SCBWI

Society of
Children's Book Writers
and Illustrators

Inland Northwest

Inland Northwest

Perfecting Your Pitch

Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/15/2023 - 05/06/2023
10:00 am - 11:30 am


 

Looking for an agent? Then you need an attention grabbing pitch! One that hits all the right notes. SCBWI INW & Montana have gathered top kidlit agents to help you fine-tune your pitch. After this level of feedback, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running with a strong query letter, Twitter contest pitch, or perhaps a clear plan for revision.

 

Webinar #1

April 15 10:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Mountain

Literary Agent, Natascha Morris presents, How to Write an Attention Grabbing Pitch for Query Letters and Contests. In this 90-minute workshop, Natascha will share a variety of pitches for PB – YA. She’ll highlight the key elements every strong pitch needs and offer tools and tips for pitch-writing success. A Q&A will follow the presentation.

Our Pitch Contest

April 17-24 You’ve learned from an expert, now put your knowledge to the test. Enter your pitch (PB-YA) in our exclusive PERFECTING YOUR PITCH pitch contest! Participants’ pitches will be sent to our presenters + this select group of acquiring agents.

♦ Registered participants may email 1 pitch to inlandnw-ara@scbwi.org April 17-24.

♦ Put Pitch Contest in the subject of your email.

♦ Author-Illustrators may attach one 200 x 200 Jpeg image to include with their written pitch.

♦ Pitches must be received by midnight on the 24th. But don’t send your pitch until it’s ready! The first pitch you send will be your contest entry. Revised pitches will not be accepted.

♦ Any agent requests will be announced at the end of Webinar #2 with follow-up email instructions for submitting to the requesting agent(s).

Webinar #2

May 6 10:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Mountain

Who hit it out of the park? Our second webinar is a real nail-biter. Literary Agents Dan Cramer, Juliana McBride, and Lori Steel will review participants’ pitches. On May 6th, each will discuss 5 . . . live! Which pitches stood out? Could some be stronger? Will there be any requests? All participants will gain insight into what catches an agent’s eye, the current market, and tips for revising a pitch–maybe even a manuscript.

Our Presenters

Natascha Morris joined The Tobias Agency in 2020 after previously working at BookEnds Literary. With a B.A. in English Literary Studies and a M.S. in Publishing, Natascha is a self-described “publishing nerd.”  She spent most of her childhood in a leather chair, with her nose in a book, and her passion for books across genres, coupled with her desire to find amazing talent, drove her to make the transition from editorial to literary agent. Natascha’s editorial philosophy stems from the idea that all books should be well written and entertaining, and that all children should see themselves and their lives in books.

 

From Dan Cramer: My love of reading started with The Chronicles of Narnia. Some of my best friends and greatest loves have been fictional characters. They have inspired and motivated me from my first career as a Forensic Scientist with the FBI to owning and operating Page Turner Literary Agency. Prior to starting my own agency, I was an Associate Agent with Flannery Literary. I have two undergraduate degrees from West Virginia University: Forensic & Investigative Sciences and Psychology. I have two graduate degrees from Benedictine University: MBA and MS Management & Organizational Behavior. I live in Burr Ridge, Illinois with my husband and our rescue dog, Henry. When I’m not reading, I enjoy the outdoors, horror movies, and baking.

Juliana McBride is a literary agent with Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency. She began her career in New York City at Random House in 2000. After a decade working with all the in-house and third-party publishers, she and her husband (and twin daughters) embarked on their second act in California producing and selling wine. She never gave up her penchant for good stories though; enter act three. Juliana loves commercial and literary fiction, and young adult and middle grade novels with believable characters and strong plot development. She’s always rooting for the underdog. And, who doesn’t secretly believe in magic? Like any true bookworm, Juliana is looking for transcendent stories that linger.

Lori Steel is a literary agent at Red Fox Literary where she represents illustrators and authors who craft stories for children and YA audiences. Prior to agenting, Lori was an educator and school librarian where she had the special honor of finding just-right books for young readers. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Art’s Writing for Children and Young Adult Program and is a member of ALA, AALA, and SCBWI. Lori lives with her family in Washington DC. When not engaged in bookish pursuits, she is probably walking their golden-chow mix or whipping up a new recipe.

