Today we’re lucky to have Peggy Robbins Janousky visiting to share highlights from SCBWI FL’s Picture Book Intensive. Take it away, Peggy!
I have attended many picture book intensives over the years, but this one topped them all. Participants were treated to an all-star panel that included: agent Deborah Warren of East West Literary, editor Laura Whitaker of Bloomsbury, author and editor Andrea Davis Pinkney and author Toni Buzzeo.
The presentations were practical, but powerful:
- Always bring your “A” game.
- Rhyme is not taboo, but bad rhyme is.
- Picture books are getting shorter and are being targeted for younger audiences.
- Show, don’t tell.
- Hook me and keep me hooked.
- Be passionate about your book and be able to pitch in just a few sentences.
One of the best things that was presented was the HOT list. These are the topics that editors and Barnes and Noble want now:
- Moments of the day
- School stories
- Learning concepts
- Holidays (MLK, Valentine’s Day, 4th of July, St. Patrick’s Day)
- Friends and family
- Biographies
- Character-driven stories
- Original stories that every kid will love
- Interactive picture books
- Finding the new in the old
If you haven’t taken an intensive before, I strongly urge you to consider it. Intensives are exactly that, intense. They give you the opportunity to delve in deeper and they also give you the opportunity to get to know the presenters on a more intimate level. I came away from this intensive with a new sense of purpose and drive. I also came away with a few good friends. All in all, it was money worth spending.
I have to admit, I almost did not attend the Miami conference. I was having a pity party and I wasn’t really up for the company. I had broken my leg in three places. Needless to say, getting around was a wee bit difficult. I was ready to bail. I am glad I didn’t. The first page of my manuscript was read during “first page reads”. Much to my surprise, the panel loved it. One editor wanted to know who wrote it, an agent wanted to read more, and another editor wanted to acquire it. I have to admit, I was in shock. By the end of the weekend, thanks to the help of a good friend, I had signed with that agent. Just one month later… My bio and picture are up on the East West Literary website. The editor that I mentioned is considering three of my manuscripts. And I am still pinching myself.
I will tell you that this was not an overnight success. I have attended many conferences and taken copious notes. I have revised, cut, and revised some more. I have also had moments where I was so rejected that I thought I would never put myself through another critique again. So what’s the moral of the story? Never give up. Never let pity or self-doubt get the upper hand. Believe with all your heart that your day will come. Then get off your butt and get to that conference. Your happily ever after is waiting for you to show up!
Peggy Robbins Janousky uses her offbeat sense of humor to write offbeat picture books. When she is not writing, Peggy uses her time to rescue stray animals. Much to her family’s dismay, she keeps them all.
And thanks to Kristen Fulton for adding this summary of Andrea Pinkney’s workshop: The Write Stuff.
- Writers write every day, whether it be a holiday or vacation.
- Find your “twinkle”—what makes you sparkle around others?
- Establish immediacy—using voice, characterization, mystery and drama.
- Ask yourself, “Why does the reader want to come on this journey and what makes the reader stay on this journey?”
- Writing is fun—and hard work.
- Writing is re-writing at least 10 times.
- Just get started and keep going.
- Read every day, whether it be a holiday or vacation.
Kristen Fulton writes non-fiction picture books and is running an amazing non-fiction picture book retreat with loads of agents, editors, and authors on July 7-12. Check out her website for details!
29 comments
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February 28, 2014 at 1:03 pm
Cathy Ballou Mealey
Congratulations Peggy! What an inspirational story.
Thank you for giving us an inside glimpse from the Picture Book Intensive. Sharing insights on the “hot” list was very generous and helpful!
Can’t wait to see your books on the shelf one day soon!
February 28, 2014 at 1:09 pm
kateywrites
Congrats Peggy, that sounds amazing! Thanks so much for sharing.
February 28, 2014 at 1:10 pm
dro269
I don’t write picture books but that’s all the more reason you should accept this compliment that this post really caught my eye…well- written, and while it obviously is of most utility for writers within your genre, it has some pretty universal lessons/applications.
Also, love the dogs!
Thanks for the great piece…
February 28, 2014 at 1:15 pm
Rosi
Wow. Peggy had a good day!!! Congratulations! And thanks for sharing all of this. Passing around a nice helping of hope mixed with some reality is always a good idea.
February 28, 2014 at 1:16 pm
Darshana
What an awesome story Peggy, congratulations!!
February 28, 2014 at 1:26 pm
Kerry Aradhya
Wow! That is an incredible story!! Congratulations, and thanks for sharing your experiences 🙂
February 28, 2014 at 1:29 pm
Courtenay Schurman
This could not have been more timely. I was just having my own pity party, between contests and conferences. Your post reminded the “never quit” voice inside my head that I’m getting so much closer with every try, and my only responsibilities are to a) plant butt in the chair and b) never give up. Thanks, Peggy, you nailed it smack in the middle.
