down the writer's path

New resolutions, new opportunities, new writer events

Well, it's a new year and I'm sure we all have brand spanking new resolutions. Perhaps one of them is to wade a little deeper into the realm of writing. If writing for children interests you, then the SCBWI-Houston chapter has a couple of events that range from a solid getting-back-to-basics Academy 101 to a special Editor's Day with five New York editors and a rare opportunity to submit your material t these closed houses to an actual cruise that you might want to try. The Houston group is a great writing group and they put a lot of time, energy and talent into their events. Yours truly will be at Academy 101. Sign up early. I won't be at Editor's Day but I've signed up so that I can submit some manuscripts. :)

ACADEMY 101

	SCBWI-Houston's ACADEMY 101
Location:	North Harris College
When:	Saturday, February 5, 8:30am
Phone:	713 840 7625
It's time to fulfill your NEW YEAR's RESOLUTION--do something for yourself--Sign up for ACADEMY 101: Part 2 SATURDAY FEB. 5, 2005! This all day event, designed to compliment Academy 101 features more of Everything you ever needed or wanted to know about writing and illustrating for children. Presentations by published authors will focus on writing, cover letters, plotting, picture books, magazines, non-fiction, fiction and more. Afternoon sessions for illustrators will focus on creating art for children's literature. Portfolio and manuscript critique sessions will give you an opportunity to have your work reviewed by seasoned professionals. SCBWI-Houston's website: www.scbwi-houston.org is a registration form. ___________________________________________ Editor's Day February 26, 2005 North Harris College   •   2700 W. W. Thorne Drive   •   Houston, TX 77073 Map – 2700 WW Thorne Blvd, Houston, TX 77073 Here's a rare opportunity to meet editors and submit to closed houses. Amy Hsu-Editor, Books for Young Readers, Little Brown--Picture Books Susan Van Metre, Sr. Editor, Abrams Books for Young Readers-Mid Grade & Teen Lit Doug Sanders, Editor, Marshall Cavendish Benchmark--Nonfiction Kay Olson, Editorial Director, Capstone Press--Educational nonfiction and fiction J. Elizabeth Mills, Associate Editor, Scholastic, Cartwheel--Very young fiction and novelties The speakers will explain the focus of their houses and will each accept one appropriate manuscript or proposal from those registered for the event. Submissions in unsealed 9x12 SASE will be gathered the day of the event and shipped to the editor. Manuscripts are limited to 10 pages regular format, unless specifications of an editor indicate otherwise. Art samples can include 10 letter-size copies. Nonfiction may be in the form of proposals. Catalogs and complete instructions will be provided at the January meeting for those who register. Seating is limited and has sold out each time for Editor Day. Cost includes a box lunch. Optional dinner Saturday night will be at attendee’s expense. Click here for the registration form. ___________________________

SCBWI Texas chapters present  Writin’, Drawin’, and Cruisin’ TEXAS Style
An All You Can Eat Workshop For Anyone Who Can Swim!

From:	SCBWI-Houston
:	Where The Sharks Live From Galveston and, hopefully, back,Galveston,TX
When:	Thursday – Monday, April 14 –18, 2005 Deposit deadline is Friday, January 21, 12:00pm
Phone:	1-800-bring a Life Raft
Carnival Cruise Line sailing out of Galveston on the ship Ecstasy (refurbished October 2004)! Texas style defined = You can eat your weight in lobster and they'll still give you dessert. The 4 day cruise cost begins at only $495 per person The conference fee: $120 per person for SCBWI members $170 per person for non-members Prices are per person double occupancy/inside cabin, all port fees & taxes included. Upgrades available. For Writers: 2+ days of writing workshops, small group critique sessions, manuscript reviews, and the opportunity to submit a manuscript to an acquiring Agent and Editor. For Illustrators: 2+ days of craft workshops, a portfolio display, portfolio review, breakout sessions for illustrators, and the opportunity to submit your work to an Art Director and Editor. To register go to http://www.priscillaburris.com SUBMISSIONS Writers: Submit either one picture book, one article, or one chapter from a longer work, in double spaced format. Include a cover letter with a short summary of your manuscript. Illustrators: Submit no more than 5 copies (8”x10” maximum size) of artwork (do not send originals). Include a cover letter with a short summary of your work. Submission deadline: February 15, 2005. SPEAKERS Jane O’Connor, Vice President/Editor at Large, Penguin Children’s Books Priscilla Burris, Illustrator & Author, SCBWI Board Member Sharene Martin, Agent - Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency Robert Brown, Agent – Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency Debra Sfetsios, Art Director, Simon & SchusterFaculty

