Stargazing has become common of late. If not a longing look to the moonless sky, then a reflective gazing within. This weekend marks the convergence of aspiring authors and illustrators, publishing’s best editors and agents, plus established authors and illustrators in children’s books at the June NJ SCBWI Conference.
Each aspirant has carefully packed up his or her hopes and dreams in the form of manuscripts and portfolios, and brings them, whether boldly or tentatively, to lay at the feet of the people we hope will cherish them as we do. A fragile thing, this creativity. Like children who hope our latest scrawl is good enough to merit an honored spot on the fridge, we will search the eyes of our mentors, hoping we did good, too.
Dare we hope? A contract, another look-see, a request for a revision … some nod of approval for all it has taken to bring this seedling of an idea to its present state. Humbly, hopefully, we toss our shimmering hopes and dreams skyward.
I believe there’ll be quite the reason to stargaze over Princeton this weekend.
Best of luck, everyone!
Still A Dreamer 
Very nice Jeanne. I barely got to see you this weekend. We were in opposite ends of the spectrum both days. How did it go? Did you do a one-on-one AND a portfolio critique? My one-on-one — not so good, but it is all a necessary learning curve, isn’t it? And I have come out the other end better for it!
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It was pretty crazy, wasn’t it? I just did a one-on-one with an agent – no portfolio – which went very well, plus got some great feedback in the first page sessions and even the speed pitching. All in all – exhausting, but very helpful. I really do know what I have to do now which is a big plus and I’m real happy about it. I still think your story is so fabulous, so yes, just take it as a way of honing and perfecting it. You will no doubt get there!
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