Upcoming Spring Classes & Webinars

The English Department at Northwest University is excited to host Stephanie Garber, author of Caraval, on March 15 as part of our annual Faith in the Humanities Conference. She will give a keynote address at 8 p.m. in the Argue Health & Sciences Center Room 104. The conference is free and open to the public. Copies of Caraval will be available for purchase and signing at the event. More information here.

Settings Webinar via Montana SCBWI 
Building Worlds: A Setting Toolbox for Fantasy, Contemporary, and Everything In BetweenWednesday, April 4  -  6:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time(Webinar will be recorded if you can't attend it live)$15 Members, $35 Non-members

Join P&L author Kent Davis (A Riddle in Ruby trilogy, Harper/Greenwillow) for a fun, fast-paced, interactive, idea-packed exploration of crafting a singular, authentic, vibrant world for your story. Participants will investigate concepts and exercises designed to discover and hone in on the essential qualities of your setting, equally viable for the most magical of throne rooms or the most realistic of lunch rooms. 
Here's the link for more details and to register.

Picture Book Webinars, hosted by the SCBWI Dakotas region (Members outside of the Dakotas welcome).

The Heart In Your Art

Join picture book illustrator/author and graphic novelist Matt Faulkner for an illustration webinar. He will address the core issues in developing an illustrative style that catches the eye and captures the heart! He’ll share information on designing dynamic characters and environments, developing a sketch process that yields an underlying structure for final art, creating a dummy layout that expresses the written narrative, and understanding and applying the essential qualities of color.

DATE: April 9, 2018, 7:30PM-9PM Central

Cost: $15

More information and registration.

The Stories Behind Your Story

In this webinar, picture book author/illustrator Matt Faulkner will focus on constructing the three core avenues to crafting your story: weaving enticing plots, breathing life into believable characters and developing compelling settings. 

 DATE: April 16, 2018, 7:30PM-9PM Central

Cost: $15

More information and registration.

Writing Children's Books

with Rebecca Van Slyke through Whatcom Community College

Code:	18S8807057VA
Dates:	April 17 - May 8, 2018
Meets:	Tuesdays : 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Hours:	6.00 (Clock hours available!)
Location:	Village Books & Paper Dreams in Lynden
Instructor:	Rebecca Van Slyke
Fee:	$89

Register online, by mail, or by phone:
Whatcom Community College
Attn: Business Office
237 W. Kellogg Road
Bellingham, WA, 98226
360.383.3200

Have you ever wanted to write a children's book, but weren't sure where to start? We'll look at requirements for children's books, the process of publication, share our work in a friendly critique-group style, and talk about revision. Come find out what it takes to be a successful children's writer. Feel free to bring a current manuscript. Rebecca Van Slyke is an author and illustrator with an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Writing Children's Picture Books

with Jennifer Mann

at Barn on Bainbridge Island, Wednesday nights, May 2-23

In this 4 session class, you will explore the genre of picture books via classic and contemporary examples, with a focus on current publishing preferences and practices. 

Your look at this unique literary form will cover topics such as narrative structure, character development, word choice, the relationship between words and images, developing a story, thumbnails and book dummies, steps to finding an agent and publication, joining critique groups and professional organizations. A portion of each class, except the first, will be devoted to sharing and critiquing student projects. 

More information and registration here. 

Hugo House Spring Courses

And registration is open for workshops on a variety of writing topics at Hugo House throughout the spring. Check it out. 

Double check times and dates before setting out. If you have a class or event you'd like to share with the community, let us know with at least a week's notice at news.scbwiwwa@gmail.com. 

March 2018 Meetups, Classes, and Book Events

SCBWI WWA & Network Events

March 3
Eastside Network Craft Bookclub, featuring Cheryl Klein's Magic Words. Space is limited, and rsvp is required.

March 10
The Peninsula Network meets up for a Kid Lit Drink Night at a new location! All are welcome to join from 6:30 on at The Old Whiskey Mill in Port Townsend. Meet behind the bar near the fireplace.

