If you’d like to keep up with the goings-on at the SCBWI-Midsouth Conference, you can follow the live conference blog here.

Final conference tip:

Bring lots of money to purchase some great books at the booksignings!

Time to interrupt the conference tips series with a disclaimer.

Lest I sound all high ‘n mighty, I must confess that I am guilty of some of the aforementioned heinous conference behaviors.

Ugh.

Anyhoo, I’m going to share a few of my past oopsies with you, along with this bit of wisdom: Learn from your mistakes. That’s what I’ve done. I’ve goofed up critiques or conversations because I didn’t know what was against protocol — hence the reason I am posting conference tips, dear reader. Now that I have a few more writing years under my belt, I’ve arrived at the place where I understand that each conference, each critique, each chat teaches me something. When I act in an unprofessional manner, I lose that learning experience. Conferences and retreats are expensive and don’t occur every day. I can’t afford to lose any opportunities.

I am happy to say that I’ve never cornered an agent or editor in a bathroom, janitorial closet, elevator, restaurant, hallway, or gift shop. I am also proud that I’ve never monopolized a conversation or used a cell phone during a workshop.

I have, however, been guilty of:

• Crying during a critique. I know the critiquer didn’t mind — she hugged me at the end! She’s probably the warmest, fuzziest person you’ll ever meet in the business. By the time she was finished with me, she had me convinced I could fly. However, there are lots of agents and editors who are immediately turned off when the waterworks turn on. They say it’s a business and we should behave that way. They are correct.
• Contacting the agent assigned to critique my work prior to the conference. Ack. Looking back on it now, it was SUCH a stupid thing to do! I will never, ever do that again.
• Not listening during a critique, because my mind was racing! I was thinking about what I should say next, how I should respond, rather than soaking up the advice. Dumb, dumb, dumb! D’oh!

So just remember, as you read my final pre-conference thoughts this week, that I have been there and done that.

Now I know better, and so do you.  

Swallow your pride.

Cliche, I know. Yet if you want to gain anything from a writer’s conference, especially if you participate in a critique, you have to learn to set aside your feelings.

It’s tough sometimes to listen to others review, and dissect, your writing. Even when you know your work needs critique and you understand the value of having your work reviewed by other pairs of eyes besides your own, it’s still embarrassing when someone tells you something you’ve struggled to get on paper doesn’t work.

Example — I wrote a lengthy feature at work the other day. Actually, it was night. I’d had a long day at work, couldn’t get to the feature assignment until the evening, and was pressed for time to get it done. Thanks to divine intervention and a large diet Coke, I was able to focus. I finished the story in time to go home and catch the 10:00 news. I printed copies of my story and left them on my co-workers’ desks. Then I sent e-mails asking them to give the story a read-through and to let me know what changes were needed.

The following day, I asked for their suggestions. One was to cut what they described as an “awkward phrase.” Another error was worse – I’d left an important fact out of the story. It was one that I was not aware of (actually, I should have remembered it but didn’t). Fortunately, it was something my co-workers recalled. If I’d left it out of the story, it would have been like leaving the bacon out of a BLT.

I’ll be the first to admit, I was embarrassed about the awkward phrase, and more distressed that I’d omitted the Very Important Fact. I know my face turned red as a beet and my voice quivered with every other question after that.

However, I was so glad my co-workers read my story and found those errors. Better to be embarrassed before, than after, publication! My co-workers are amazingly gifted writers. They have strengths in areas I don’t. I trust them to tell me straight up when they see a problem, and thank goodness they do.  I re-worded the awkward phrase and added the necessary fact to the story.

Of course there’s a difference between news writing and writing for children. Yet the value of critique is just as important for a picture book manuscript as for a spot news story. Whether your manuscript is being critiqued by an experienced agent or editor, or another writer has taken a red pen to your novel, listen to their comments and consider them. If you hear the same criticisms, it’s likely that part of your work needs revision. If you’re hearing the same compliments, consider yourself fortunate.

Critiques will help you become a better writer. I promise.

Attending SCBWI conferences helps you learn how to interact with editors and agents. You gain an understanding of what they’re looking for, how to submit to them, etc., etc., etc.

The first time I had a critique with an agent at an SCBWI conference, I was scared to death. I did and said all the wrong things. That was several years ago, and I have learned from that experience.

Agents and editors, as we like to say here in the south, put their pants on one leg at a time,  just like we do. When you go to a conference, don’t be afraid of them. Be friendly. Thank them for coming to your conference. If they’re critiquing your work, thank them for their comments, even if you feel like crying by the time they’re finished. (And do try not to cry. There are agents out there that do not like tears during critiques. This is a business, after all, and we must learn to behave in a professional manner.)

HOWEVER …

Don’t behave like a used car salesman and hound them until they agree to take your manuscript for a test drive.

Don’t corner them at the end of a workshop, in the hall, in an elevator, on the front steps of the hotel, in the dining room …

And if you’ve paid for a critique, don’t expect them to read your work and immediately offer representation.

Read the Upstart Crow blog for an agent’s perspective on conference groupies. Don’t behave like the zombies in the photo. Zombies are scary. Don’t be scary.

I’ve volunteered at several conferences. Once, I had to literally PULL an agent away from a gang of desperate writers.

It’s not a pretty sight. And believe me, it doesn’t leave a good impression on the agent.

Eleven days until the SCBWI-Midsouth Annual Conference. Woo! If you’re a writer or illustrator and you’ve never attended an SCBWI conference, go to the SCBWI web site and search for a conference near you. It’s time and money well invested in your career.

Perhaps you’re asking yourself, “Why should I go to a conference? How would I benefit?” In today’s post, and in those leading up to the conference, I’ll share some reasons why SCBWI conferences are so awesome, and I’ll even include some tips on how to get the most from your conference experience.

