SCBWI Adventures in Nonfiction Conference

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I was really excited about attending the SCBWI Adventures in Nonfiction conference, and I am happy to say that I was not disappointed. I had a lot of fun and learned so much!

I came home with 14 pages of notes in a notebook, multiple worksheets (with even more of my handwritten notes), numerous ideas for nonfiction children’s books, and a personalized signed copy of Women Who Dared that I won as a door prize.

Women Who Dared is a beautiful book written by Linda Skeers about 52 not as well-known women in history who dared to dream big. I personally know Linda, and I was super excited to win this book as a door prize. My daughters read through this book and were inspired to research more about a couple of the women.

Anyways, some things we discussed at the conference include:

• numerous nonfiction formats with lots of books as examples
• ways to come up with ideas for a nonfiction book (did a fun exercise for this)
• trends of nonfiction
• job of an editor
• effective submission strategies
• work-for-hire information
• visual appeal
• word counts
• sources to use/research information
• when to follow-up with a submission
• common mistakes in manuscripts
• types of educational markets
• advantages/disadvantages of working with educational markets
• resources to look at to find more information
• cover letters and resumes
• writing for an existing series
• writing for a specific grade level
• picture book biographies
• “through lines” (with another fun exercise)
• matching voice of story with subject
• openings

I am still trying to process all of the information, but I am excited to create some works of nonfiction using some of the information I learned. Nonfiction does not have to mean boring!

What is something you are trying to learn more about?

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