 

Critique Opportunities

**Please note – Our event critiques are offered as an opportunity to help authors and author/illustrators improve their query submissions. They are not a query opportunity or a chance to have your work considered for representation. Critiques are limited. A link to sign up for a critique will be sent to registered participants AFTER the May 6th webinar. Preview our Critique Faculty.

$75 Query Critique – Query Letter + 10 Pages (PB, CB, MG, GN, YA), Author-Illustrators may include 2 PDF art samples.

$225 25-Pages Query Critique – Query Letter + 1-page synopsis + the first 25 pages of a MG/YA novel.

$400 PB Query Package Critique – Query Letter + 3-4 PB manuscripts, Author-Illustrators may include up to 8 art samples.

$850 Full Novel Query Critique – Query Letter + Full novel manuscript.

 

This event is limited to 100 participants. Register today!

 

**Webinar #1 & Webinar #2 will be recorded. A link to the recordings will be sent to all registered participants within 24 hours following the live event.

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Ticket Information

SCBWI Member - $45.00

This price is only available for SCBWI members.

2 webinars plus 1 pitch contest entry


Non-Member - $60.00
2 webinars only


The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy
The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy
To register for an SCBWI event, you are required to acknowledge our Anti-Harassment Policy.
Scroll to the bottom to read the policy.

You will then be able to click the checkbox indicating that you have read our policy.

 

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is dedicated to providing a safe and harassment-free environment for all of its members and will take any and all necessary steps to address and prevent harassment at events associated with SCBWI. Harassment under this policy may include verbal comments, written comments, displayed images, or behaviors such as intimidation, stalking, body policing, unwelcome photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, unwelcome sexual attention or advances, and bullying or coercion. 

The SCBWI Member Anti-Harassment Policy applies to all situations of harassment or intimidation at any SCBWI Event. An “SCBWI Event” is any event, meeting or activity that is authorized by an SCBWI Regional Manager to be sponsored by, or affiliated with, SCBWI. SCBWI events may include, if properly authorized by an SCBWI Regional Manager, the Annual Summer Conference in Los Angeles, the Annual Winter Conference in New York, regional conferences, meetings and meet-ups. This SCBWI Member Anti-Harassment Policy also applies to “SCBWI On-Line Interactions,” which include Zooms, Webinars, online meetings, communications and content posted on, or directed towards, SCBWI’s Social Media accounts or sent through any of the communication tools available on SCBWI’s website, www.scbwi.org. SCBWI’s Social Media accounts under this policy include the official SCBWI accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn.

 

Code of Conduct

All participants in SCBWI Events and SCBWI On-Line Interactions, including faculty, volunteers, staff, and attendees, are required to comply with the following anti-harassment code of conduct. The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy prohibits harassment, including but not limited to the following behaviors:

  • Intimidation, stalking, or following;
  • Sustained disruption of talks or other events;
  • Unwelcome sexual attention or advances;
  • Abusive verbal comments;
  • Quid pro quo– sexual harassment that occurs when one in an authority position requests sex or a sexual relationship in exchange for professional consideration or favors;.
  • Harmful or prejudicial verbal comments, written comments, or visual images related to gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion, socio-economic status, disability, age, appearance, body size, or other personal characteristics;
  • Inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images
  • Unwelcome or uninvited attention or contact
  • Physical assault (including unwelcome touching or groping);
  • Real or implied threat of physical harm;
  • Real or implied threat of professional or financial damage or harm;
  • Body policing, unwelcome photography or recording;
  • Doxing
  • Harassment does not include respectful disagreement or reasonable and respectful critique made in good faith. SCBWI continues to welcome and appreciate presentation of appropriate controversial ideas, free speech, and creative artistic expression. SCBWI encourages members to hold one another accountable to the Code of Conduct as stated in this part of the Policy and to take the perspectives of others seriously when a disagreement arises.

