna retired to pursue her own writing. Over the next couple of years or so various people in charge of the project came and went until I was beginning to think that the book may never be published. Then one day I received an email from Joe Marriott, Picture Book Editor, Random House UK and with his energy and vision and the wonderful vibrant illustrations reflecting ethnic diversity by UK illustrator, Laura Hughes, ‘Jellybean Goes to School’ was finally released in UK, Australia and NZ late 2013.

Margaret Roc is an author, co-author and editor of more than 50 books for children and teachers including many non-fiction titles, early readers and picture books. www.margaretroc.com
Laura Hughes is a talented London based illustrator http://laurahughes-illustrator.co.uk
Susanne Gervay is author of many books including the I am Jack series, and Regional Advisor, Australia East & New Zealand SCBWI www.sgervay.com
Verna Wilkins, author and founder of Tamarind Books, is a patron and consultant of Tamarind Books (Random House, UK, now Penguin Random House)
Margaret Carey, author/illustrator and my very pleasant and obliging SCBWI contact, helped organise the Professional Series for many years. Profseries@britishscbwi.org Sadly, she died in 2011.

Preparing for a Manuscript for submission

Top 5 tops tips for being published:

  1. Work hard and make sure that manuscript is ready before you submit. Write, rewrite and rewrite again
  2. Write what you know and love. Write because you have to, because you can’t get those characters out of your head, because you’re a wee bit lost when you don’t write.
  3. Research the market eg visit local bookstore or search online.
  4. Research the right publisher
  5. Be optimistic but realistic and don't give up!

Another great way to develop your work is to join a manuscript critique group, like the online groups we’ve set up at SCBWI. Find out more HERE. 

So now, you’ve honed and polished your brilliant idea and now you are ready to submit it to a publisher.

But how do you begin?

Firstly, research which publisher is right for you. Not every book is right for every house or every publisher in that house. Go into bookstores and research on line who is publishing what books. Eg there’s no point handing in a joke book to a publisher whose list is largely literary fiction. 

After you have chosen the right publisher, follow their guidelines precisely. Take note of the word count, font requirements, whether they want the entire manuscript or simply a synopsis and sample chapter. The best way to annoy a publisher is not to follow their directions and we don’t want that.

The advantage of online pitching is that getting a response is generally much quicker than the slush pile process from the past.

Don’t be impatient. We know of authors who were picked up at SCBWI conference and then turned down because they harassed the publisher so much after the conference that the publisher decided they’d be too difficult to work with, so didn’t go ahead with the contract. Publishers are very busy people who want to read everything that comes to them, but there is also so much to do in any regular day. So be patient, polite and considerate in how you correspond with them.

A ‘no’ is not the End of the World. If you do get a no, don’t take it personally – publishers are people too and would love to publish your work, but it may not be the right time, they may have published something similar or their list may be full. There are other publishers who may love your work.

Be Open to any Criticism that is Offered. Most often you wont receive notes but if you do, cherish them. They may not suit, but always make note of them, whether you decide to act on them or not.

 

A Few Picture Book Issues

If you are submitting a PB MS, avoid adding directions, we have heard from many publishers who ask their assistants to delete directions before handing it to them.

Publishers also prefer finding the illustrator for new texts. If you are an author/illustrator, you can submit your own work, but perhaps read the portfolio advice from SCBWI Australia East and NZ before you do so. 

It’s not necessary or recommended for authors to commission illustrations to submit a picture book idea. In fact, publishers often prefer text only. 

 

A Word on Agents

Should you approach a publisher directly or find an agent?

In the US the trend is leaning very heavily towards getting an agent. Most top US publishers wont even look at unsolicited manuscripts and trust the agents to know what they should and shouldn’t pitch, saving everyone lots of times and anxiety. Australia is different and many publishers have online pitch processes that anyone can submit to (see above).

Check HERE and HERE for a few websites you can peruse to hear other advice on knowing when your manuscript is ready to submit.

 

Face to Face Manuscript Critiques

SCBWI offer opportunities to have Face to Face critiques from time to time and at the bi-annual SCBWI conference.

Firstly, if you do have the chance to have a critique, be calm, respectful and ready to listen.

Decide why you want a critique. If it is to be published, you may need to readjust your expectations. If it is to have an honest critique of your work and what is and isn’t working, be as open to praise as to criticism. As hard as that can be.

The value of a critique is to have fresh eyes from an industry professional peruse your work. Avoid taking a piece of work to be critiqued if it just isn’t ready. It is better to take more time on a piece and than give an industry professional an almost ready idea.  

Here are a few things to think about from the 2014 LA SCBWI conference:

  • Remember to keep an open mind. Leave emotions at the door. Take notes. Ask for clarification.
  • Rehearse your pitch out loud. Think one-minute summary.
  • Be prepared to take notes and bring a highlighter.
  • Leave your manuscript at home. Editors and agents are traveling and don’t have the space to lug around pages. If an agent or editor asks to see your work, they’ll let you know how to submit.
  • Come prepared with questions for Q&A sessions, about featured books, about process and craft, about submission possibilities.
  • Be your genuine self. Remember that agents, editors, and award-winning authors are people, too. They appreciate a friendly chat.
  • Familiarise yourself with books agented by or edited by your critiquer. You'll gain insight into their tastes and be ready with conversation starters if the opportunity presents itself. Go to their website, google them or ask other SCBWI members.
  • Enjoy yourself.

Here are a few things to avoid doing:

  • Don't stalk the editor or agent. Let them go to the restroom in peace.

  • Don't wear or bring gimmicks in the hopes of getting noticed.
  • If you are asked what your book is about, don't whip out your manuscript. Revert to your rehearsed elevator pitch. Think one or two minutes, tops.
  • Don't call yourself the next J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, Rick Riordan, etc. Be original.
  • Don’t disrupt a critique in progress. And don’t exceed your own time limit.
  • Don’t record a speaker’s session without first asking.

By Deborah Abela