The SCBWI Retreat was held from 5-9 May 2008 at Goudini Spa, a stunning venue.
SCBWI Retreat: From story board and manuscript to published book
From story board to published book: How to find your own way in the world of publishing - a talk by international literary agent Susanne Koppe
Susanne explained that she works as a literary agent in Hamburg, Germany mainly with German authors. She also does some “internship” work with teenagers in schools.
She spoke about her career in children’s books which has involved study of children’s literature, work as a scout for the publishing house Beltz & Gelberg and Random House and running of the children’s booklist for Rotfuchs at Rowohlt Publishers. In 2002 she founded her own agency for literature and illustration.
Susanne described her work as an agent. She suggested that writers and illustrators should be careful in choosing an agent and should not pay money for reviews as this practice is open to corruption. It is also important to find someone who shares your values and ideas about books.
Susanne showed some of the books that she has worked on. They included some interesting “pop-up” type books, picture books, a “story song” type book with its own CD, picture books with riddles etc. She has also worked on longer stories for young adults such as those by Lilli Thal. She tries to look at the market and publish what makes sense as well as what is good.
A threat to children’s books in Europe are the big bookshops with limited lists. More than publishers, these minimize variety. Often they will say that a book is out of print when it is available from the publisher.
Book Fairs
There are a number of book fairs in Europe . Susanne particularly recommended the Bologna Book Fair which is specifically for children’s books.
Branding yourself
It is a good idea to give something small to people whom you would like to work with, such as the stamps that she has made.
Royalties
In Germany these are normally about 15%.
Packaging
Packaging is practised in some countries by some publishing houses who put together a concept and try to sell this.
Submission of manuscripts
It is best to post, not email these. Emails can get lost and are impersonal.
Submission of illustrations
Jpegs can work very well. Original artwork should never be sent. It indicates lack of professionalism and creates anxiety for the agent who has to return it without damaging it. If an original piece of work is sent t
o make a particular point, it should be small and should be sent as something that does not need to be returned. Covering letter
Give some background regarding why you wrote the book.
Summarise the plot.
Longer books - include about three chapters of the book. The exact number of words to send will vary according to the type of book.
Picture books - send the whole book.
SCBWI Retreat: Blank page to under a child's pillow - the creative process
Blank page to under a child's pillow - the creative process - a talk by Editorial Director, Picture/Gift Books, Macmillan Children's Books, UK, Suzanne Carnell.
Suzanne began her talk with a picture of her desk back home in the UK and pointed to the various pictures, mementos, reminders and notes around it to introduce the different kinds of work she does as well as the authors and illustrators she works 
with. Although Macmillan says it doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts, she said that the post often brought surprizes that the staff couldn't resist looking at. In this way some of their well known authors had first been published.
with. Although Macmillan says it doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts, she said that the post often brought surprizes that the staff couldn't resist looking at. In this way some of their well known authors had first been published.She described working with people such as Emily Gravett, Julia Donaldson, Kazuno Kohar and Chris Riddell. Altogether the talk provided a tantalising insight into the work of a children's book publisher. The audience loved seeing the examples of books Macmillan had published. It was fascinating to see the process followed during the writing, illustrating and publishing of a book.
SCBWI Retreat: International Children's magazine market
International children's magazine market: What material they need, how to submit work, how children's magazine copyright and payment works - a talk by international editor Christine ClarkChristine began her talk by describing her experience as a child reader of magazines. She discussed a magaznine's predicability in terms of arrival and features as well as the surprizes offered by each edition. A magazine informs, entertains and inspires. Subscription to a magazine gives a child a sense of ownership as she receives an item in the mail addressed to her. Magazines are also good for reluctant readers because they break information into manageable chunks.
Surveys of magazine reading by children show that large percentages read magazines often.
Christine showed slides of a wide range of children's magazines which are available in the US, such as: Dig, Hopschotch for Girls, Cricket, American Girl, Ranger Rick, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Rocket, Chirp, National Geographic for Kids, New Moon, Ladybug, Faces, Your big backyard, Iguana, Cobblestone, Muse, Zootles, Calliope,
National Geographic for Little Kids and Owl.
Christine described how people write for Highlights magazine. She suggested that anyone aspiring to write for a children's magazine should:
Get the writers' guidelines
Carry out an extensive analysis of the content, brand and identity of the magazine.
Find out what the ideals of the magazine are / what is its mission statement?
Highlights magazine was founded in 1946 by two teachers who wanted to develop tolerance among kids without being too heavy-handed. It is a general interest magazine. 85% of the magazine is written by free lancers. Every issue has certain features such as a non-fiction article about another part of the world. Its indirect message is that "we are more alike than we are different".
The word length of articles is approximately 800 words. However, if an article targets a younger group, then a slighly larger font is used and the article comprises fewer words.
Christine acknowledged the Highlights Foundation which had enabled her visit to South Africa. Its purpose is to raise the standard of children's literature.
SCBWI Retreat: Panel Discussions
At the SCBWI Retreat two very interesting panel discussions were held. The panel members gave invaluable information and the contributions from the floor were very useful.
