SCBWI – DAY 2

SCBWI – DAY 2
(my notes from some of the workshops and main stage speeches)

Portfolio workshop:
Find out what the rules are and then figure out a fresh new way to break them.


The Shape of our Stories – my notes from a SCBWI speech by Marion Dane Bauer:
All stories are about desire.
Reaching for a climax.
Know what the resolution will feel like.
Stories are about struggle.
Your characters desire needs to be your desire.
It’s nice when a story rises up and comes through you.
The emotional resolution is your truth.
If something is a huge part of you or belief if will come up in your stories again and again.

Pursue Your Passion - my notes from a SCBWI speech by E. B. Lewis
What happens when inspiration dies. E.B. Lewis spoke about a period of over a year when he had no more desire to paint or do any art for himself. There was no more inspiration.
Fine artist take a problem and tries to work it out.
Being an artist means leaving something behind that someone can use.
Artist should fill ourselves to overflow and give it all back.

Graphic Novel – workshop by Nick Eliopulos who is an editor at scholastic:
Would rather work with writer/illustrator. Would make the negotiation and the creation of the published book easier.
Up to 200 pages is fine but they do go higher.
(sorry I did not write down much for this workshop)

Sweat & Magic - my notes from a SCBWI speech by Gail Carson Levine:
No idea is stupid within a list you make. Write them all down.
Some good suspense builders:
1) Time pressure (ticking clock)
2) Distance
3) Thoughts (looming thoughts)
4) Nonstop action
5) Setting
6) Separation from problem (what is the enemy doing while the hero is away)
7) Main character’s flaw (his or her flaw could be a ticking bomb i.e. character goes crazy whenever he is called weak)
8) Secondary character flaw
9) Expectations
10) Isolation
11) Disaster
12) Something is lost and the character must get it back or he thinks he must get it back

Predictability
Why do we re-watch and re-read stories that we already know the outcome to?
Random.
Have a character ask another about their thoughts and throw in a disaster to surprise everyone.

Character development
A good tool is to see how each character would handle the same chore differently, i.e. getting ready for school, packing for a trip, etc.

Revision exercise
Pick out a scene from a book you dislike and re-write it.

What type of stories are you re-telling over and over.