SCBWI Success Stories

Each panelist has found SCBWI to a part of their success along the way: getting them started, keeping them going as they traveled their path to publication, as well as being important once the contract came.

A piece of advice from each of the panelists:

Chris Rylander: The only thing that can stop you from being published is stopping.

Chris Rylander's debut novel THE FOURTH STALL is this year's Sid Fleischman Award for humor. 

Lissa Price: Remember that last year I was the one sitting out in those seats. Next year you could be sitting up here.

Lissa Price is debut novel is STARTERS. The follow-up in the series ENDERS will be out in December.

 Ruta Sepetys: Don’t be afraid of change. Be open.

Ruta Sepetys is the author of the NYT bestselling BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY. 

Clare Vanderpool: Hold on to the moments that excite you.

Clare Vanderpool's debut novel MOON OVER MANIFEST was awarded the 2011 Newbery Medal. Her second novel NAVIGATING EARLY comes out in 2013.

Lissa Price: How to Apply Screenwriting Techniques to Make Any YA Book Better

Lissa Price is author of the debut novel STARTERS, an international bestseller. She is hard at work on the sequel, ENDERS.

Lissa switched from writing screenplays to writing novels because there are advantages: You’re able to get inside a readers head; The industry is kinder; You can write a book from anywhere in the world.

Lissa believes her writing process, with a screenwriting background, made her debut experience much easier. Some of that ease came from the having a high concept book.

Lissa asks: What does your logline look like?

A logline is one or two sentences that encapsulates your book in a wonderful way.

Movie example: A lawyer cannot tell a lie for 24 hours. (Liar Liar)

A treat for the crowd: Lissa is taking loglines from the audience and helping to focus and strengthen them.

Some tips on building the pitch:

• ·      Identify the genre.
• ·      Who’s the main character?
• ·      What makes her unique?
• ·      What’s the inciting incident?
• ·      What is the main character’s goal?
• ·      Identify the major conflict your character will face.
• ·      What are the consequences if she fails?

Recommended reading:

STORY by Robert McKee

SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder

THE WRITER’S JOURNEY by Christopher Vogler

THE SCREENWRITER'S PROBLEM SOLVER by Syd Field