How to be an Author: DIGGING FOR GOLD

Over the course of my teaching career, I attended a wide assortment of professional conferences. There was one conference that stood out among the many. It was the annual Wisconsin Education Association Council Teacher’s Convention. Teachers from all over the state converged on the convention center in Milwaukee. Not all came to improve their teaching skills. A few just wanted a chance to drink, dine and shop in the “big city.” Having grown up in Wisconsin’s version of a metropolis, that kind of experience took a back seat to hearing from colleagues on how to motivate and inspire young minds. One wise teacher told me she always found nuggets to bring back to use with her students. She said teachers needed to hone their observational skills in order not to miss some of the gems that might be hiding in small seminar rooms or in corners of the exhibit hall. A little research goes a long way, too. As another teacher noted, it helps to have the right tools when you’re digging for gold.

A few years back, I attended the LaJolla Writer’s Conference. It has been my only writer’s conference to date. The experience of listening to and speaking with successful authors gave me insights into not only the writing process, but how to maintain faith in my talents and my work in the face of constant rejection. I also had an opportunity to pitch the only novel I had completed at the time to a couple of agents and receive their feedback.

A week from tomorrow, the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) begins its Summer Spectacular, which is a virtual version of the semi-annual writing conference they hold each year. Usually, the summer meeting is held in Los Angeles and the winter meeting in New York. Given the amenities of a virtual conference depend upon your living, studying or working conditions, there’s almost a zero chance any attendees will want to sneak out to go to the bars, restaurants or stores.

In order to ensure I come away with a few nuggets, I’ve been examining the careers and writing of authors, Kwame Alexander, Laurie Halse Anderson, Judy Blume, Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone and Jacqueline Woodson, as well as agents, Regina Brooks, Linda Camacho, Brooks Sherman and Rosemary Stimola.

I look forward to sharing with you some of the lessons I learn from these talented professionals.