February 28, 2014 at 2:06 pm
Kathy Cornell Berman
Wow PEGGY! That’s all I kept saying to myself. What a great story. Congratulations and thanks for the tips!
February 28, 2014 at 2:16 pm
LovableLobo
We’re so fortunate that you decided to hobble your way to the conference, Peggy. Thanks for sharing the practical but powerful, the hot and your success story! Hope your leg is mending well. Three places. Ouch!
Thanks for putting the workshop’s highlights in a nut shell, Kristen!
February 28, 2014 at 3:05 pm
Antje
Congrats Peggy! Thanks for sharing, we need the advice but success stories too. Never give up, right? Or is it, “brake a leg” ? Have a speedy recovery. And as always thanks for the post, Tara!
February 28, 2014 at 3:22 pm
orthodoxmom3
“•Picture books are getting shorter and are being targeted for younger audiences.” This is what I keep hearing…. It worries me… what about all the wonderful stories out there that are full of beautiful language and details….how can one put that into a simple 500 word or less story? I think the short ones are cute, but…. not what I gravitate to. Are there any editors still accepting 1000 or more word manuscripts?
February 28, 2014 at 5:45 pm
Tara Lazar
Flashlight prefers 1000-word manuscripts, but they only publish 3-4 titles annually. It is very difficult to place a PB with that high a word count. But who knows, maybe then pendulum will swing back the other way in the next few years. However, with the competition from ebooks, it seems unlikely.
February 28, 2014 at 3:40 pm
Laura Lowman Murray
What incredibly fantastic news Peggy! YAY – dreams are coming true. It seems to happen all the time at the FL SCBWI conferences. I originally started writing when I lived in Florida, although I don’t live there now, this is the first conference in 6 years that I wasn’t able to attend in Miami. Linda always puts on an incredible conference, and I am thrilled that you didn’t miss it! Thanks to you and Kristen for the highlights of the intensives! 🙂 And congratulations again!
February 28, 2014 at 4:49 pm
shiela fuller
Dear Peggy: Thank you so much for sharing your conference experience with us. There were a few things in your post that I JUST NEEDED to hear today. Sincerely, Shiela
February 28, 2014 at 5:38 pm
Genevieve Petrillo
Super fun and helpful information. And OMGoodness, Peggy! Congratulations!
February 28, 2014 at 6:03 pm
tinamcho
I was surprised to see your pic, Peggy and Kristen. Thanks for sharing your conference experience, and I hope your 3 ms are taken up! Congrats again on getting an agent. Thanks, Tara, for this series!
February 28, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Rene Aube
Thanks for sharing, Peggy! So happy yo were so blessed at the conference! Wonderful, encouraging news for the rest of us! 🙂
March 1, 2014 at 11:24 am
thiskidreviewsbooks
Congrats! Wonderful! I hope your leg heals fine! 🙂
March 1, 2014 at 11:35 am
Mary McClellan
Congratulations, Peggy! How wonderful to have your hard work pay off. I look forward to seeing your books on the shelf.
March 1, 2014 at 5:14 pm
Micki Ginsberg
“Establish immediacy” … what a great point to remember! Thanks, Kristen.
March 1, 2014 at 10:15 pm
writersideup
This was a wonderful post. Thanks, Peggy and Tara! And “ouch” about the 3-break-leg! Oh, my *sigh*
Btw, love that pic of you, Tara 🙂
March 1, 2014 at 11:14 pm
patientdreamer
Wow! That is awesome. Congrats Peggy!
March 2, 2014 at 10:24 pm
Lauri Meyers
Congrats Peggy!
Can anyone define the “friends and family biographies” request? I’m not familiar with that. Is it a PB about the new Sprint plan?
March 2, 2014 at 10:54 pm
Tara Lazar
Yeah, I wondered that, too. Perhaps a comma was missing and it’s friends and family…and then biographies. Actually, I’m just going to change it because that must be what happened!
March 3, 2014 at 2:42 am
Tracey
Thanks so much for this post, and for clarifying the biography question…I was just going to ask the same thing.
March 3, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Carol Gordon Ekster
All great advice. Thanks for sharing and congratulations, Peggy. I look forward to hearing about your upcoming books.
March 4, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Penny Parker Klostermann
Congratulations, Peggy!!! And thank you for the recap and advice. Thanks to you, too, Kristen, and congrats again on all of your success!
March 4, 2014 at 8:58 pm
orthodoxmom3
friends and family biographies? Can you explain?
March 14, 2014 at 1:50 pm
darlenebeckjacobson
This is a great interview and re-cap on PB’s. Thanks for sharing!