March 14
Our March SCBWI WWA meeting will be held at Bellevue College and feature Laura Moe speaking on the objective correlative. More details coming soon.

Classes

Seattle Writes! Multiple dates and locations.

Seattle Writes:  Fear and Writing 

Saturday, March 10, 2 to 4 p.m., at Seattle Public Library’s Central Library (downtown)

Join Peg Cheng in learning how fear is a natural part of the creative process and how you can use fear to propel your writing, rather than hinder it. Free writing class; no registration is required.

Space will be limited at this class; first come, first seated. 

Doors will open at 1:30 p.m.

More info here. 

Seattle Writes: Writing Circles with Hugo House

Drop-in writing circles facilitated by writers from Hugo House,

hosted at neighborhood libraries in Seattle. These sessions are free and no registration is required. Come ready to write!

Columbia Branch: March 8,   6 – 7:30 p.m.

West Seattle Branch: March 8,  6 – 7:30 p.m.

Fremont Branch: March 20,  6 – 7:30 p.m.

More info here. 

Book Events

February 28
Tamora Pierce and Rachel Hartman in conversation with Lish McBride about Pierce's newest, Tempests and Slaughter, and more, at University Temple United via University Bookstore.

March 1
Science fiction and fantasy lovers, come meet Fonda Lee, Chuck Wendig! They're in town for Emerald City Comic Con, but if you're not heading to the Con, head to Brick & Mortar to meet these speculative dynamos.

March 1
Head north to Village Books to hear Rachel Hartman talk about her newest YA speculative novel, Tess of the Road. 

March 2
Inside Story chair Dori Butler launches King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth at Brick & Mortar. 

March 3
Dan Geimenhart crosses the mountains to visit Brick & Mortar for a talk and signing. 

March 4
Head to Liberty Bay Books to help Kimberly Long Cockroft celebrate her picture book debut, Reading Beauty!

March 9
Elizabeth Rose Stanton brings her adorable Bub to University Bookstore!

March 10- Olympia
Did you hear that Corinna Luyken won the PNBA Award for The Book of Mistakes? Come celebrate at Browsers Books! Cake and prizes! 

March 10-Seattle
Joy McCullough makes her YA debut with Blood Water Paint. She'll be in conversation with Martha Brockenbrough at University Bookstore. 

March 10- Bellingham
Phoebe Wahl will be at Village Books to talk about and sign her latest picture book, Backyard Fairies. 

March 11
The Whatsits-- Kevan Atteberry, Ben Clanton, Jennifer Mann, Elizabeth Rose Stanton, and Wendy Wahman talk all things picture book at Brick & Mortar. 

March 13
Morris Award finalist Leslye Walton follows The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender with her next YA, The Price Guide to the Occult. See her at University Bookstore.

March 16
Brandon Mull stops by University Bookstore to talk about the last entry in his Five Kingdoms series, Time Jumpers.

March 19
Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff are in town for the finale of The Illuminae Files, Obsidio. See them at University Bookstore. 

March 19
Head to University Bookstore in Mill Creek to catch Andy Griffiths and the sixth book in his chapter book series, The 78-Story Treehouse. 

March 22
Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Diaz makes his picture book debut with Islandborn. Signing line tickets available with preorder from Third Place Books.

March 24

Janel Kolby talks about her YA debut, Winterfolk, at Brick & Mortar Books. 

March 27

Swim over to Third Place LFP to meet Liz Kessler. She's in town to talk about her latest in the Emily Windsnap series, Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island. 

April 2

Lynn Brunelle presents how to Turn This Book into a Beehive at Third Place LFP. 

Events will be added periodically.  Did we miss something? 

Email us at news.scbwiwwa@gmail.com.

Double-check times and whatnot with bookstores before you set out for events. If you snap a great picture, tag us at @scbwiwwa on Instagram and/or Twitter, and we'll try to repost. If you have good news or an event coming up, let us know!

Support book culture.

Support independent bookstores and libraries.

Support authors.

❤️

Picture Book Illustration class with Craig Orback

PICTURE BOOK ILLUSTRATION CLASS-

Children's book illustrator Craig Orback is offering a group class starting  September 9th. Work on your own picture book project (create a dummy book to send to a publisher or agent), and/or create new portfolio pieces.

