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General Information SCBWI-MI holds four to six events each year. These may include Networks Day, Critique Meets, Critiquenics, workshops, or full-day events. Traditionally, we hold one weekend event, either a conference or retreat, in October. Event locations are varied in an effort to equitably serve our membership. Events have been held in and around Detroit, Lansing, Kalamazoo wherever we have a high concentration of members and a suitable facility. Some events are open to nonmembers and registration is priced accordingly. If you'd like to see an event in your area of Michigan and know a facility where it might be held, please suggest it to one of our Regional Advisors. Networks Day provides a time and place for new and not-so-new members to meet, talk, share news, information, and ideas. On this day, simultaneous social gatherings hosted by members are held at various locations throughout our state. This is an excellent time to inquire about local critique groups or to form new groups with others. All members are encouraged to attend. Anyone interested in learning more about our SCBWI-MI chapter is also welcome. We encourage members to bring their latest books, magazines (in which their articles/illustrations appear), etc. Hosts provide light refreshments but you might volunteer to bring a snack (cookies, fruit, bagels --whatever) to share. Many hands make light work. Critique Meets allow opportunity to our members, both writers and illustrators, to participate in facilitated sessions with a professional. If you don't belong to a critique group, are submitting manuscripts but receiving form rejections, or maybe just crave some new input, Critique Meets can be enlightening. Participants bring multiple copies of their manuscript(s) [or dummy or portfolio] to be discussed within an assigned group. Guidelines are provided upon registration. Meets are designed to service members; some Meets are open to nonmembers as well. Critiquenics Combine a picnic with critique opportunity and voila-Critiquenic! On this informal day, members munch, chat, share manuscripts, dummies and art. (Whadaya think, does it look like a frog?) Workshops generally focus on a particular topic. Topics have included marketing, nonfiction, picture books, illustration, promotion, school talks, and a host of others. Speakers and topics vary and reflect members' interests and requests. Full-day Events offer opportunity to hear speakers from major publishing houses, or others well known in children's publishing. This busy day allows little or no time for peer meetings or critiques. Zip to the bathroom when you can. Much information is provided without the expense of overnight lodging. These events sometimes include an additional element such as an art exhibition. Conferences offer presentations from editors, art directors, authors, illustrators, agents or others in our profession. There is always time for questions. Manuscript or portfolio consultations are often available to those who register early. Sometimes peer critique group meetings are held. Lots of information is shared but register early, conferences are very popular. Retreats provide working authors and/or illustrators a place to relax, to focus on craft and meet with peers while somebody else does the cooking. Nurturing professionals provide informal presentations to the serious. Retreats are first offered to members and registration is sometimes limited. If you'd like to see an event with a particular focus, please suggest it to one of our Regional Advisors. Volunteer to help with the event and make it happen even sooner. |
