Time for another confession from the Conference Junkie.

It’s hard to type because I’m still shaky from the lingering caffeine/wine concoction in my blood stream that has replaced the normal plasma. My mind is dried out play-doh. I am a husk of a person. All this can only mean one thing for a Conference Junkie: The big crash after a big hit.

Well, 'HI' to you too, Donna

And not just any hit, but the hit-of-hits. As you know, the LA conference wrapped up at the beginning of this week. On Monday, approximately 1,300 kid-lit authors stumbled, blinking madly, out of the Hyatt and into the smog-colored SoCal sun (a.k.a The Real World). We were still experiencing the aftermath of the full conference high where day and night streamed into a constant haze. Exhaustion and mind-overload were balanced by coffee, booze, or a combination of the two. The whole world condensed into California level, Olympic I meeting room, waiting for the escalator, and the *Bux line.

Quick summary: Good times. Good times.

And how did this one Conference Junkie do? Fantastic. This year, I managed to remain ~7% human by the end and it makes me proud. See, while most conferences are two days max, LA is a four-day marathon. And last year, it almost wiped me out.

Buffoon or Baboon? Wait, don't answer that.

How did I manage such a crown achievement? By applying a number of techniques I learned as a result from 2010’s near-death-experience. Without further chatter – Here are my INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE SURVIVAL TIPS:

• Don’t try to do everything. This year, I missed keynotes, breakouts, and parties (yikes). I didn’t get to talk with all my favorite people enough. I even took a nap one afternoon. Part of me feels guilty, however, it helped me be more aware and enjoy the moments I did attend.
• Make sure to eat. Many gave me this advice on my wedding day and it holds true for conferences too. It’s easy to get distracted and miss meals…but your brain (and soul) needs nibbles, if only to counteract the caffeine and booze.
• Find alone time. There are people everywhere. All the time. And they’re all of the same wavelength, so it’s easy to chat and chat and chat. The problem is: you are likely introverted (not to judge, I am too). Sure, we’re fun – check out the dancing pics – but introverts *need* quiet time to recharge the batteries. Don’t deny yourself.
• Dance at the party. Even if you look like a baboon or buffoon or some hybrid of the two (or super suave - like me, you'll have fun).
• Bring tissue. The carpets in the main ballroom need to be cleaned badly and they constantly made me all misty-eyed. Mind you: the almost-tears had NOTHING to do with the fact that…
• Judy Blume was so amazing that I couldn’t write the quotes down fast enough (like how she wants her tombstone to read: Are you there God? It's me, Judy.)
• Or that Libba Bray might be the funniest person on the planet (Quiet down, tongue).  
• Or I could listen to Gary Paulsen all day. (While he was describing running the Iditarod, he slipped in lines like ‘When I write, the hair on the back of my neck stands’).
• Or Laurie Halse Anderson being so inspirational that I had to restrain from clapping most of the time (paraphrased: the seed of creativity whirs within you; it must take root for the writer to truly be healthy and happy).

Katy feelin' the groove

Simple stuff, right? But powerful.

In conclusion…another hit – another LA - another year gone. Yes, I’m pooped (I think all The Muses are), but lived to tell the tale. So take this advice to heart, dear Readers, and you too shall live through LA in 2012! See ya there!

Speaking of heart – and because I am DYING to find out – if you picked up a HEART ME! I WRITE FOR KIDS button/bookmark at the conference, comment on this blog post. And remember, any comment on YA Muses will get you a chance to win an ARC of UNDER THE NEVER SKY. 

Last week, I attended the SCBWI’s national conference in Los Angeles. The days went by in a whirlwind of meetings, lectures, dinners and parties-- truly, it was a whirlwind.

As my fellow Muses have mentioned, the best part was being around other people who love kids, books and writing.

Here are the highlights of my time there:

Favorite quotes:

Not knowing is more powerful than knowing.

- Bruce Coville

Embrace the suck of your early drafts.

- Libba Bray

Start the book on the day something different happens.

- Judy Blume

It’s your job as an artist to disturb the Universe.