Craig will be available for one online feedback session each week for attendees. Send your work on a Monday and Craig will have a detailed response back to you by Friday, if not sooner. The class can join in with feedback online as well. Craig will be working on a new picture book biography on "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz for Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, and will share progress/sketches with you. 

An art room at Daniel Smith art supply in Bellevue (near Bellevue Colleges north campus) is 

reserved.

The class dates will be Saturdays, 2:00-5:00, September 9th, 23rd, October 7th, 21st & November 4th 


If interested, please send 1/2 the payment ($120) now, and bring the rest on the first day of class. Or send the full amount ($240) now to:

Craig Orback
2001 120th PL SE #9-304
Everett, WA 98208

Email Craig at craig@craigorback.com if you have any questions.

New class with Katherine Grace Bond--right around the corner!

We had some technical difficulties, so forgive the late notice. We swanted to let you know about a new class starting week with the warm and wise Katherine Grace Bond.

Through her teachings I started to open up, with not only my writing, but my heart. --Cassy Hollan

  Sharing your work is an act of courage.

  If you've been in my classes, you know there is never any forced sharing.

  You share work when you feel it will benefit you and the work.

  What I find is that it benefits the group as well.


If you are ready to help other writers with your work, consider signing up for the WIP Smart Master Class. 

WIP Smart: Works-in-Progress Weds 12:30-2:30, 4/19-5/31, Notewordies, Kirkland
This master class focuses on your work-in-progress: novel, picture book, poetry—it’s up to you. Each session is an in-depth look at significant portions of student WIPs, submitted in advance. Lessons are built around the manuscripts. You get intensive feedback; everyone learns from your book.

Katherine Grace Bond is a YA author and poet, who has been creating mayhem with writers young and old for the last 25 years. She’s the author of THE SUMMER OF NO REGRETS, LUKE’S JOURNAL, THE LEGEND OF THE VALENTINE, and many other stories. She’s also the founder of EpicWrite, combining live action role-playing, writing, and storycraft. She has been a Jack Straw Writer, and the recipient of a 4Culture grant for her work-in-progress (a time-travel novel in verse), and is looking forward to a residency at Camac Centre d’Art in Marnay-sur-Seine, France.

See more information about this, along with Katherine's other classes, here. 

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Agent Clelia Gore at Hugo House

Join agent Clelia Gore at Hugo House on Saturday, February 20 for a class on Legal Concepts Writers Need To Know.

Useful information! Important stuff! Given by an agent who was a past regional conference faculty member! CLICK HERE for all the details and registration info.

Lois Brandt's short-story class

If you want to get that short story written consider joining Lois Brandt's class at Bellevue College:

Writing Short Stories from First Sentence to Submission  

Bellevue College Continuing Education

Tuesday evenings, April 14–June 9

6:30 - 9:00 p.m.         

Fee: $179

 

This is an intensive eight-session writing class. Each student is expected to write approximately 2,000 – 7,000 words a week and produce a portfolio of 2 – 5 short stories. During the first four weeks students plot short stories and write them to completion. The second half of the class is devoted to editing and revising one story from the student’s portfolio. Students will learn to edit their own work and to receive and give constructive criticism. At the end of class students submit their polished stories to literary or genre markets.

 

This class is taught in Bellevue at Bellevue College’s new North Campus. For more information please follow this link to the BellevueCollege website,

 

If you have any questions about whether this is the right class for you, please feel free to email Lois directly (Lois@LoisBrandt.com).

 

Revise with Lois!

Need help with your novel draft?

 

Come join Lois Brandt’s novel revision class, starting January 20 at Bellevue College (North Campus).  

