SCBWI in Washington state

A newish piece from my portfolio.

I got back from the SCBWI conference in Seattle (well, actually it was in Bellevue).
They put on one great conference up there in the Mountains. They assembled an amazing list of speakers.

Mo Willems was one of the keynote speakers. He was an impressive speaker. Very funny with good timing and he presented his very strong POV without it being so militant as to aggravate those who disagree. That’s a talent. I also attended one of his break-out sessions, and actually, his advice contained some of the best reminders I have ever heard from a speaker about what makes a picture book tick. He obviously has spent a lot of time creating work, because his opinions seem true and tested, not academic and theoretical.
I have lots of ups and downs at a conference like this. Feeling good about pursuing this industry, and in equal parts, thinking it is a waste of time and that my work will never stand out.
It’s an odd industry. You work really, really hard, and even harder and then do more work, and really you are chasing a pretty small field of work. I would guess less people make a living doing children’s books than: college athletes who make it into the pros. I would also be willing to bet, that less children’s books authors and illustrators make a full-time living from that industry than the percentage of writers in the WGA who make a full time living writing.
And yet…I can’t seem to stop myself from pursuing the work.
I should have gone to law school.