SCBWI-Houston provides another great workshop on writing for children

The local Houston chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is having another great mini-con at the end of the month. If you're interested in writing for children, you might want to check this one out. The published writers, all part of SCBWI-Houston's Speaker Bureau, include Kathi Appelt, Varsha Bajaj, Kelly Bennett, Carmen Bredeson, Julia Castilla, Kathy Combs, Kathy Duval, Marianne Dyson, Laura Edge, Dotti Enderle, Steve Gall, Sherry Garland, JoAn Martin, Kimberly Morris, Carol Shough, and Mary Wright.

SCBWI is an excellent professional, international organization and provides a lot of resources and contacts for aspiring and published writers. Anyone interested in writing for children should consider joining the national organization. National dues include membership in the local chapters. Houston has a strong and vibrant chapter. The workshop at the end of the month is only one of their many events throughout the year. While it may be too late to submit a manuscript for critique, it's not too late to attend.

Academy 101 Part 2
Saturday, August 28, 2004
More of EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about publishing for children but didn't know WHO to ask, HOW to ask, or WHAT to ask!
(It is not necessary to have attended Academy 101: Part I)
Maybe you want to know the answers to these questions? How do I submit a children's manuscript? or What is a query letter? If you've written a book, you might ask: Do I need an agent? How do I know when my work is ready for publication? Or How do I know which publishers to approach?

Answers to all these questions and MORE in a daylong series of presentations by published professionals from our Houston SCBWI region. It's a day that will change your life!

Who:
Picture book, Middle Grade, Young Adult authors. Fiction and Non-Fiction. A faculty that represents an entire arena of children’s writing professionals – available to TALK TO YOU, and answer your questions.

What:
A series of seminars, break-out sessions, Q and A,
one-on-one discussions and critiques . . . about picture books, children's magazines, nonfiction, middle-grade and young adult fiction. Continental breakfast, lunch, door prizes, book sales and signings.
Critiques: Individual critiques of your work are available. To schedule a critique with one of our professionals, send one chapter of a novel, one article, or one picture book manuscript with your registration form.

Manuscripts must be received by August 15.

When:
Sat., August 28, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Where:
North Harris College
2700 WW Thorne Blvd, Houston, TX 77073

Cost:
$45 SCBWI members
$50 Non-SCBWI members
$25 for individual critiques

For more information contact Kelly Bennett, at 832-978-4620 or kelly@kellybennett.com

Houston Writer's League puts on Writer's Retreat in March

Well, I'm going to succumb to a little BSP here. The Houston Writers League is presenting a Writer's Retreat at the end of March from Friday, March 26 -- Sunday, March 28, 2004. Here's an opportunity to "escape from the distraction of phones and television, emails and family" and "get your writing juices flowing."

Spring 2004 Class Schedule: Writing Series

These are the spring classes I'll be teaching. Two are in January, two in March. Please feel free to forward this information to anyone you think might be interested. If anyone has questions, they can contact me at vikksimmons@aol.com. Thanks

Contact Tomball College Continuing Education at 281.357.3676
Course: Writing Popular Fiction: The Basics
Tuesdays Mar 16 - May 04 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm Willow Chase Campus
Think you can write a best seller that equals John Grisham's best efforts? Perhaps you have a tale of romance or intrigue that haunts and taunts you? If so, jump start your creativity with a class on the basics of writing popular fiction and find out how to get the story out of your mind and onto paper. We'll discuss basic story elements such as character, conflict, plot development and more. In-class writing exercises, story development -- and trouble shooting -- and the basic elements of fiction will help you generate raw material and complete a finished short story or section of a novel in progress. Class time is devoted to discussion and in-class writing exercises. Be prepared to write. 2.4 CEUs
__
Course: Tell Your Story Wednesdays Mar 17 - May 05 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm Willow Chase Campus
Do you have a lifetime of stories or ideas to tell? This class is designed to help you find your way through the vast field of memoir or life writing. Discover how to make memories into memoirs, ideas into essays and life into literature. You'll learn techniques to help you access memory, material, ideas, the unconscious and, yes, meaning. In-class exercises and assignments will trigger ideas, help you see your life more clearly and show you why real life stories are often the best. 2.4 CEUs

JANUARY CLASSES begin Jan 13 and Jan 14 and are the following: