So, I just got to my parents’ house in Dallas after a great trip to Austin and, as always, on my bed were sitting my “Welcome Home” presents. (Mommie Marie is quite the present-giver.) Anyway, mixed in with my “Welcome Home” gifts was an inch-thick Priority Mail envelope.
My parents warned me in the car that they thought a manuscript had been returned from an agent, so I was prepared when I saw it on the bed.
But, I was pleasantly surprised that it was not a really, really big rejection (I guess they thought that agents returned the whole ms) but my new member packet from the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Much more fun than rejection!
I haven’t quite figured out all of the benefits that come with belonging to a writers’ organization, but I’ll tell you a few and add that I do think they are worth it.
1. an extra thing in your query letter/writing resume that shows that you are in tune with the market and take writing seriously
2. discounted tuition to the Summer Conference, which is sounds great, but I’m not going to
3. Regional advisors and regional critique/writing groups
4. Membership to a more exclusive discussion board
5. Opportunities to win grants and to submit work to newsletters put out by the organization
6. Information on small presses and book packager/producers that is hard to find on the internet
7. SCBWI specific, but I got a great book entitled, “The 2008 Publication Guide to Writing and Illustrating for Children.” Not only does it have contact info about agents, it lists which editors edited which books. It also has encouraging articles inside. Plus, markets that I never think about writing for (i.e. educational markets, worksheets, etc.)
8. I don’t have to wade through hundreds of publishers and agents making sure they represent children’s books. Everything they give me is geared towards authors who write for children!
In conclusion, join one. It’s $75 and you get discounted office supplies.
The End.
Status: Like I said, just got back from Austin. No writing done there, but I hope to have a productive day tomorrow. I am going to continue to submit, I think. Still haven’t heard back. Also, I’m going to try to put together some portfolios to try to snag some work-for-hire if possible.
Stay tuned!! Interview with Caroline Wilson tomorrow.
2 Comments
June 9, 2008 at 6:43 am
I asked about SCBWI in an AW thread just two weeks ago. I live in Australia and there are chapters of the organisation here. But it to help when I’m doing marketing in USA/Canada next year I think it will haelp me. So it’s really good to have your comments.
Thanks
Mumut.
June 9, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Hey! Great! Thanks for commenting and glad I could help. Let me know if you can think of other great writers’ orgs to join.