SCBWI Southern Breeze
Howdy Howdy! Cobb and Paulding Writers & Illustrators
Spring is Popping! I hope you guys were inspired by the Conference to put your best foot forwards towards publications!
Upcoming Events
Cobb/Paulding Pitch Practice & Presenting Portfolios!
Friday May 16th 11am-12pm
Heritage Park
Encore Meeting: Zoom at 7pm: Link here
Let’s get together and talk about our babies! Come prepared to pitch your story to a captured audience, or share your illustration skills with perspective partners. We will pretend to be agents and editors interested in acquiring your work! Prepare a short one sentence. Come prepared to try and sell us your story!
Write down your pitch, but also be prepared to talk about it freestyle. Remember you are your own commercial! We will listen, ask questions, and offer feedback. I can’t wait to learn what all of you are working on!
It is important to be an active listener during this activity. Attention to where you loose interest, or at what moments the pitch captures their attention.
Pitchers should make a note of the questions you’re asked, and what your audience didn’t understand. You don’t have to give away plot twists, but be careful. You want your audience to be interested in what comes next, not frustrated by being baited and teased. Think of the blurbs on the back of your favorite books. What made you give a new author a try? What did a friend say to spark your interest in a different genre? Why are you writing this book? Who is your target audience?
Things to keep in mind:
Voice – try to write your pitch in the same voice and tone as the story itself. This gives the reader a sample of the world they are pulling them into.
Hook - Capture your audience with a single sentence, word or phrase that draws them into the story.
Summary - a short and captivating paragraph that explains your character, their conflict, and what they must do to find happiness.
Lead In - A final paragraph or sentence to let the audience know what they are in for. Can be credits for the author, a tease at character arches or an intriguing question.
“What actually happens when you give a mouse a cookie?”
~Cobb/Paulding Bookish Events!~
Black Girl Book Fair
Location: The Book Worm in Historic Downtown Powder Springs
Date: April 26th
Time: 10am - 2pm
The Book Worm Book Fest
Topic: An Event for Book lovers of All Ages
Location: Historic Downtown Powder Springs
Dates: April 28 - May 3
~Southern Breeze Events~
Southern Breeze Writing Contest: Pitch-a-palooza!
Date: June 1-30
Writing Tip
Public Speaking goes hand-in-hand with storytelling.
Whether reading out loud to little listeners, or explaining the complicated plot of a particularly perfect scene to an adult audience, being able to capture the attention of your listeners is an essential skill.
Practice pitching your story, where appropriate, to gauge interest in your work. Being able to briefly summarize your plot to a variety of different people - especially people in your target age range or demographic will help you think about your message and your theme, and whether or not you are conveying those key elements effectively. You’d be amazed at how this activity may bring more clarity to characters, help simplify a plot, or weed out unneeded details. The more you talk about your story the easier it will become to pitch to agents.
Once you know how to pitch your story pretty smoothly, verbally writing your query for publishers will go a little easier. Being able to sell your story verbally will demonstrate to agents and editors how they might sell your book. It will prepare you to become your own advocate and help you sell yourself at school visits, book signings, and conferences! Prepare for success by practicing your pitch!
Attention Illustrators!
Would any of you illustrators of Cobb/Paulding be interested in loaning your artwork to this newsletter? Nothing fancy, just a bird or butterfly here or there? Kids reading, or playing or having a great time? I can’t pay you, but if you’re interested in this small publicity opportunity please DM me.
You would, of course, be credited for your work and your website or blog would be posted as well. No worries.
Speaking of which!
Credit Here!
Do you have a personal website or posting you’d like to share with your fellow Cobb/Paulding writers? Perhaps you've found a site that would be useful to your friends! I would like start a "Website Spotlight" section to this newletter. So as long as site related to books, writing, or your writing, share the link with me and I’ll add them to the end of the next newsletters. Get the word out about your and your writing so that your fellow Cobb/Paulding creatives can check you out!
For example I'll go first:
Website Spotlight!
Porsche B Yeary was a bookworm before she was a writer! On her blog "The Jelly-Bell Book Club" you'll find what she's been reading lately. See her take on everything from popular pop culture paperbacks, to classic novels, and a few books she read not knowing what she was getting into.
It’s a lighthearted jog through the mind of your favorite local liaison. Subscribe to comment so that you never miss a post. And I’ll see you on the next page!
Blog and website ads are first come first serve. So DM soon.
More to Come
Questions? Suggestions? Ideas? Just want to let me know about your accomplishments? Please drop me a line anytime!
Happy Writing Cobb and Paulding!