 

This is an intensive hands-on class. You will be expected to work on your novel and complete assignments between class sessions. In-class exercises and critiques will help you recognize the parts of your manuscript that convey story and those that don’t. Each student will compile a list of edits necessary to revise their novel. Prerequisite for the class: a completed draft novel.  Cost:  $195.00

 

Novel Re-Vision: Editing Your Manuscript for Story 

Tuesday Evenings, January 20 – March 17

6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

 

For more information please follow this link to the Bellevue College website: http://www.campusce.net/BC/course/course.aspx?C=12122&mc=1842&pc=1813

 

If you have any questions about whether this is the right class for you, please feel free to email Lois (Lois@LoisBrandt.com).

 

Lois Brandt

Author, Maddi's Fridge (Flashlight Press, 2014; named one of the Best Indie Picture Books of 2014 by Foreword Reviews)

Dana gets didactic

WARNING: CONTENTS MAY BE GRAPHIC!

The Class: Introduction to Graphic Novels with Dana Sullivan. This is the class to get your big graphic novel idea out of your head and onto the page!

The Teacher: Dana "D2" Sullivan, author of Ozzie and the Art Contest, Kay Kay’s Alphabet Safari and illustrator for the 4-book "Digger and Daisy" series, AND, last but not least––one of our fearless RAs.

The Skinny: The course runs from January 26–March 23 (no class on February 16). With samples from Manga, comics and picture books, he'll take you step by step through the process of scripting, storyboarding, pacing and laying out your graphic novel. By the end of this 8-week course, you will have a cover and a page fully inked and ready to get your career as a graphic novelist going! Dana will be working right alongside you on his work-in-progress, possibly titled Sniff Her Butt: Advice From My Dead Dog. For further details and registration, click here.

Nonfiction kidlit class opportunity

Fiction writers make up their stories, but nonfiction writers dig into facts to find their story line and then use elements of fiction to enrich it. Member Lois Harris will soon teach a $49 class called "Writing for Children: Narrative Nonfiction—Creating the Story from Facts" at Skagit Valley College, where she'll address everything from back matter and characterization to voice in biographies, picture books, and middle and young adult nonfiction. The class will be held on two Thursdays, January 29 and February 5, 2015, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.  Call 360-416-7638 to register for 6085 CENGL.

More chances to learn kidlit illustration from Craig

Still need a last-minute gift for an artsy someone in your life? Member Craig Orback, the illustrator of Gifts from the Enemy (speaking of gifts) and many others, will be teaching another round of his popular children's book illustration classes starting in January. (And we promise he's not an enemy.) The introductory course, Illustration 1, starts January 17 at Bellevue College and January 20 at Edmonds Community College. Basic drawing skills are helpful but, unlike homework, not required.

The intermediate course, Illustration 2, which gets into the making of storyboards and dummies, starts at Bellevue Community College on January 17. All classes run multiple weeks. For more information or to register, click the respective links above.

Bargain online class with Darcy Pattison

Lots of SCBWI Western Washington members have taken advantage of the sessions writer and instructor Darcy Pattison has previously presented in our region. They can tell you what a great teacher Darcy is — and that's why I'm telling you that Darcy's new online course is a great bargain.

Starting in November, she'll be teaching a course called "30 Days to a Stronger Novel" through the online Udemy.com site. The fee is only $59 (and there are discounts available even from that). She says, "The on-demand format allows you to fit the courses into your schedule; start any time and access the videos day or night. And group discounts available, so your critique group could take the class together and focus your group energy and accountability for a month."

Learn more.

Need a kick in the Muse?

Member Lois Brandt is teaching her popular “Write a Novel in a Month” class at Bellevue College North Campus starting October 14. Join this class as it hooks up with 100,000 writers worldwide for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The first class sessions prepare you for the process, with practice in characterization, setting, plot, voice, and dialogue. Then we're off and writing 50,000 word manuscripts. During the last class we plan for revision. This is a great way to write your novel in a supportive environment.  Cost $195.

Tuesday evenings, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

October 14 to December 9

Bellevue College North Campus

Register or contact Lois (the author of the new Maddi's Fridge) with questions.

Illustration classes about to begin

Member and illustrator Craig Orback will teach beginning and intermediate classes on illustrating children's books again this summer. Introductory classes will be held at Bellevue College starting June 28 and at North Seattle Community College starting June 30.

