Austin SCBWI

* Friday Night Party with the Faculty at the home of Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith. Their charming house is an Austin Landmark and on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Many of you know Cynthia from her famous blog, Cynsations, and as a writing instructor in the MFA program (writing for children and young adults) at Vermont College. Directions will be sent with confirmation. A limited number of tickets for this special event are available for $20 each/members, and $25 each/nonmembers.

* Saturday Evening Party with the Faculty Join us for a Texas style barbecue with all the trimmings. Directions will be sent with confirmation. A very limited number of tickets for this special event are available for $25 each/ members, and $30 each/nonmembers.

* Sell Your Books in the Conference Bookstore and sign them for your fans during the autograph party at the end of the day. Participation in the autograph party is required. SCBWI PAL membership is also required. Contact Carmen Oliver at carmeno29@earthlink.net to participate. Cost: FREE

* Portfolio Display, Contest and Break-out Session With David Diaz Illustrators are welcome to bring a portfolio to display. Portfolios being displayed will automatically be entered into the Portfolio Contest with prizes being awarded at the end of the day. Illustrators will also enjoy some quality time with David Diaz in a breakout session.

* Success Panel We’ll repeat last year’s popular success panel where you’ll hear successfully published authors and an illustrator talk about their new releases and what worked for them on the journey to publication.

* Second annual Volunteer of the Year Award Austin SCBWI wouldn’t exist without a team of very dedicated volunteers. This year we plan to recognize another one of these hard workers as our volunteer of the year and we invite you to nominate your favorite volunteer. Please send the name and a brief description of why they are deserving to timcrowscbwira@msn.com The only volunteers who are not eligible for this award are the current regional advisor and last year’s winner, ARA Lyn Sieppel. (Congratulations, Lyn!)

* Invitation to submit work after the conference As a registered conference participant you will receive an invitation to submit work to the editors and agents within a certain amount of time after the conference. You’ll also receive a special set of submission guidelines that will identify you as a participant of the Awesome Austin Conference.

* A Silent Auction featuring framed mirrors that have been painted and decorated by our talented artists. If you would like to decorate one of these mirrors for the silent auction, please contact Christy Stallop at christy@christystallop.com

* And featuring our very popular Critique Clinique Whether you have a manuscript in the early draft stage, already in revisions, or ready for advanced feedback, we have the perfect critiques for you. If you’re an illustrator, check out the wonderful portfolio review opportunities.

The Critique Clinique

Please note that critiques are available to registered participants on a first come first served basis. ?Critique fees are nonrefundable.

Because the competition is SO TOUGH, and you have to have a POLISHED manuscript that stands out from the rest in order to catch an agent or editor’s attention, and because critiques are SO IMPORTANT in accomplishing your publishing goals . . . we are once again offering the very popular Critique Clinique on January 30th.

For each critique you may submit one piece, up to 10 pages, in standard manuscript format. Guidelines for properly formatting a manuscript may be found at www.scbwi.org and at agent Nathan Bransford’s blog (http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com). A synopsis may be included as one of the ten pages. Participants will be required to submit a duplicate copy of their manuscripts as a precaution against any risk of loss in the postal system (yes – it really did happen recently). Your submission should therefore include two complete sets of critique materials separated by paper clips and mailed in the same envelope. If the second set of materials is not needed, they may be picked up at the registration desk on the day of the conference and you can use them to review before your consultation.

Register early to secure your slots, and then you’ll have until December 28th to work on your manuscripts and get them in the mail. Instructions for sending manuscripts will be included with your confirmation.

The Choices:

I. Critiques by Featured Authors – No Limit
Special Pricing for Members Getting Multiple Author Critiques
Nonmembers $35 each SCBWI Members: 1st author critique=$35; 2nd=$30; 3rd=$30; 4th=$25

If this is the first professional critique for a particular manuscript, then consider registering for a critique from one of our featured authors. They can give you pointers for making your manuscript publishable and save you the time and postage from sending in a manuscript before it’s ready to catch an editor or agent’s attention. And remember, as a conference attendee you’ll be able to submit to the editors and agents after the conference when you’ve had time to polish your story. If you finish a draft for a new story after you send in your registration and would like some feedback, you can always register for additional author critiques until they are sold out.

II. Critiques by Editors and Agents – Limit 1
$35 for members $50 for nonmembers

If a particular manuscript has already been professionally critiqued by a successfully published author, and revisions are complete, then consider registering for a critique by one of the editors or agents. They’ll critique your work ahead of time and then briefly meet with you on the day of the conference.

III. Advanced Critiques by (Editor TBA) – Limit 1
SCBWI Members Only – $40 each

Very limited space – First Come First Served??An editor (to be announced soon) will meet with a few lucky writers in two breakout sessions, one for picture books and one for chapter books/novels, to go over your work in the format of an intense, high level critique session. Six participants in each group will learn from the editor’s comments on each manuscript and from questions asked by the group. This break-out critique session is intended for experienced writers who have been to conferences and workshops and have had their work critiqued before.

IV. Portfolio Reviews by Caldecott Winner David Diaz or Featured Illustrator Patrice Barton
Members $35 Nonmembers $45

Advice from the experts!

Download the Destination Publication! information packet