Writing is a Team Sport By Cindy Williams Schrauben

In my mind, writing is a team sport. You might say, "No, authors are introverts. We work alone." While it’s true that writing can be a lonely profession, it doesn’t have to be. The kidlit community, and SCBWI in particular, is made up of giving individuals. Let them guide you, comfort you, teach you, and cheer you on. The options are endless.

Even athletes who participate in individual sports depend on support systems. Take Michael Phelps, for instance. He swam alone and his goal, in the end, was to stand atop the podium. As writers, our gold medal is that published book (ok, it’s a best-seller or Caldecott, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves). Do you think Phelps would have won 28 Olympic medals without reinforcements? No way. The necessary resources are available to us, as well. Seeking them out is the key.

How about Simone Biles? She has coaches who teach her techniques, help her to overcome fears, and push her day after day. We have coaches too, in the form of more experienced authors and other educators who teach classes, speak at conferences, and share tips online. If you are reading this, you are already benefitting from said coaches under the umbrella of SCBWI. Do athletes say… "I’m the one competing, I don’t need anyone else?" Of course not, and neither should we.

Instead of quitting when things get tough, athletes look up to mentors, soaking in the inspiration, acknowledging their weaknesses, and identifying their strengths. Do you have writing mentors? If not, seek them out. SCBWI is a global community with unlimited resources, both virtual and in-person. One such event that I will be taking advantage of next week is The Graphic Novel and Picture Book webinar with Jonathan Roth (see it and other options HERE). I met one of my mentors, Marcie Colleen at my first SCBWI event.

More often than not, Michael swam in solo races and Simone was alone on the mat. Still, they turned to teammates to lift him up. Who are your writing teammates? Do you have critique partners? If not, SCBWI-Mi offers a critique group connection service HERE to get you started. There are hundreds of online writing groups - find them. You can even lurk and learn without putting yourself out there. When you are more comfortable, participate in social media chats or go to an in-person SCBWI-Mi Shoptalk (see more HERE). 

When I embarked on this journey I didn’t have a clue how difficult it would be. Or how rewarding. Before my first book, This Could Be You was even an idea, I jumped right in and attended the SCBWI Annual Conference in New York City. To feel less alone, I started a newbie group. We met up and faced the overwhelming event together. 

While daring steps like this might not be for everyone, I still count those people as teammates, coaches and advocates twelve years later. I found my people and leaned on them! Learned from them! Commiserated with them! Knowing that you are not alone in an endeavor like this is priceless. SCBWI has taught me how to write, query, and submit to publishers. They have helped me learn how to do school visits and market myself. They have even provided opportunities like book festivals and their online showcase of school presenters HERE. 

I’ve lost count of the number of events I have attended, blogs I have read, and sessions I’ve watched, but I can tell you with all confidence that my books would not exist without the guidance of SCBWI.

Cindy Williams Schrauben is excited to give back to the writing community that has been so instrumental in her own publishing journey. Cindy lives in central Michigan where she writes empowering books for kids that range from the truly serious to the seriously silly. When not writing or honing her craft, this award-winning author might be found dissecting her grandsons’ shenanigans for story ideas, reading on the floor in the bookstore, or eating ice cream… ideally all at once. Her first book, THIS COULD BE YOU, received various awards including a starred review from Kirkus. Her upcoming picture book entitled HANK’S CHANGE OF HEART is due out later this year. Cindy is also the host of Author Pep Talk on YouTube where she encourages other authors to realize their publishing dreams.

You can connect with Cindy at www.cindyschrauben.com or www.direct.me/cindywilliamsschrauben

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Reminders about Upcoming SCBWI-MI Events

• Fall webinar with Sheela Chari- Oct. 22nd at 7:00 pm Registration period: Oct 1-22
• Fall webinar with Cate Berry- Nov. 12th at 7:00 pm Registration period: Oct 22-Nov 12