Voice, Vision and Vitality: Bringing Children’s Literature to Life

By Laura Deal
We all want our work to have that extra something that will make editors and art directors sit up and take notice. For writers, that mysterious quality may be voice, while for illustrators, it may come down to vision. Whatever we call it, it’s what makes our art and words come alive.

Often we focus so carefully on technique that we lose track of the passion that gives craft the transforming vitality that makes it art. Our Fall 2004 Conference, “Voice, Vision, and Vitality: Bringing Children’s Literature to Life,” will help us identify and discover those sometimes mysterious elements.

To start our Saturday program, award-winning novelist Julie Peters will offer a keynote on how to keep the vitality in your career when the odds seemed stacked against you. In “How to Become an Overnight Sensation in Only Fifteen Years,” Peters will help us navigate the journey of a career in writing. In her afternoon session, “The Zen of Voice,” Peters will define what “voice” is and help you learn how to hear it in order to develop your own.

Cecile Goyette, Senior Editor with Dial Books for Young Readers, will give us the editor’s inside view on the elements that give manuscripts that extra pizzazz in “The Ear, Heart, and Psyche Connection: How to Create Reverb between Page and Reader.”

Mary Lee Donovan, Executive Editor at Candlewick Press, in her talk, "A Word is Worth a Thousand Pictures: The Importance of Text in Picture Books for Children," will discuss the influence of choosing the right words, a task that requires precision, patience, and pencils.

Linda Arms White will explain how to breathe life into your characters and give them depth in the breakout session “Characters for Hire.” The author of award-winning picture books, White will help you understand how to plan and develop characters that will bring vitality to your story.

We’ll also have the opportunity to learn from Alane Ferguson, now writing her third series. She’ll share her insights on how she integrates voice, vision, and vitality into her work, whether it’s for a book publisher or a television producer. Her session is “Creating a Series: How to Sell More than One!”

In addition to these sessions, Denise Vega will again offer Publishing 101 prior to the start of the conference for writers new to children’s publishing. There will also be opportunities for both pre-published and published writers to receive one-on-one critiques from the editors. See the conference brochure for more information.

This year we will have speakers assigned to tables at lunch on Saturday and at the Saturday banquet so participants may sit with someone they might like to get to know better or who may be able to answer questions. Since our speakers will each be assigned a table, get there early to sit with the speaker of your choice!

And for the Saturday evening banquet, we have a special treat: author Alane Ferguson will delight us with an after-dinner talk. Enjoy good food, time with new and old friends, and inspiring words to carry you home.

Illustrators will have an opportunity to learn more about what an artist's representative can and cannot do for them when agent Ronnie Herman of the Herman Agency shares her experience and expertise. Also, illustrator Jane Maday will describe her success in expanding her markets to make a living with her art. On Sunday, Herman will lead a workshop for Illustrator’s Day. There will also be opportunities for one-on-one portfolio reviews on Saturday, as well as a group portfolio review. Look for more information on illustrator sessions in the conference brochure.

On Sunday, we’ll have several options. For full members, the editors will offer two different workshops. Senior Editor Cecile Goyette will conduct a workshop called “A Bit Slight.” In it she'll give attendees some ideas as to why their novels might be receiving rejections and how to strengthen the weaknesses in their manuscripts.

Executive Editor Mary Lee Donovan's workshop, titled "The Tortoise and the Hare: The Importance of Pacing in Picture Books for Children," will help participants learn to identify areas of their own texts needing revision, expansion, or abbreviation.

Pre-published writers will find Linda Arms White’s Sunday workshop helpful. White has extensive teaching experience in addition to her writing credits. Picture book authors won’t want to miss her interactive workshop, “Help! I Can’t Sell the Manuscript: Re-visioning and Re-writing the Picture Book.”

Julie Peters will conduct a workshop for pre-published writers of young adult, middle grade, and chapter book fiction and nonfiction. “The Writer’s Studio: A Symposium for Aspiring Authors” will provide an overview of common weaknesses in manuscripts and the importance of manuscript critique. Then, Peters will facilitate a group critique session of works in progress. Each participant will submit work for critique and will critique the work of the other participants. (Please see the conference brochure for further details on each workshop.)

It’s a weekend that’s bound to revitalize your creativity, whether you’re a writer, an illustrator, or both. So set your sights on deepening your vision and tell yourself you’ll strengthen your voice. Come to the Fall Conference to jumpstart your art.