School’s in! Please find your class schedule below. Note: Classes never fill up at SCBWI-Illinois Academy, none are offered at 8 a.m. (unless you want them to be), they are free, and everyone gets As. Enjoy!
Heather Banks
Editor
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Greeting and Orientation: Alice McGinty, Lisa Bierman, and Sara Shacter introduce themselves to new and returning students.
OUR CHAPTER 101
• Illustrator in the Spotlight: Star student Andrew Day describes the journey to illustrating his first book.
• Tales from the Front: Star student Susan Fine tells how she crossed the finish line for her YA novel.
• Season’s Crop: It’s our honor roll, compiled by Bev Patt and Ruth Spiro.
HAPPENINGS 102
• Classes: SCBWI-Illinois Academy isn’t enough? June Sengpiehl lists classes, conferences, and MFA programs here.
• News Roundup: Tabitha Olson keeps you informed on everything outside school, including events, contests, and awards.
• Food for Thought: Sallie Wolf has planned an event with Scholastic Book Fairs that is sure to be better than cafeteria food!
• Don’t Miss: Check out these extracurriculars: the Speakers Directory, organized by Lorijo Metz, and our 5th Prairie Writer’s Day.
CRAFT 103
• Writing Tips: As Carmela Martino gains the title of professor emerita, she shares with us her favorite writing resources.
• Critique Group Tips: Because our peers can teach us as much as anyone, Meg Fleming Lentz shares critique group tips she learned at SCBWI’s L.A. Conference.
• Illustrator Tips: Kathleen Rietz helps us prepare for the “real world” by describing her experience with an agent.
• Writer’s Bookshelf: Jenny Meyerhoff reviews Book in a Month to help us with those novel-writing cram sessions.
• Book Look: Studying The Wednesday Wars alongside Brenda Ferber is as good as a hands-on internship.
CAREER 104
• The Irrepressible Writer: Carol Grannick, our resident counselor, reminds us to be open to the benefits of surprise—and surprises us with a new name for her column!
• Promote That Book! Cynthea Liu suggests how much social marketing we need to, got to, and have to do.
• Kidlitosphere: Use the first SCBWI-Illinois blogroll, compiled by Dawn Malone, to connect with—and learn from—one another.
• Booksellers’ Perspective: Take a field trip to Eileen Fesco’s Book Mouse bookstore, where you will discover which books sell and why.
• A Fly on the Wall: It’s almost like cheating…Juliet C. Bond gives a glimpse of ALA to those who couldn’t be there.
• Someone You Should Know: Sara Grant, of Working Partners, hosts our own private job fair with a ghostwriting opportunity.
• Op/Ed Commencement Address: Honorary SCBWI-Illinois degree holders Carol Brendler and Keith McGowan discuss their experiences as writers abroad with debut books.
