An editor tries the SCBWI

[Anna Bowles]

Cross-posted from http://www.chocolatekeyboard.blogspot.com

This week, I went to a SCBWI social. That’s the word ‘I’ and the word ‘social’ in the same sentence, which is usually the sort of thing that causes my boyfriend to protest: “Who are you and what have you done with Anna?”

But reader, I went.

I joined the SCBWI a couple of months ago, and I must confess the move was preceded by a certain amount of hesitation. I googled widely before stumping up for membership, and came across a body of opinion to the effect that the organisation is simply in the business of extracting an entrance fee from newbies then providing little more than an opportunity to experience shared cluelessness with people in the same boat.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised. Certainly there is a total lack of people handing me MSS in green ink as soon as I utter the word ‘editor’. One of the organisers – who has a tasty events schedule formulated for next year judging by the quick rundown I heard her give last month – remarked that, while some of the criticism might originally have had some grain of truth in it, the make-up of the organisation is diversifying as members get published and stay in the society. People don’t think: “Behold, I am published, I shall depart wreathed in the effulgence of my glory!” – they stick around because it’s a fun and supportive environment.

My main regret now is that I don't have an active project that's suitable for mulling over in a SCBWI context. At the moment my time is split between writing for fee and in-house editing; I'm hoping SCBWI will keep my appetite whetted for when I have some serious original fiction time.

During my brief membership to date, I’ve spoken to some people who knew a lot about publishing and some people who were just starting out, but they all seemed to be united by a good attitude and a work ethic. This reminds me – or rather sets itself up in opposition to – the experiences of a midlist crimewriter friend, who opines that her professional association dinners are all about eyeballing the next person along and wondering if and why their sales are much better than yours.

Perhaps it’s just that amateurs/aspirants can afford to be nice, while being professional hardens you, if not in one way then in another. One unexpected but predictable-in-hindsight effect that meeting some ‘scoobies’ did produce was to make me suddenly reflect that 10 years in commercial publishing has turned me into an evil old prune. There’s all these people talking about books being ‘good’ while my approach – spoken and thought – revolves around ‘marketing spend’ and ‘skew’ and other such jargon. Show me a ‘good’ idea and my immediate response is to bash it repeatedly with the marketability stick to see if it survives. I have to be careful not to go playing the ‘I’m an editor so I know best, nyah!!’ card and shouting people down – just because I know some corners of the business well, doesn’t make me oracular about everything.

Most of this is inevitable, I suppose – developing a strong market instinct is part of a modern editor’s job, and those scoobies who become successful authors probably start thinking the same way, or at least understand the logic behind the commercial approach.

But I also never want to forget why I like good books! All the more reason, then, to hang out with aspiring, craft-loving authors.

[Odette Elliott]

I'm glad that Anna Bowles, the editor who recently joined SCBWI", likes the atmosphere at SCBWI meetings! I certainly do. Everyone is so enthusiastic and willing to learn and to share information. I know we authors have to BE PROACTIVE about selling our books. Right now, my head is buzzing with all the possibilities and ways to "do" this publicity. Just thinking electronically, there is the Ning, Facebook, a website, blogging and yesterday I was told about "Link In" and many other ways, before my eyes began to glaze over. However, I shall persist and consider which is the best way for me. This could be something to discuss with SCBWI friends. . . . There was some good information given at the recent Conference in Winchester. I'm still deliberating..

[Debbie Edwards]

Welcome aboard!

[Liz de Jager]

What a fantastic blog post - thanks so much!

What I love about SCBWI and I've not even been here that long, is the buzz I get hanging out with everyone. Just listening to the stories and everyone's journey to this point is just thrilling and incredibly inspiring. It is the best money I've spent this year, I would say...oh, apart from buying my new iMac but that's another story.

[Nick Cross]

Yeah, I've noticed that the SCBWI bulletin has quite a high focus on author's activities after publication, whereas in the UK we are more focused on getting there in the first place. But you're right, Candy, it's important to keep growing the scope of what we do so that those authors who become successful want to stick around. This now includes you!

[candygourlay]

in the united states, scbwi attracts a lot of published authors and we are hoping that with the success of the undiscovered voices, we will keep and build the society to the same level of engagement with the old hands.

[Anna Bowles]

Indeed - I expected a much higher proportion of bimblers.

[Nick Cross]

Don't worry, you certainly don't come across as an evil old prune in the flesh! (pun intended)

What I like about SCBWI is the mix of abilities and accomplishments of the people I've met so far, and I'm hoping that conference will throw up an even wider range. I love the dedication of the members - everyone who isn't published *really* wants to get there and is prepared to work towards it. That's something I haven't always experienced in other writing groups I've joined, where people are often happy to bimble along and not move forward in their craft. There's nothing wrong with writing entirely for fun, of course, but I personally need that extra shove that aiming for publication provides.

Nick.