Meg Rosoff:
The topic of Meg’s talk was “So, when are you going to write
a real book?” How many of us have heard some variant of this question since the
very moment they entered the creative field? Aside from being hilariously
bitter, Meg really turned on a lightbulb for me as to why I want to work in the
field that I do. I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist, and when I fell in
love with middle grade/YA book covers, I wondered if I somehow failed the
maturity test. I’m a reasonable adult- shouldn’t I be illustrating for the New
Yorker or something?
Meg mentioned that the reason she writes for the YA genre is
that humans that age are “just the
right age to have [my] life changed by books.” I remember it so well, how
deeply I connected with a good book when I was that age. It’s not that I don’t
still enjoy books today, but I do feel more removed
from them than I did when I was 14. Kids that age are “seeking intensity. Big
emotions. Big ideas.” I love that intensity. What you say, and what they read,
really matters.
If anyone wants to lighten the mood, while picking up on
some handy writing tips along the way, I suggest you take a look at Meg’s blog:
Patrick Collins (Henry
Holt) and Isabel Warren-Lynch (Knopf
& Delacorte)
Though they had differing opinions on what styles personally
spoke to them, both agreed on many items that “hook” them, such as strong,
identifiable characters, an emotional connection to promote storytelling, body
language, and simplicity. It’s a good reminder from the Big Guys that no matter
who your connections are, no matter what your personal style is, it all comes
back to a solid foundation.
Shaun Tan
Honestly, I had no idea who Shaun Tan was until a few months
ago, probably when he was announced as a speaker for the conference. I looked
him up a while back and fell in love with his pencils from The Arrival.
“The truths I am most interested in are the ones that can’t
be spoken about directly.”
In a time where everyone seems to be shouting how great they
are through every social media outlet they can find, it’s refreshing to listen
to someone so introspective as Shaun. He reminded me of my early days (you
know, since I’m such a seasoned professional now) when the most interesting
thing about making art was delving into my own psyche. It was less about “storytelling”
for me at that point, and more about telling my own story. I had kind of
forgotten what that felt like.
Also, I just really liked this sound bite of his on surrealism
vs his own work: He’s just “accessing everyday reality through a sideways door.” If you’re interested in hearing more “deep thoughts” by Shaun Tan, he has a
good collection of essays on his website:
Julie Andrews
It was so nice to hear her voice in person!
Mo Willems
Another hilarious personality. To be honest, I’m not a huge
fan of Mo’s work; it’s just not my style. But he was a great speaker and I’m
glad that the SCBWI brought in so many interesting personalities that really
kept the audience engaged. I don’t know if they look for comedians or if it just
worked out that way, but I enjoyed every workshop.
Mo recommended you always approach your work as though you
want to change the world for the better, not just to get published. That will
push you to make better work.
I don’t often make an attempt at writing, as I know where my
strengths lie. But Mo had, in my humble opinion, some great advice: “In
writing, you (the author) are in the way. You’re the third wheel. You have to
be invisible.”
And this advice is relevant to anyone, writer or illustrator
or any type of creative: “Ideas are not animals to be trapped.”
Lastly- I can't believe I didn't win the joke contest! I thought mine was hilarious:
Lastly- I can't believe I didn't win the joke contest! I thought mine was hilarious:
A guy walks into a bar, and says to Chicken Little; "What's up?"
*****
This post is getting rather long, but I just had to mention
how I ended my Saturday, as it was so unusual. Nothing to do with the conference,
but I still recommend it if you’re in NY. A friend and I went to see the
immersive theatre piece “Sleep No More”. It’s visually stunning, though definitely
not for everyone.
Sleep No More is roughly based on Macbeth, which is helpful to know beforehand because it would be hard to pick up on. But knowing that helps you make sense of some of the scenes you happen upon. I am having trouble, even now, explaining it, except that I can say it covers a huge 5-floor hotel which you can roam through freely, and every room is meticulously designed to enchant the eyes. Spectators wear masks, no one speaks, but hauntingly beautiful music follows you throughout the hotel. If that sounds like your kind of thing, check out the website below:
Sleep No More is roughly based on Macbeth, which is helpful to know beforehand because it would be hard to pick up on. But knowing that helps you make sense of some of the scenes you happen upon. I am having trouble, even now, explaining it, except that I can say it covers a huge 5-floor hotel which you can roam through freely, and every room is meticulously designed to enchant the eyes. Spectators wear masks, no one speaks, but hauntingly beautiful music follows you throughout the hotel. If that sounds like your kind of thing, check out the website below:
