2009 Oregon Spring Conference

Recently, I checked Oregon's SCBWI Web page for this year’s conference information at this site: http://www.scbwior.com/events/index.html

The conference is scheduled for Friday & Saturday, May 15 & 16, 2009 at the Shilo Inn Airport, Portland, Oregon. There is no requirement for two-day registration, but you may attend both if you’re able.

The coordinators will send registrations to Oregon and S. Washington SCBWI members and Oregon subscribers in mid-March. The focus this year is on craft. The purpose for this is to help writers and illustrators during a time of publishing woes. Otherwise known as, harder to get a foot in the door.

The editors will present attendees with craft-oriented not market-oriented information. The workshops are planned around two hour long master-craft sessions on picture books, early readers, middle grade, young adult, and nonfiction with time for important faculty critiques. Attendees, be prepared to work.

Coordinators expanded the Friday first-page sessions, and either an editor and an agent or two editors will lead them.

Also, it’s good to note, many opportunities for individual critiques with agents/editors will be open to all attendees. However, Saturday attendance is required in order to receive your individual paid-in-advance critique.

Coordinators are allowing one-day attendance, but preference for the Friday sessions given only to the two-day attendees. Friday’s sessions are a-la-carte at $35.00 each (including snacks) and Saturday’s cost includes continental breakfast and lunch at $135.00.

Coming soon! Check on the SCBWI Oregon Web site for agenda and faculty bios.

Listed below is the 2009 faculty:

Cheryl Coupe, Author
Heather Frederick, Author
Lori Ries, Author
Susan Blackaby, Author
Robin Koontz, Illustrator/Author
Marianne Monson, Author/Editor
Elana Roth, Agent: Caren Johnson Literary Agency
Miriam Hees, Editor: Blooming Tree
Abigail Samoun, Editor: Tricycle Books
Noa Wheeler, Editor: Henry Holt

I’ll keep track and post notes here for some final information of the Oregon Spring Conference. Maybe it will garner interest and folks will check out the site.

As an inspiring writer, I’m looking forward to this conference. I plan to research the faculty members to get a feel of their likes and dislikes. The research also allows me to choose an editor for the one on one critique, and for the many opportunities to visit with each faculty member. Best of all, knowing a little about each member allows me to feel comfortable with them and yet be professional.

More to come . . .