SCBWI

Society of
Children's Book Writers
and Illustrators

Welcome to the Florida Region

Welcome to the Florida Region

SCBWI FLORIDA – AGENT DAY


SCBWI FLORIDA’S FIRST-EVER

Saturday, July 16, 2022
10:00 AM-4:00 PM
A Virtual Event for Everyone!

 

Not Any Agent, the Right Agent . . . For YOU!

 

•  You’ve been studying your craft for years, but you haven’t been sending your work out. 

•  You’re new to all this and someone said you needed an agent.

•  You’ve heard that an agent can get your work in front editors and art directors.

•  You’ve researched agents but have no idea how to find the right one for you.

•  No agent seems to want the kind of work you do, and you feel stuck.

•  You had an agent but . . . they left the business, dropped you, or the two of you were not a good match.

•  You have an agent, but you’d like to hear another perspective.

 

Now what?

Agent Day 2022 with Rachel Orr, that’s what!

 

•  Spend a day learning from an agent who acquires picture books, middle grade, and young adult (and lots of things in between) and represents authors and illustrators.

•  Get a pitch of your writing or a sample of your art in front of an agent. NOTE: Additional pitches and/or art samples are extra. See pricing below.

•  Have a chance to be selected for a paid critique with Rachel.

 

THE SCHEDULE
Saturday, July 16, 2022
Virtual on Zoom

10:00 AM—Agenting 101: Do You Need an Agent?

11:00 AM—READY? Looking at Your Work with a Critical Eye

12:00 PM—Lunch Break

1:00 PM—GET SET! Preparing Your Work for Submission

2:00 PM—GO! Researching Agents and Agencies

2:55 PM—Closing: Announcement of Critique Winners

PITCHES, SAMPLES, AND CRITIQUES

 •  Using our easy-to-follow guidelines, submit a pitch(es) or an art sample(s). 

•  Rachel will review each and every pitch and art sample. Imagine, an agent’s eyes on your work!

•  From the submissions, Rachel will select 10 people for 15-minute Zoom critiques. Critiques will be held the week following Agent Day in the evenings of July 26 and 27.

•  If you’re selected, you will be notified to pay for your critique and upload your full manuscript, portfolio, or dummy and will be assigned a critique time.

 

 

COSTS

Agent Day Event

•  $95.00 for SCBWI Members

•  $110.00 for non-members

NOTE: One pitch is included in the above price. Additional pitches and art samples are extra. See pricing below. 

 

Manuscript Pitch, Portfolio Pitch, or Book Dummy Pitch
NOTE: You must upload your work following our guidelines when you register and pay. You may submit multiple pitches, but each has to be submitted separately. You MUST be registered for the Agent Day Event to submit a pitch. 

•  $10.00 for SCBWI Members

•  $15.00 for non-members

 

CLICK HERE FOR MANUSCRIPT PITCH GUIDELINES

CLICK HERE FOR PORTFOLIO PITCH GUIDELINES

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURE BOOK DUMMY OR GRAPHIC NOVEL DUMMY PITCH GUIDELINES

 

Critique (only if selected by Rachel)

•  $65.00 for SCBWI members

•  $75.00 for non-members

 

DEADLINES

Monday, May 23, 8:00 AM

Registration for Agent Day and pitch submissions opens

 

Thursday, June 30, 11:59 PM

Last day to register and submit a pitch, art sample, or dummy pitch with art sample

Note: No refunds will be issued if you miss the deadline to submit your pitch.

 

Thursday, July 14, 11:59 PM

Agent Day registration (without a pitch submission) closes

 

Saturday, July 16, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM—AGENT DAY!

 

If you are one of the 10 people selected for a full critique:

•  Pay and upload immediately after being notified – Please have your submission polished and ready to submit by July 10th, 2022.

             Picture Books—full manuscript

             Novels—first 10 pages

             Portfolio—up to 10 images

             Picture Book dummy with art—full dummy

•  If selected, you will be assigned a 15-minute time slot on

             Tuesday, July 26, 6:30-8:45 p.m. or

             Wednesday, July 27, 6:30-8:45 p.m.

 

 MORE ABOUT THE AGENT DAY SESSIONS

 

AGENTING 101: Do You Need an Agent?

Do you really need an agent? What does an agent even do? In this discussion, Rachel will explain what an agent does, using examples of the many ways she works with her own clients. She’ll end with a Q&A so that everyone has a general understanding of agenting before moving forward to the specifics.

READY? Looking at Your Work with a Critical Eye

How do you know when you’re ready to start querying agents? Is your work strong enough? And, perhaps even more importantly, is your skin thick enough for the feedback? In this session, Rachel will look at feedback she has given to authors and illustrators, as well as common reasons for rejections that she has seen in the industry. She’ll also talk about the kind of clients she is looking to represent.

GET SET!  Preparing Your Work for Submission

You’re ready to start querying agents. But what exactly do you need to get set before you do? Rachel will guide you in the art of query writing, with a specific focus on the ever-so-important (yet often-very-elusive) marketing hooks. There will also be some hands-on activities here, including drafting loglines and flap copy, and practicing informal pitches.

GO! Researching Agents and Agencies

You’ve prepared your submission, but who are you going to send it to? Which agent and agency would be the best fit for you? In this discussion, Rachel will provide an overview of the different kinds of agents and agencies out there, as well as some points to consider as you begin your search. She’ll end with a Q&A in order to address any questions that participants may have from the day’s sessions. We’ll include by having Rachel announce the 10 critique winners from pitch submissions!

Can’t Attend the Day of the Event?

Don’t worry! Agent Day will be recorded and available for 30 days after the event to all participants. 

Agent Day Refund Policy

We are unable to offer refunds for this event. 

 

MORE ABOUT RACHEL ORR OF PROSPECT AGENCY

 

Rachel Orr is celebrating her fifteenth year at Prospect Agency, where she represents both authors and illustrators in projects ranging from picture books through YA. She previously worked for eight rewarding years at HarperCollins Children’s Books and uses those editorial skills to help prepare her clients’ work for submission. Her clients include Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (Chicks Rock!), Cathy Carr (365 Days to Alaska), Samantha M. Clark (Arrow), Cori Doerrfeld (The Rabbit Listened), Leeza Hernandez (Did You Burp?), Rebecca Huang (Bobo and the New Baby) and Keith and Larissa Marantz (Clyde Likes to Ride). Rachel lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, with her husband and two children, where she enjoys dancing, running, and reading, of course.

Are you a member of SCBWI?


Did you know that SCBWI members always receive a discount on events?

Whether Regional events or the International Conference, all members receive a discount.

Are you a member of SCBWI?  

If so, please log in before continuing with your event registration.

If not, please consider becoming a member.  Click here to learn about membership benefits.

Thank you,
SCBWI

Event Registration

General Information Required Fields*

Ticket Information

Agent Day - Nonmember - $110.00


Agent Day Event - SCBWI Member - $95.00

This price is only available for SCBWI members.


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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