Conference Perk #1: The energy generated at an SCBWI conference is contagious, long-lasting and will keep your creative batteries charged for weeks.

There’s always an air of excitement at an SCBWI conference. Opportunities are there for networking, making friends, finding critique partners, and more. Where else can you sit and chat with multi-published, well-known authors?

Children’s writers and illustrators are an incredibly friendly bunch. I’ve never met one who wasn’t willing to talk about their creative process, what motivates them, etc. From the pre-published to those with book sales in the millions, we all share a common experience — the long hours spent alone at the computer or locked away in a studio, perfecting manuscripts and artwork, wondering if anyone will find our creations fit for publication.

Perhaps we’re all bound together by the insecurities we share that seem to be an inherent part of the writer’s/illustrator’s craft. We empathize with the struggles of our fellow artists and wordsmiths. And we all have that desire to tell a story that will send shivers of delight up and down a child’s spine, or will capture the readers interest so that he’s willing to stay up late at night and read the book by flashlight under the covers.

Whatever the case, it’s wonderful to spend a day or a weekend among like-minded souls who savor a great metaphor or make a living sketching friendly monsters.

Just a brief post tonight …

Had a thoroughly relaxing Labor Day, which was needed to help me cope with the current crunch time at work.

You won’t hear much from me for the next few days. For those of you familiar with newspaper jargon, I have four, 35-40-inch stories to write by Friday, plus get photos to go along with, in addition to my everyday assignments. I still have 3 interviews I need to do for these extra stories.

There are only so many hours in a day.

I am feelin’ the stress.

I am going to try tweeting again, thanks to a recent discussion on our SCBWI region’s e-mail listserv.

I reinstalled Tweetdeck, and it’s improved much in the past two months.

I also found a nifty widget to add to my sidebar, so blog readers can see my tweets.

I’m going to try to stick with it this time.

Still, I’m wondering … will I ever get any writing done?

Speaking of WIP (that’s Work In Progress, for those who don’t know) I’m revising a picture book manuscript, getting it ready for the group critique session at our SCBWI-Midsouth conference later this month.

We now interrupt this blog for a very important message …

***

Hello Ami,

I know you’re reading my blog.

How do I know?

Because I’m your mother. I always know.

Tell David that life goes on, even after the meniscus is gone.

Give Mutt and Minnie kisses, and pat Jasper and Nala for me.

Can’t wait to hug you both at Christmas.

luv, mom

Now get back to work!!!!

***

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.

Just a random brain dump as the day draws to an end:

• Had a great day off from work. Got caught up on lots of stuff, including editing our SCBWI regional newsletter. Came up with a story idea about a writer with a split personality. Disguised as a bulldog reporter who turns bad guys into Shredded Wheat with her retractable teeth sharper than a box of new No. 2 pencils, this writer is actually a pretty-in-pink princess following the fairy dust trail in hopes of reaching the Palace of Publication. Since Disney just bought Marvel Comics for a cool $4 billion, my animorphous royal beauty/angst-ridden superheroine could be just the character to tie the two conglomerates together. I could pitch my story as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde meet Dr. Suess and Anderson Cooper, but with less blood, more truffula trees, and fewer commercial breaks.
• Happy to report that changes may be imminent at our local animal shelter. Several concerned citizens showed up for the humane society’s board meeting today to let the director know that a 79 percent euthanization rate is unacceptable. They demanded better treatment for the critters. She’s agreed to allow volunteers and let the community become more involved in shelter operations.
• Today marks 25 days until our annual SCBWI-Midsouth conference in Nashville. I can hardly wait! Faculty includes associate editor Kaylan Adair of Candlewick Press; Henry Holt creative director Patrick Collins; Caroline B. Cooney; senior editor Cheryl Klein of  Arthur A. Levine Books; and agent Chris Richman from the new Upstart Crow Literary agency. Best of all, I can’t wait to get together with my Midsouth buddies. Children’s writers and illustrators, whether we’re published or just getting started, are a friendly bunch and I do believe the SCBWI-Midsouth group is among the friendliest!

It’s a gorgeous Kentucky morning. I have the day off  today, so I’m looking forward to catching up on some chores. I might even get some fall mums to put out on my porch.

Took my daughter’s family cat to a local vet yesterday to be spayed and declawed (front paws only). The kitty gets released this afternoon, so I have to pick her up and watch over her until my daughter comes home to get her.

The newspaper where I work ran the last installment of a three-part series about our local animal shelter today. (Our online edition is subscription only, so I can’t post a link — you wouldn’t be able to read it.) Our lead reporter discovered a sobering, shameful statistic about our local shelter.

In 2008, nearly 80 percent of the more than 4,000 animals brought there were euthanized. That’s more than 1,200 kittens, more than 700 cats, more than 700 puppies and more than 650 dogs.

One reader did the math and posted a comment on our web site — the shelter on average would have had to kill 13 animals a day, every day they were open, to put down that many in a year’s time.

The thought makes me sick to my stomach. It’s an embarrassment to our community. We are better people than that.

Our reporter learned the shelter director refuses to establish an Internet presence for the shelter, will not allow volunteers, and makes it so hard to adopt an animal that some prospective pet owners just give up and leave.

Now, however, the shameful way our shelter is being operated has been exposed, and local residents are shocked and angered. I know our citizens won’t continue to allow such inhumane activities. I’m eager to see what happens next.

I love my cat, and I admit, I’ve been giving him a bit of extra love lately. When I got him a few years ago, he was one of a stray mama’s litter. When I think of how he could have had the same fate as thousands of unfortunate kittens (because there’s no telling how long this has been going on), it makes me want to cry.

I’m thankful our newspaper was able to be the voice for those innocent creatures unable to speak for themselves.