My August started off with a bang, as I attended the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Summer Virtual Conference. This weekend-long writer’s conference featured keynote addresses by stellar children’s authors and illustrators, panel sessions on the state of the children’s book publishing industry, and a slew of breakout workshops. Pre-pandemic, this annual conference was held in person in Los Angeles, but in recent years it’s been offered virtually. I love the convenience of the virtual version, and have attended several times.
One of the biggest advantages of the virtual conference is that all the workshops are recorded and are available for viewing up to a month after the conference. So while you can only attend a few workshops live, you can watch ALL the others at your leisure during the rest of the month. I made a list of the ones I still want to watch and look forward to catching them later.
Although I am a writer, I find myself drawn (no pun intended) to many of the illustrator sessions. I love that you can learn about other aspects of the craft, even those that are not in your current wheelhouse. One session that stood out to me was an excellent breakout on “Creating Memorable Characters” presented by picture book illustrator Shamar Knight-Justice. An elementary school principal, Shamar is clearly a gifted teacher. He gave an engaging and informative presentation on his craft. I greatly enjoyed learning about his projects and illustration process.
The drawbacks of a virtual conference are that networking is more difficult and there are fewer opportunities to make those coveted editor or agent contacts. The introvert in me didn’t mind the reduced social interaction. But the conference did offer dedicated Zoom hangouts and themed socials for those who crave more connection. Regarding editor/agent contacts, the large number of virtual attendees made open submission invitations impractical for the most part. If submissions are your goal, a smaller, in-person conference might be a better choice. Fortunately, many of the regional SCBWI chapters offer local gatherings and conferences.
All in all, I found it to be a valuable weekend. You can learn more about the SCBWI and their Summer Conference at their website at scbwi.org.