Thursday, February 24, 2011

Best. Conference. ever!

So I just have to gush about the WIFYR conference this year. For those who aren’t familiar with the acronym, it is The Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers conference held June 13-17 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Registration is open now, and some of the classes are already full. I’m already signed up for Martine's class, and I hope to see you there!


I’ve been attending this conference for years, and it has been so helpful. For me personally, I formed my awesome critique group from this conference (and I know others have done the same), and I’ve met tons of my writing buddies here, as well as made important contacts. Not only can you network, but you get a full week of intense workshopping with an author. Then there are awesome afternoon sessions that are just so helpful, and that’s not even mentioning the dancing they do in the opening and closing parts! So check out the short (as in 45 seconds) video to see what the conference is like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kgQp9FocO4

And there is also a facebook page, which is currently having an AWESOME CONTEST!
And there is going to be an AMAZING faculty!
Beginning Class– Sharlee Glenn
Picture Book Class– Trudy Harris
Picture Book Class– Kristyn Crow
Illustrator Class– Kevin Hawkes
Chapter Book Class– Mike Knudson
Middle Grade Novel– Claudia Mills
Beginning YA Novel Class– Emily Wing Smith
Novel Class — Louise Plummer
Fantasy Class– Holly Black
Advanced Novelist Class– Martine Leavitt
Advanced Novelist Class– Kathleen Duey
NEW! Writer’s Boot Camp– A.E. Cannon
Keynote Speaker– Ally Condie
AND these guys will be there, too:
Agent– Mary Kole, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Editor– Alyson Heller, Aladdin Books
Editor– Lisa Yoskowitz, Disney

I also want to mention that my friend, Cherylynne, is having a contest over on her blog where you have the chance to win one (or more) of 50 books. That’s right — FIFTY BOOKS! So go check it out now!

12 comments:

  1. I'm going to make it a goal to attend this one next year. I SOOOOO want to. :-)

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  2. This workshop is awesome. It changed my life. I went from utterly unpublishable to scoring my first full manuscript request in only one week.

    I won't be coming this year, but I'm saving up to bring my daughter along with me in 2012. Absolutely heartbroken that I'm missing Martine. But I hope all of you who go have a wonderful time.

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  3. Dude! I would seriously give my left pinky toe to be in that Fantasy class with Holly Black. Well, maybe not literally, but you know what I mean...enjoy!!

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  4. Heh, I was thinking almost exactly the same thing as Susan, except it was an arm, not a pinky toe, followed with the same clarification. This does sound like an amazing conference!

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  5. Woohoo, I'm coming! I'm signed up for Martine's class, too! Thanks for passing the word along for WIFYR and Cherylynne's contest.

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  6. This year is going to rock! I can't wait for June! And I'm in Martine's class, too. :) Anyone else?

    Chersti, what are you going to workshop?

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  7. Wow, I just love hearing all the enthusiasm! Holly will be amazing this year, and I know I'll go to any breakout session she might have!

    Leisha, we're in the same class!! Woot woot! I'm not sure what I'm workshopping. It's either going to be a new rewrite of a previous project, or something new. I'll know better in a few weeks. What about you?

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  8. The new WIP I'm working on--if I can get it in shape by then. I learned my first year not to bring a rough draft. *Clears throat* That's one thing I'll never do again. :)

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  9. Yeah, if I do start something new then I want to polish it off before the conference. Yikes!

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  10. This looks so, so exciting :) Have fun!

    Sarah Allen
    (my creative writing blog)

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  11. Too far away for me to make it :-( Have fun, guys!

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  12. How EXCITING! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Thank you so much for the contest heads up as well! I'll go over and check out her blog!

    ♥.•*¨ Elizabeth ¨*•.♥

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