= Laurie Halse Anderson

Favorite Moments

• Listening to the writers above speak, each of whom I’m a huge fan
• Dancing in pajamas with 1300 other writers – Who knew writers could be so much fun? Well, ok. I did. But really, the party this year was off the hook.
• Spending time with my amazing agent – We talk on the phone often, but nothing beats real face time.
• Meeting Bookanistas and Apocalypsies in person – Why is the writing community filled with such amazing people? Why, I ask?
• Dinner with the amazing Lorin Oberweger and Eric Elfman – A real treat to spend time with two of my most special people together.
• Breakfast with a college friend from my UCLA days –Some people never change, which is such a good thing.
• Celebrating a certain Muse's birthday with our favorite group publicist and a gaggle of smoking hot Brazilian dancers – Don’t ask. But yeah, also be jealous.
• Signing my very first ARC for the one and only Ellen Hopkins – What an honor. My hands were shaking.
• Celebrating a 40^th anniversary with the fantastic SCBWI – I can’t say enough about how grateful I am to this organization. It’s done so much for me personally, and does so much for the writing community at large. Hat’s off to you, SCBWI! To 40 more years!

My suitcases are unpacked and it’s time to get back to work, recharged and inspired. Off I go to disturb the Universe….

A final thought: thank you so much to those who have entered to win the UNDER THE NEVER SKY ARC. You've made me so happy. I would love to be able to give you each a copy, but since I can't, I wish you luck!

A four day conference surrounded by writers, friends, editors, agents and illustrators is exhilarating, inspiring and downright exhausting.  It's all of that and more.  There's something both terrifying and reassuring listening to Libba Bray discuss her torturous revision process for the third Gemma Doyle book.  You mean that it doesn't get easier?  At least we're not alone.

Here are some of my conference highlights:

From Bruce Colville:  Leave your heart on the page. My interpretation: Cut yourself open and bleed.  There is no substitute for real emotions, real pain, real embarrassment.  Let it all out there.  And then cut deeper. Your work will impact your readers.  Make it count.

From publisher Beverly Horowitz:  We are all gamblers.  Publishers gamble on the books they acquire and put into the marketplace.  Writers gamble on the books that they write.  Once the book is out there, there's no way of predicting which books will succeed or have staying power.  You can improve the odds by writing a great book, but accept that some things are out of your control.

From editor Krista Marino:  Interior monologue can transform your book.  Take a bare plot and bring it to life with interior commentary that shows your character's reactions and unique point of view.  Read a page from one of your favorite books.  Now read it with just the dialogue and physical stage directions, omitting the character's thoughts and feelings.  See the difference? Now do it with your own book.

From editor Arthur Levine:  First chapters are like first dates. Don't give in to the temptation to tell your entire life story.  Do put your best foot forward, whether it's character, voice, situation or concept.  Build the foundation for a long term relationship with your reader.

From Gary Paulsen: keep writing for children.  Adults are bulls***.

From a fellow attendee during the PJ Party:  It's cool to be a "friend of Bret."

Some other highlights:

Spending time with the incomparable Sarah Davies and meeting fellow Greenhouse authors. I even got a signed copy of SEAN GRISWALD'S HEAD from Lindsey Leavitt!  I'll be blogging about this book soon.

Meeting independent editor Lorin Obelweger.  She is amazingly talented.  And sweet.   

Seeing a  real live copy of the UNDER THE NEVER SKY ARC.  It's a book y'all.  An honest to God book.

Josh Adams' plaid pants.  They were seriously awesome.

Brazlian dancers.  Hot Brazlian dancers.  Every food court should have them.

Reconnecting with friends, and making new ones.  This is what the writing community is all about.

There was plenty of inspiration to be had at SCBWI LA, but the best part was being surrounded by friends, colleagues and people who all share a love of books and writing! See you there next year!

As I said just a short while ago, the amazing Kjersten Anna Hayes was one of my roommates this year at the SCBWI conference in Los Angeles.  And though writers and illustrators attend all the same keynote events, the same parties and many of the same breakout sessions, I wondered if their experiences would be any different.  So I asked Kjersten if she would give us the rundown of her own highlights of the conference and she kindly agreed.  Please join me in welcoming Kjersten to the blog!

