So, blogging everyday from the conference didn’t work out so well. Huh. Sorry about that. It was my first national SCBWI conference, and I had a blast. A busy, busy, blast. The week was a whirlwind of workshops, inspirational speeches, fun parties, meetings, friends, cocktails, and meeting lots of great people. I saw a few familiar faces that helped me out of my shell, and I met so many new friends. It was transformative. I didn’t get a lot of any writing done, but I’m making up for it now. I feel charged up. I have a couple of ways to tweak my revisions, and some clarity with the next project on the pipeline.
It was an eventful week back home in Seattle. I would call home and hear about run away dogs (A revolt?), a flooded kitchen, a soggy basement, a broken fence, dogs running away again (Definitely a revolt.), and a toddler with a taste for Sharpie. I tried to just roll with it and focus on the conference, but if you chatted with me and I was glassy eyed and/or incoherent- this is why. My apologies.
Anyhoo, here are a few of the highlights for me:
- Hearing great keynoters like Bruce Coville, Arthur Levine and Susan Patron
- Lisa Yee’s revision workshop
- Steven Malk’s career plan workshop
- The Golden Kite acceptance speeches- Yuyi Morales and Sara Pennypacker, in particular.
- Meeting people who I suspected were awesome, but now I know are awesome like Adam Rex, Jay Asher, Jody Feldman, and Alice Pope.
- Finding out that yet another SCBWI WWAer got nominated for the Sue Alexander Award! First Laurie, and then John Rocco went and nominated Lois Harris. Way to go, ladies!
- Hanging out with the Washington gang including Jolie Stekly, Jaime Temairik, Laurie Thompson, Martha Brockenbrough, Holly Cupala, and Kevan Atteberry. Did I mention we did a wee bit of celebrating because Holly got a TWO BOOK DEAL with HarperCollins the very morning she was rushing off to the conference? Yay, Holly!
There is A LOT of blog coverage of the conference. Paula Yoo, Alice Pope, and Suzanne Young have all conveyed the awesomeness- with pictures! Can’t wait to do it all again next year (Note to self: Pay whatever you have to NOT to fly on American next time, for the love of holy cannoli.)


3 comments
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August 7, 2008 at 11:28 pm
suz
Great meeting you! Hope to see you in Portland!
August 11, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Jody Feldman
It was great meeting you, too. Hope you came away as inspired as I did.
August 11, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Holly
Kim, it was so cool to hang out with you and get to know you better! WWA will blast off with you, Joni, and Laurie at the helm.