Wednesday, March 28, 2007

BEA/WDB Writer's Conference...

Hello! I've been away from my blog for a bit of a stretch, spending my days enraptured in the big fun of e-mailing, faxing and updating my database. (I do it all for you, gentle readers.) Thought I 'd take some time out to tell you about the BookExpo America/Writer's Digest Books Writers Conference.

This event takes place the Wednesday before BookExpo America (May 30) and will be held at the Javitz Center in NYC. Our fifth annual event will be great fun and the event hall will be bursting with editors, authors (including K.L Going), and agents (such as Emily Sylvan Kim, Regina Brooks, Jennie Dunham, and Jennifer Weltz). The agents will take part in the afternoon Pitch Slam, during which writers have three minutes to talk to agents about their manuscripts. (Hint: there are generally not a ton of children's writers in attendances. In the past, everyone with projects for young readers has gotten a chance to talk to every single appropriate agent or editor.)

We'll also offer a host of great sessions (like an Ask the Editors panel featuring yours truly). There are so many good ones that I already can't decide which sessions to check out. Visit the conference website for more info and to register. If you decide to attend, find me and say hi.

P.S. I'll be blogging from the conference and throughout the BookExpo event--and I'll be posting lost of pictures.

3 comments:

Gina Perry said...

This sounds like this is a great opportunity for children's book writers. An artist's agent recommended this show to me but I wasn't sure if I should attend or not. In your opinion, would an llustrator have similar opportunities, potentially meeting with art directors?

SCBWI said...

There won't be any art directors in attendance, only agents and a few editors. This event is really focused on writing. You would be better off at an SCBWI event. There's a juried exhibition at the L.A. SCBWI Conference in August, for example. Or find a regional event with an art director or two in attendance. I'll post some links tomorrow. And if anyone has any suggestions please share.

Gina Perry said...

Thank you for clearing this up for me Alice. I'm an SCBWI member looking for ALL possible opportunities to meet publishers and ADs in person. I do attend all regional events and hope to attend the NY conference next year. LA might be too far for me this year. Thanks again.