Peacock Juggling by Kjersten Anna Hayes

1. The Portfolio Show:
It seems like it would be impossible to be a children's book illustrator or aspiring illustrator and not be in awe of the work and heart  poured into the nearly 190 portfolios that were on display during Saturday night's portfolio show. It was a joy to participate in and a joy to have a chance to browse through so many of my peers' works. 

2. Salley Mavor's workshop, The Joys and Challenges of Dimensional Illustration: 
While I don't work in three-dimensional art (I work in collage), I'm fascinated by Salley's embroidered fabric relief technique. Seeing the slides and videos of her craftsmanship at work was a rare and special treat. 

3. The Illustrator Intensive: 
Monday was an entire day of WOW. It was a day I think few illustrators who were present will ever forget. We watched legends of our field, Paul O. Zelinsky, Marla Frazee, Richard Jesse Watson, Kadir Nelson, Denise Fleming, David Small and Jerry Pinkney, demonstrate their craft. They shared bits of their inspirations, their hearts,their joys and their weaknesses. It was the rarest of amazing moments -- to be present while artists were at work and to have a peek-a-boo view into genius. 

Kjersten Anna Hayes is an artist and author-illustrator who works primarily with paper collage.  She also creates useful works of gorgeous art (handmade books, picture frames, albums and journals).  She currently lives in Malaysia, but you can find her at www.kjerstenannahayes.com. 

I love conferences.  Like Bret, I'm a bit of a junkie.  And this year's LA conference provided many opportunities for inspiration, contemplation and fangirling (I got to see Judy Blume up close!  And Donna talked to her!)  But these days, for me, the most inspiring and work-affirming opportunities were meeting up with my fellow writers -- all of us struggling with the same demons and celebrating the little successes.

A short list:  the brilliant Stasia Ward Kehoe, my publishing "twin" (we have the same agent and editor) whose verse novel, AUDITION will launch in October.  Sara Wilson Etienne, Gretchen McNeil, Kristen Kittscher, Barry Wolverton and Brodi Ashton, fellow Apocalypsies and Corrine Jackson, Kimberly Sabatini and Debra Driza, sister Class of 2k12 debuts, and the lovely Nicole Maggi, who was once an Apocalypsie but now debuts in 2013.

And, of course, my amazing roommates, Jackie Garlick-Pynaert, whose writing imagery makes me want to weep and Kjersten Anna Hayes, whose artistic capabilities with paper collage make me smile.  Kjersten will be providing an illustrator's perspective on the conference later today.

We're all still in LA, so this will be short and sweet.

There were so many amazing, inspiring keynote speakers - but my favorites included Libby Bray's address, "Writing it All Wrong: A Survival Manual." She had the 1200+ audience in the palm of her hand. Hysterically funny, but exactly what I needed to hear. Then Gary Paulsen walked up to the microphone and shared his incredible life story. But the absolute highlight for me was seeing and listening to Judy Blume. Because she is ...well... JUDY BLUME!

LA was also wonderful for seeing people in person. Writing is often an isolating career, so having those face-to-face meetings can be especially meaningful. This time, I had the opportunity to meet Debra Dorfman, VP and Publisher for Scholastic, and heard her speak on "After Acquisition: Then What?" This was especially timely for me since I had just been through the process. Of course, I'm a little biased since Debra is my publisher (I love saying that... MY publisher). I had the opportunity to meet with my new film agent, Jerry Kalajian, in the lobby of the Century City Hyatt hotel and felt incredibly Hollywood. I was also able to spend time with my agent extraordinaire, Sarah Davies, and had a lovely dinner with other Greenhouse clients. And of course, finally, there was the fabulous pool party where we all danced around wildly in our pajamas.

Even with all the fabulousness mentioned above, the BEST thing was spending quality time with the Muses. I feel incredibly blessed they're in my life and seeing them in person (and having them share my birthday in LA) was priceless.