The topics were:
The naked editor: publishers, international and local, in dialogue
and
Contracts and payment terms
SCBWI Retreat: Stories by Sindiwe Magona
During the SCBWI Retreat, delegates were treated to stories each night which were created and told by Sindiwe Magona - a REAL treat!
SCBWI Retreat: Workshops
During the SCBWI Retreat held at Goudini from 5-9 May, a number of wonderful workshops were held which helped participants to develop skills.
Writer's tools, style, grammar and dialogue - Robin Malan and Janie Oosthuysen
How to draw children: An in-depth look at children of different ages and how their boides change - Marjorie van Heerden
Verbal characterization, character development for writers - LeAnne Hardy and Marianne Brandt
Visual characterization, character development for illustrators - Joan Rankin
Writer's tools, style, grammar and dialogue - Robin Malan and Janie Oosthuysen
How to draw children: An in-depth look at children of different ages and how their boides change - Marjorie van Heerden
Verbal characterization, character development for writers - LeAnne Hardy and Marianne Brandt
Visual characterization, character development for illustrators - Joan Rankin
SCBWI Retreat: Group discussions
A number of very interesting group discussions took place at the SCBWI Retreat. Topics included:Planning, Deadlines vs Creativity: Balancing your life
and
Finding your niche
and nurturing it: Finding your muse inside yourself
SCBWI Retreat: Gauteng representatives
For some pictures of Gauteng reps to the Retreat, click on the title above.
Book Design
Thanks to Janie Oosthuysen for this report on an SCBWI meeting in Cape Town.
Another interesting meeting of the SCBWI took place in the Bellville Library on Thursday 6 March. Beverley (Struik), Michelle (Tafelberg) and Sally (a free-lancer) spoke on book design, a fairly recent phenomenon in South Africa.
Text, illustrations and book design should work together to form a cohesive whole, the design setting off the text and illustrations to advantage. Beverley emphasised the importance of white space, i.e. the thicker the book the larger the margins, 10 – 13 cm all round, and up to 20 cm in the middle to prevent distortion. Smaller point size and bigger lead-in is more legible than the other way around. There is a fine line between what children see as either exciting or babyish, but designers shouldn’t ignore the physical presence of words, as in “the BIG bear”. Much fun can be had with typography as an art form, as well as with deconstructive fonts (Tanya). In general designers should stick to one font and use size, bold, regular and italics for variation. Cover font should tie in with inside font and match both illustrations and text.
Illustrators’ portfolios were also briefly discussed. Michelle emphasised the importance of showing the publisher that you can interpret different texts, and Beverley would like to see various talents displayed, e.g. that the illustrator can do both animals and people.
After a super meal and some discussion we all left, feeling much wiser.
Another interesting meeting of the SCBWI took place in the Bellville Library on Thursday 6 March. Beverley (Struik), Michelle (Tafelberg) and Sally (a free-lancer) spoke on book design, a fairly recent phenomenon in South Africa.
Text, illustrations and book design should work together to form a cohesive whole, the design setting off the text and illustrations to advantage. Beverley emphasised the importance of white space, i.e. the thicker the book the larger the margins, 10 – 13 cm all round, and up to 20 cm in the middle to prevent distortion. Smaller point size and bigger lead-in is more legible than the other way around. There is a fine line between what children see as either exciting or babyish, but designers shouldn’t ignore the physical presence of words, as in “the BIG bear”. Much fun can be had with typography as an art form, as well as with deconstructive fonts (Tanya). In general designers should stick to one font and use size, bold, regular and italics for variation. Cover font should tie in with inside font and match both illustrations and text.
Illustrators’ portfolios were also briefly discussed. Michelle emphasised the importance of showing the publisher that you can interpret different texts, and Beverley would like to see various talents displayed, e.g. that the illustrator can do both animals and people.
After a super meal and some discussion we all left, feeling much wiser.
Spoke, Rillers en ander Grillers
Liewe Lewendes & Bewendes
In die middernagure, onder ‘n bleekwit maan en draderige swart miswolke, is Fantasi Boeke is besig om ‘n bundel vol splinternuwe spookstories saam te stel. Die kerslig flikker-flikker en die verroeste enkelketting wat styf om die toegesluite uitgewer se enkel vas is, ratel staalswaar oor die verrotte houtplanke.
Kraak! Kraaaaaak! kerm die vloer as sy suutjies na die klein, swart venstertjie sluip en doodbang uitloer na die bedompige nag.
“Asseblief!” pleit sy in ‘n hees, hol stem, “asseblief, ek kort stories! Kort of lank, verskriklik of vreeslik snaaks, grillerig of spokerig, bloederig of beduiweld, raaisels of rympies ... enige woorde om my boek voor Julie vol te maak!
Die aaklige Kasteeleienaar gaan my nek omdraai as ek nie genoeg stories met my vangnet gryp nie ...”
“Stuur enige bydraes saam met ‘n vlermuis na hierdie adres voor einde Julie. Ek sal helder, goue muntstukke laat val vir enige woorde wat ek in my boek kan inpas. En ...” sy sluk swaar, “as julle enige kinders ken wat ook ‘n storie kan spin, stuur dit saam!
Enige wonderlike woorde wat my eienaar sal paai ... en my sal verlos van hierdie vreeslike straf!”