Welcome to the Florida Region

Tampa Bay Area Meetings

FREE MONTHLY MEETINGS

Charles J. Fendig Library*

3909 W. Neptune Street

Tampa, Florida 33629

(Additional free parking located across from the library.)

*All meetings are at this library unless otherwise specified.

2020

There will be no January meeting.

JANUARY 17-19

SCBWI Florida Regional Conference

Sheraton Miami Airport Hotel

3900 NW 21st Street – Miami, FL 33142

February 8, 2020

2:00-4:00 p.m.

Mapping Your Scenes

Joyce Sweeney

It’s fine to draft scenes that go nowhere, but when you get down to the serious business of revising for the marketplace, you had better have a solid plot, built of solid scenes with goals, action, arcs, and lots of other stuff. Since I am currently in the middle of revising a “pile of interesting stuff” into an actual book, I will share with you my technique, which is a combination of the world famous Plot Clock and scene cards, which guarantee I have no scenes where the whole family is looking at a pretty flower garden all day. I’ll guide you to make better building blocks and then some work on how to put them together! Bring your WIP and be ready to revise!

Bring a scene from your WIP that you are not satisfied with and also a chapter outline or synopsis of the whole WIP.

Joyce Sweeney is a writing coach. But not just any writing coach. More than 60 of her students have gone on to be published. Her approach is a mixture of craft, hard work, inspiration, and encouragement. Joyce is a novelist, poet, playwright, director, producer, cat lover, and an all-around fabulous friend to SCBWI Florida members.

March 14, 2020

2:00-4:00 p.m.

Step-by-Step to Successful Picture Books

Sandra Markle

This is a full-on, hands-on workshop. We’ll get down to the nitty-gritty, including: coming up with fresh ideas kids will love and publishers will buy; building on mentor texts; creating strong, page-turning picture book arcs; and writing illustratable moments.While best known for her non-fiction and faction books, Sandra’s understanding of PB basics and the PB market are universal and you’re guaranteed to take home something you can use.

Bring your work-in-progress and be ready to ask questions. Sandra will put on her Book Doctor stethoscope and bring her prescription pad!

Sandra Markle is the author of over 200 books for children including her WHAT IF YOU HAD!? Series which now has 2.3 million books in print. A former elementary school teacher and Ms. Whiz on a popular television program in Atlanta, Georgia, she has developed science specials for CNN and PBS, an on-line interactive science curriculum for the National Science Foundation and reported to schools from Antarctica for Scholastic. Her books have garnered awards from NSTA/CBC (Outstanding Science Trade Books), ABA (Pick of the Lists), ALA (Notable Books for Children), AAAS (The Prize for Excellence in Science Books) and more. You can visit her at her website www.sandra-markle.blogspot.com/Or follow her on Twitter @SANDRA_MARKLE

Join us at Kahwa Coffee after the meetings for conversation and coffee.

Meetings are free for SCBWI members.

No registration required.

Our meetings are at Charles J. Fendig Library. 3909 W. Neptune Street, Tampa, Florida 33629. If you exit on Dale Mabry heading toward Kennedy Boulevard and Neptune will be a few lights up, and the library will be to the right. The library has a small parking lot, with additional parking diagonally across the street. This is a small, neighborhood library that doesn’t host many events and they are thrilled to have us.

Our meetings, this one will feature a time of celebrations, plenty of interaction and discussion, and more.

To be added to the Tampa Bay mailing list: Email JC Kato at jckatowrites@gmail.com

“It’s good people who make good places.” Black Beauty

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