Reporting on the SCBWI Sydney Conference 2019

From little things

Big things grow

Of the wheelbarrow-load of roles creators within the children’s literary industry assume, perhaps one of the most important and fulfilling ones is to sow a sense of wonder and joy that generates a vigorous love of story. The benefits of this cultivation of creativity are many, not least of which is a love of reading that perpetuates for life.

As  we enter a new exciting season of children’s writing and illustration, it’s also time to whip on our creative gloves and make ready for the next SCBWI Australia East NZ Conference due to kick off in Sydney next February.

It’s my extreme joy to be asked back as ‘chief gardener’ for our SCBWI Roving Reporters team again. In this role, I’ll endeavour to introduce you to our 100% organically grown reporters from across Australia, inserting as many garden-based puns as my green-thumbs can along the way. Why? Because like SCBWI, nurturing new talent, sustaining perennial favourites and ensuring the growth of our fabulous industry is not only vital but a beautiful pastime to boot – garden boot of course!

The key to success of any new planting (and creative project) is preparation. Over the next few months, we’ll be aerating our collective garden beds, gathering our seeds of talent and watering in our intentions with Meet our Gardeners introductory type posts.

Our burgeoning team of landscapers currently stands at 12, more than enough to capture your imaginations and inspire. They include:

Ramona Davey

Coral Vass

Yvonne Mes

Giuseppe Poli

Leanne Barrett

Shaye Wardrop

Katrin Dreiling

Karen Collum

Maria Parenti-Baldey

Sarah Wallace

Rachel Noble

Cherri Ryan

So whether you have already booked your flights to Sydney or are not able to make it to the conference this time round, join us as we report on everything from the canapes to the masterclasses for the SCBWI Sydney Conference 2019.

Rove ya later!

Dimity

#SCBWISyd

Image courtesy of Tania McCartney - Illustrator Showcase designer 2019

The Countdown is on - Sydney Conference 2016

‘If it’s not on my calendar, it simply won’t get done!’ I enjoy a love hate relationship with all my calendars (yes I have more than one). I love the sense of control carefully recorded events, chores, and deadlines give me as I observe them securely enclosed in their little individual squares. There’s no room for sloppy what ifs in a well-planned month of mine.

On the other hand, I hate being bound by duty and dates and would love to cast wide the shackles of time constraints in preference for a life less restricted and wildly unscheduled. However, for most of us, our first world existence doesn’t leave much room for such a devil-may-care approach and when there is only 32 weeks left until one of the next big things on the writing calendar, you're going to want to whip out your diary and clear some space for it.

Yes, it’s on again, the SCBWI Sydney Conference! These are the dates, Sunday 4 - Monday 5th September (NOTE: CHANGE OF DATES!!) and this is the low down…well I’ll have more low down for you soon for you see, I have the dubious honour of being this year’s official SCBWI Conference Blogger, (that's me in the blue blouse looking bonkers below).

Along with a trusty team of intra-national Roving Reporters, all the behind the scenes scoops, the tantalising anticipation and the bits that you’ve never really thought about before will be delivered to you, right here! Amongst some of the highlights, we'll be looking at lead up events like Writers in the Park, what's on offer for delegates and just who and what is behind the ticking heart of such an involved conference - namely the volunteers who help put together The Illustrator Showcase, portfolio pitches, book launches and more.

If you are a past conference delegate thinking of coming again, welcome back! We can’t wait to see you. If the 2016 Conference is your first, hold onto your pencils, you’re in for an unbelievably stimulating time.

Here are a couple of reminders of just how stimulated we were in 2014.

The 2014 Roving Reporter Team lead by Sheryl Gwyther

The 2014 Conference Delegates

Keep your eyes peeled for future updates and program highlights on the SCBWI blog site If there is something you’d like this reporter to feature about the Conference, don’t forget to leave a comment or two! We’d love to hear from you because it’s your conference!

Until I leap into the next calendar square, Rove ya later!

Dimity