Going to the NYC conference was something I had thought about for years, but the timing, the cost, and not feeling my work was “prepared enough” - got in my way. But this time, I had worked hard to prepare for the Midwest Conference in Spring of 2024, and I learned a lot from the portfolio showcase I participated in there. So I entered the drawing for the scholarship that Shutta Crum generously offers to SCBWI-MI members. When I came home from work in October and found out I was the winner, I was so excited! I scrambled to register, and I still felt like I had a lot of preparing to do.
I was thrilled when one of my critique partners, my friend Anne Awh from Chicago, said she’d go too. We did phone check-ins with each other to keep each other on task. I did 6 new pieces for my portfolio and updated my dummies. I lost track of how many times I rearranged my portfolio.
The Portfolio showcase was enormous and was over before I could even see half of the portfolios. I came home with a beautiful array of postcards from fellow artists. I happened to see someone carrying my postcard, who asked if I was published. I said “not yet.” Her response was, “You will be.” I treasure that comment.
Some of my favorite quotes, and notes from the weekend:
“Gathering here together during these uncertain times feels like a creative act of rebellion. One thing is certain, the people who create children’s books are the friendliest, most encouraging people” - Sarah Baker, Executive Director of SCBWI
Erin Estrada Kelly spoke a lot about bravery.
One form of bravery is “Writing and letting other people see it.”
“Do something even when drowning in self-doubt.”
“We’re here because we have a dream, a hope to tell stories.”
“Biggest regret at the end of life is not trying at all.”
“Being here is betting on yourself and that is deeply meaningful.”
Peter Brown enjoys the process of getting into the heads of his readers. He is struck by the idea that we are animals, but we feel removed…whereas children don’t feel as removed.
I found it fascinating that Peter thought of each chapter of WILD ROBOT as a Picture Book, because that’s what he knew how to write. Writing a novel was new for him, and it was a big challenge. 80 chapters = 80 key plot points.
If you have stories that you really love, you will work through the times when you’re “lost in the woods” like Roz. “Pick projects that you genuinely love.”
Sophie Blackall’s speech was so endearing, just like herself, and her stories.
She offered tips like, “Remember People’s Names” “Give Voice to your own Astonishment” and “Dig Deep.” She also reminded us to stand tall, collaborate, and build community, as she built the amazing Milkwood Farm.
In Suzanne Kaufmann’s Creative Lab, she
encouraged us to “embrace the MESS.” (I love this!)
“Just write down what happens - even if it’s insane. Turn off the internal #$@! editor”
“Keep pushing, keep thinking of the feeling”
She played a Mr. Rogers clip, the “You’ve got to DO it” song (12 minutes in, from this episode)
Suzanne showed us her process, and how she worked through challenges during the development of her new book BLUE, which is coming out this spring.
“If you get stuck on something, ask for help from a friend, take a break, or go to bed thinking about your question, your answer may come in a dream.”
In Catia Chien’s Creative Lab, Catia guided us through examples and pushed us to examine lighting and value work in illustration.
“What can the value do for the story - what can it show, and what can it hide?”
“Protect that place in you that loves the work. We all make mistakes, but there is learning.”
Catia also gave us time to work on our pieces, which was so valuable while her information was fresh. I sat near Heidi Woodward Sheffield and we talked together about our works in progress. This lab really made me reconsider a scene in one of my dummies and walk away with a stronger composition.
The biggest highlight of the conference for me was attending the Society of Illustrators gallery, to see “The Original Art” show, an annual celebration of the fine art of children’s book illustration. It was thrilling to see so many beautiful pieces of art in person. I got to “party” in Lian Cho’s PIG TOWN PARTY, with one of Michigan’s ICs Jen Boehler, and see the originals for some of my recent picture book loves, like “WHAT’S NEW DANIEL?” by Micha Archer and “WORM’S LOST & FOUND” by Julie Wellerdiek. There was art by Rahele Jomepour Bell, Matthew Cordell, Ye Guo, and so many others I felt like a kid in a candy shop.
Laurent Linn, the AD at Simon & Schuster Books, as well as the President of the SCBWI Board of Directors, introduced the members of the SCBWI Advisory Council who were present, as well as the Illustrator Coordinators.
It was so nice to have these introductions and to meet just some of the many hands who contribute to making SCBWI such a vibrant community. Inside the red bags everyone received was the greatest souvenir - a printed catalog of the exhibit.
As a “thank you” to Shutta, I bought an autographed GRANDMA HEAVEN written by Shutta Crum, illustrated by Ruth McNally Barshaw, and brought it with me to NYC. My intention was to find a little free library I could put it in. I imagined finding one in Central Park, but that wasn’t the case. Luckily, I was able to meet up with another critique partner, Hannah Krueger from Brooklyn, and she was able to deliver the book to a little free library in Brooklyn.
Yes, NYC is large and intimidating. But there are things that can only be done in NYC - like eating at Ellen’s Stardust Cafe (where the waitstaff belt out Broadway tunes), with Amelia Bothe, who I just met while dropping off portfolios. Or taking in the amazing art at the SOI gallery. And no matter where I go, I feel like SCBWI is a family- a family of dedicated, talented, generous people, like Shutta Crum, the SCBWI volunteers, my critique partners, and the new people I met, one who helped guide me through subway shutdowns- but that’s another story!
-Kara Marsee is trying to embrace her messy desk in Ann Arbor Michigan, where she works on picture book writing and illustrating. By day she works in the office of an elementary school, where she works with magicians (teachers) and cares for wild things. She shares her home with a hungry house rabbit, 2 growing boys, and her husband, who is also an artist. You can follow her on Instagram, Facebook or BlueSky.