The introductory course includes in-class assignments, basic techniques, and the business side of children’s book illustration, with homework required. Basic drawing skills are helpful but not required.

The intermediate class, which addresses how to create a dummy for submission, also starts at Bellevue Community College on June 28. If you're interested in getting started or making progress on your illustration career this summer, check these opportunities out.

A travel journal for your character?

Learn to create a travel journal for your kidlit character — or yourself — in a spring class led by member Margaret Nevinski with artist Dorothy Matthews and book artist Susan Callan. The course, called, "Paint It, Write It, Book It: A Travel-Journal Adventure," will include capturing local sites in small watercolor sketches and text. Participants will leave with a personalized, hand-bound travel journal. It'll be held on Bainbridge Island Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, May 2-4, 2014,  over several sessions. Get more info here, under the Programs and Classes link, or call 206-842-2306, ext. 116.

"Making it" panel discussion

No, not *that* kind of making it — the writing kind. The Skagit Valley Writers League will present a panel featuring SCBWI Western Washington members Lois V. Harris and Barbara Hicks and Oregon SCBWI member Amber Keyser on Thursday, April 10, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. They'll discuss research, writing, and some of the other elements needed to succeed in kidlit. The event, which costs a suggested $5 donation from those who aren't members of the Skagit Valley group, will take place at the Burlington Senior Center. Attendees are asked to RSVP via this website, where more info is also available.

Character workshop later this spring

Member Lois Harris will teach a two-part children's writing workshop called "Focusing on Character" in late April. Characters play an important role in both fiction and nonfiction, and she says participants will learn to create real, compelling main characters and secondary characters who support their performance. Resources, marketing, and submission information will also be covered.

Skagit Valley College, Mount Vernon Campus
April 23 and April 30, 2014, 6:30 to 8 PM

Get more information (look for 6103, CENGL 055).

Short attention span?

Interested in short stories? Check out this class taught by member Lois Brandt:

Writing Short Stories from First Sentence to Submission 
Bellevue College Continuing Education
Tuesday evenings, April 15 – June 3
6:30 - 9:00 p.m.       

Lois says, "This is an intensive eight-session class. Each student is expected to write approximately 2,000 – 7,000 words a week and produce a portfolio of 2 – 5 short stories." The agenda includes constructive criticism, revision, and submission. Get more information or email Lois (at) LoisBrand.com with specific questions about whether this class might be right for you.

Get a six-week draft

Member Rebecca Agiewich, the author of BreakupBabe: A Novel, will be teaching a six-week class at Richard Hugo House in Seattle starting March 20. The class is called "Roughing It: A Draft of Your Book in Just 6 Weeks," and students will meet Thursday nights from 7:10 to 9:10 p.m.

She says, "There are just six spots left in this popular class. As Anne Lamott says in Bird by Bird, even the most successful authors write crappy first drafts. So why not write it fast and get it over with? The class is geared toward beginning fiction writers, but memoirists and writers of all levels are welcome." Get more information or register, or learn more about Rebecca here.

Story structure class coming in May

Member and award-winning children’s book author Clare Hodgson Meeker will be teaching a six-week class called "Writing for Children: Introduction to Story Structure" at Richard Hugo House in Seattle on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon starting May 3.

She says, "Through class discussion, in-class writing exercises, and weekly reading assignments, students will learn how develop a plot around choices a character makes and build a story arc that will hold a young reader’s interest. We’ll study how the pros do it — from picture books by author Mo Willems to a young-adult mystery by Elizabeth George. Students will receive written feedback and come away with a concrete piece of writing. I'm looking forward to helping them turn writing ideas into real books."

Get more information or register here or through her website.

Drawing from the imagination class

Illustrator Charles Vess will teach a TLC Workshops class called "Drawing from the Imagination (and Using a Big Eraser)" from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all  weekend starting Friday, Feb. 28, through Sunday, March 2, near Bothell. At $500, it's not cheap, but the course description says, "This workshop will help you develop drawing skills that are based on your imagination and not constrained by the use of photo reference. We will also discuss the importance of collaboration between the artist and the written word." Get more info.