A couple of weeks ago, I attended Oktoberfest 2025—a local writing conference presented by the San Franciso North & East Bay chapter of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). Every other year, on the third Saturday of October, my regional SCBWI branch organizes this one-day in-person event. The conference features an inspirational keynote speaker, followed by a choice of breakout craft sessions and connection opportunities. The conference also offers a menu of optional extras, such as a manuscript critique, a meeting with an agent or editor, or a headshot photo shoot.
This year, my goal was to refresh my craft and find some inspiration, so I focused on the breakout sessions. I’m currently working on drafting the final chapters of my next novel, and hope to be revising early in the new year. Thus, I was particularly interested in Jennifer March Soloway’s session on “Beginnings and Endings” and the industry panel session on “First Ten Pages.” Those first pages have a heavy lift. They need to hook the reader, present the promise of the story, set the tone, and establish voice all in a few short pages.
Likewise, the ending needs to complete the arc of the story. Has the protagonist changed or grown? Have we delivered on the promise made in the beginning? And did we do it with a surprising twist? Oh boy! It’s little wonder that we writers spent so much time writing…and rewriting…those opening and closing pages.
I also really enjoyed Nadia Salomon’s session on “Using Mentor Texts to Tell a Better Story”. She discussed how other books and resources, aka “mentor texts”, informed and shaped her own writing. These stories helped her to identify theme, story structure, emotion, and even marketing for her own work. Although she is a picture book author and I’m a YA novelist, her talk had something for me too. I came away with a couple tips for finding my own mentor texts.
Reflecting on what I learned, I’m inspired to get back to my draft with renewed energy. And I have a couple more tools in my back pocket to help me navigate this writing journey.
Finally, do you have a favorite first line of a book? What was it about that opening that pulled you into the story? Did the ending deliver in a way that satisfied and surprised you?