We expect all participants at SCBWI activities, meetings, and networking events to abide by this Anti-Harassment Policy in all venues, including sanctioned events, ancillary events, unofficial events, and social gatherings.

 

Reporting Procedures

Any person who believes there has been a violation of the SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy can report the offense in one or all of the following ways:

  • Certain SCBWI Events, including the Annual Summer Conference in Los Angeles and the Annual Winter Conference in New York, will designate one or more Safety Team Members who will be available during the conference to provide a safe space for members to report an incident. The Safety Team Member will report directly to the conference director or regional advisor in charge.
  • A complainant may submit a complaint under this policy to the Director of Community Marketing and Engagement, the Director of Illustration and Artist Programs and/or your Regional Manager.
  • SCBWI has a dedicated email address for reporting any potential incident of harassment under this policy. Anyone who chooses to report an incident can find the Anti-Harassment Report Form on the SCBWI website (About > Anti-Harassment) or use the following link: https://www.scbwi.org/anti-harassment-report-form/. Reports should include the substance of the complaint, date, and whenever possible, a list of witnesses or a reference to the relevant URLs, if the offense occurred through an SCWBI On-Line Interaction.

SCBWI will investigate all complaints subject to the SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy. If the policy applies, SCBWI will investigate the matter and take whatever action is necessary and appropriate to prevent a recurrence and protect the environment at SCWBI Events. If a complaint is made anonymously, please note that SCBWI will not be able to follow up on an anonymous report with the complainant directly, as SCBWI will not have contact information for the anonymous complainant. Moreover, anonymous complaints may hinder SCBWI’s ability to investigate the complaint.  SCBWI will take steps to protect the confidentiality of the complaint, to the extent possible.  However, complete confidentiality may not be possible in all circumstances.  SCBWI will make every attempt to respond to a named complainant in a timely fashion.

If appropriate, SCBWI may report the incident to local authorities.

 

Non-Retaliation

The SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy prohibits retaliation against a member of the SCBWI community for reporting harassment, intimidation or discrimination, or for participating in an investigation relating to any complaint made under this policy. The sanctions for retaliation are the same sanctions available to address any other violation of the SCBWI Anti-Harassment Policy.

 

Sanctions

SCBWI takes all allegations of harassment seriously. Complaints will be investigated by SCWBI if they fall within the scope of SCWBI’s Anti-Harassment Policy. Depending on the results of the investigation, SCWBI will determine whether a sanction is appropriate.

Sanctions for faculty, speakers, volunteers, staff or board members may include any of the following:

  • warning the party involved that the particular behavior is inappropriate and must be ceased;
  • immediate removal from a particular event;
  • denial of access to SCBWI spaces and venues on a temporary or permanent basis;
  • withholding of a contracted honorarium;
  • prohibition from future speaking engagements;
  • prohibition from future faculty appointments;
  • expulsion from SCBWI; and/or
  • removal from the Board of Advisors or Board of Directors, when appropriate.

Sanctions for attendees, members, and guests can include any of the following:

  • warning the party involved that specified behavior is inappropriate and must be ceased;
  • immediate removal from a particular event, without refund;
  • denial of access to SCBWI spaces and venues on a permanent or temporary basis;
  • termination of SCBWI membership, without refund; and/or
  • prohibition of future SCBWI membership.

If the conduct at issue involves one of SCBWI’s employees, SCBWI will utilize whatever corrective action is appropriate based on the result of the investigation and subject to SCBWI employment policies and practices.

 

Confidentiality

SCBWI will make every reasonable effort to conduct all investigations into allegations of harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in a manner that will protect the confidentiality of all parties and witnesses. Notwithstanding the above, confidentiality is not absolute, and those with a legitimate business reason to know and be informed of the allegations will be so informed. Parties to the complaint should treat the matter under investigation with discretion and respect the reputation of all parties involved.

    

If you wish to file a complaint or an anonymous complaint, CLICK HERE to access the Anti-harassment Report Form.

If you have questions regarding this policy, you may send an email to tammybrown@scbwi.org. Please include the words "Anti-Harassment Policy" in the subject line. 

 

I have read and accepted the SCBWI Anti-Harassment policy.

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