HELLO!
Notes from your Houston SCBWI Co-Regional Advisors
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We're better together!
Sure, we could be talking about your regional advisors who happen to be best friends, but this sentiment really applies to our entire collective of SCBWI creatives. When we gather at events, we
are more likely to recognize our talents than we ever could, holed up in a lonely room. By gathering together, we are empowering ourselves with diverse perspectives, and gaining valuable encouragement, advice, and collaboration on future projects. So I'll say it again: WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER.
With that being said, we have our end of the year party comin' up! We've only mentioned it a few (hundred) times, but save the date! (it's listed in the graphic below.)
And to continue harping on the "we are better together" phrase, we are planning to populate 2024 with events in both the free, and the costs-just-enough-to-provide-the-free, price range. We are speaking with agents and authors to offer webinars, but also plan to have group creativity exercises. Don't miss any upcoming events. Make sure you are connected with our groups.oi page and checking the SCBWI homepage regularly.
Bonus Note: We've realized we have so much to share with you, that it's just too much to read in one newsletter. You may notice we have removed the Member's News. Don't worry, starting January, that will come in it's own special mailer. And although some events will remain in this newsletter, we have limited the amount and created a separate mailer for those as well. This way you can get your news in bite-sized portions AND and make it easier to access the information you're interested in.
Kaye Marc-Charles
Annie Roi Harmon
Co-Regional Advisors
Houston SCBWI
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December Monthly Meeting
Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Snow.
Snow who?
Snow time to waste. It’s time for our party!
Join Houston SCBWI IN-PERSON to celebrate the holiday season with a festive party! We’re doing a no-fuss potluck with plenty of mingling and socializing. Join the fun for: Games, Food & drinks, Holiday music (obviously!) and DOOR PRIZES!! You can choose to sign up to bring a food item or drink in SignUpGenius. The chapter will provide paper goods, silverware, and ice.
And since we’re meeting in-person, we’re also using this time to thank Meghan for her years of dedication.
Where: Tracy Gee Community Center
When: December 11, 7-9 PM
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Houston Chapter Critique Group
we normally met just before our Chapter Meeting. But not this month! For this meeting, we are having All Fun and No Work! But otherwise it will be as follows:
When: Next Critique Group
January 8, 2024
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST
What: An informal critique group to meet before most of our chapter meetings.
Details: All written and illustrated works-in-progress intended for the children’s market are welcome.
Please view the group's guidelines prior to attending.
No critique group in December! See you in January!
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If you're working on a picture book....
make sure to check out THIS craft building webinar! Save the date: Sunday, January 6 (more details on Houston's SCBWI Events Page)
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Coming to January's Meeting
Captain Create shares how a shift in focus can bring storytelling goals within reach
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All y'all PALs, get your proposals ready!
In early 2024 we are going to open up applications for panel proposals for the Texas conference. PALs can propose a panel topic and we will put together the panel including them. The panel will be limited, but we are excited to consider all our amazing PAL's proposals. Start thinking about them now, and get them send to after Jan 1, 2024
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Have News? Share It With Us!
Submit author & illustrator news for the next newsletter by the 25th of each month via this form. Event submissions for member book launches and signings can be added to our regional calendar! Please be sure to include the date, time, and location.
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SALE YOUR BOOKS ON THE SCBWI WEBSITE!
Our annual member bookselling promotion is back. SCBWI BookStop is now open for you to create pages and let book readers and buyers browse, buy, and enjoy your work. BookStop is open to all premium members – PAL, Full, Associate, Student, and Developing Nations.
- Books published between January 1, 2019 - February 28, 2024, are eligible for BookStop.
- To be eligible for BookStop, books must have been published after January 1, 2019, and before February 28, 2024.
- A BookStop page is USD $25.
Bookmark scbwi.org/bookstop-faq to keep up on any new developments.
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DrawThis Prompt!
The December prompt is: Abstract
Every month we develop a long list of potential #scbwiDrawThis prompts to choose one word or phrase that will challenge our illustrator members to dig deep and draw. Our goal is to find words rooted in a unique action, mood, point of view, or character theme. We also hope this practice will help you develop new art for your growing portfolios. Post your work to Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and in your SCBWI Illustrator Gallery with the hashtag #SCBWIDrawThis. We want to see what you create!
#scbwiDrawThis
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FOLK WISDOM & OTHER THOUGHTS
By Jim Smolski
The smallest ray of sunshine can start a leaf to turn and look with hope. I want to be the sunshine that creates that moment for at least one leaf every day. -Jim
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It’s Winter
Changing, they can feel it.
The animals are scurrying.
As winter pushes out the fall.
Gives reason for their hurrying.
The woods are filled with worry.
They’ll prepare for what is coming.
Colder weather, maybe snow.
For them can be quite numbing.
Furr and feathers are not enough.
To shield what winter brings.
They gather food and shelter.
That will carry them to spring.
It’s winter, final details met.
It will have to be enough.
They huddle together, settle in.
For winters can be rough.
I watch them through my window,
The beauty of their survival.
All the best, we’ll meet again
With the spring's arrival.
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Rope in your pens and paints and projects cause this year we’re holdin’ a conference as big as Texas!
That’s right, for the first time ever, we’ll be holdin’ one conference for all Texas writers and illustrators down in the center of Texas. We’ll have opportunities for you to hone your craft and also pitch and network with agents and editors from any number of houses. Maybe even ones from New York City.
So polish those pitches.
Pore over your portfolios.
And save May 4-5, 2024 on your calendars!
For more information, check out our webpage.
We’ll keep a spot open for ya!
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Draw This Award!
A monthly art prompt, part of the SCBWI publication Insight.
All submissions shown on the online gallery, and two winners featured in Insight, the website, and social media.
Check for submission guidelines.
Click for More Info
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Golden Kite Award
Authors/Illustrators must be a current member through December 2023 to have a book submitted to the Golden Kite Awards.
Books must be published by PAL publishers.
The book submitted must be published in 2023.
Click for More Info
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BIPOC Scholarship
All expense paid trip to the Winter or Summer Conference for Black, Indigenous, and People of color.
Submissions open Friday, October 27 through Friday, December 1.
Winners announced December 15.
Click for More Info
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OPEN Volunteer Positions
We want to create a chapter that is more involved, engaged, and active, and we need your help to do it!
Open Positions:
Event Webmaster/Ticketing Manager, Social Media Crew, and PAL Coordinator.
Click here for more information or to apply.
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News and other information may be passed on without attribution; original artwork and writing are the property of their creators and may be reproduced only with written permission.
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