A success! We just had our annual SCBWI-SWTX (San Antonio Chapter) conference in our lovely city of San Antonio. Attendance was good and everyone seemed to have gotten something out of the conference and critiques by editors and agents from New York and California. Some comments from the editors on picture books:
§ A book has to mean something to a child.
§ Voice – Story has to be told in a way that feels new and original. Unique voice.
§ Use clever, evocative language.
§ Narrative arc – what’s going to happen next?
§ Not all books have narrative arc, i.e., concept books.
§ Pacing – what keeps the reader turning the pages.
§ Are characters memorable and relatable?
§ Word count should be around 250 – 1000 words.
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| Captive audience |
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| Conference Luncheon |
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| River Walk |
If you’re a writer or illustrator and wish to join the local San Antonio SCBWI chapter, contact our Regional Advisor for details.
Next time: First scenes in middle grade and young adult fiction.
“Membership in a national professional writing group or organization can help you establish a professional image as it increases your visibility.” — Writing Tip from Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner