News: Regional Advisor's Report

Dear Minnesota SCBWI members:

We’re getting close to finalizing the lineup for our annual conference on September 12, 2009. Once again, our speakers will include a great mix of editors, agents, authors and illustrators. Whether you’re hoping to get some ideas on improving your craft, make some industry contacts, or just socialize with like-minded people, this is the conference for you.

Many people look forward to having a manuscript review when they come to the conference. There’s always been fierce competition for these spots – in past years we’ve offered them through a random drawing or on a first come, first serve basis. Either way, a few people are inevitably turned away. This year, we’ll attempt to give everyone a review. But to manage this, we’ll be doing things a bit differently.

You MAY get a manuscript review with one of the editors or agents that is speaking at the conference. Or, you may get a review with an editor from one of the publishing houses in the Metro area, or with one of our chapter members who has published several books and/or teaches writing classes. We’re also looking into written reviews to accommodate overflow since our conference space and scheduling time are both limited. If you do receive a written review, we’ll refund the ten dollars that offsets the rental of the review room. The remaining portion goes to the reviewer for the time they’ve taken with your manuscript.

PLEASE NOTE: In the past, we’ve received a small number of manuscripts that don’t look very professional. If we receive so many manuscripts that we can’t accommodate everybody’s request, PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO MANUSCRIPTS THAT ARE PROPERLY FORMATTED. If you’re not sure what a properly formatted manuscript is supposed to look like, check out SCBWI’s suggestions at www.scbwi.org/Resources/Documents/04_FromKeyboardtoPrinted09.pdf. Also, MANUSCRIPTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE. Our reviewers have busy lives too, and it takes time to go through someone else’s manuscript.

Illustrators, make sure that you request a portfolio review if you’d like one. We have three outstanding speakers on our illustrator’s track who are ready to meet with you.

I’ll close with a personal announcement, and a plea for help. I will be resigning as Regional Advisor this summer because my family is moving out of state this August. Quinette Cook, Assistant Regional Advisor, has graciously offered to take over following my resignation. I have every confidence that the September conference will run smoothly in her very capable hands. But because our chapter is very large (over 400 members), we really need someone in the Assistant Regional Advisor position as well. Please consider your ability to serve as ARA. I won’t deny that it’s a time commitment, but the experiences I’ve had while serving as RA have been extremely rewarding. I’m sure that’s true of everyone before me as well.

I wish all of you the best of luck in your writing and illustrating endeavors. I’ll continue watching for publication news from Minnesota, and celebrate each time I see one of your names in an announcement.

All my best,

Christine Henderson