Topic: Writing courses not specific to kid lit

[Stephanie Leeth]

Does anyone have a feel for whether a more general writing course is that helpful to a writer for kids?  A two day course is being offered at a college in the state.  Here's a brief description:

For those just starting on the writer's path, the Short Course will provide introductory sessions providing essential information. For the more advanced writer, the Short Course will offer interactive opportunities to perfect their work-in-progress as well as the chance for one-on-one sessions with New York literary agents, editors, and writers. Special sessions such as the "first-page panel" will provide expert critiques of attending writers' work. Whether you are writing fiction, poetry, memoir, or creative nonfiction, this workshop will have something to help you grow as a writer and, most importantly, to help you move closer to publishing your work.

The cost is very reasonable ($99 for what is billed as 2 day "short course") and there is a contest connected to it which includes a category for writing for children. 

I like more focused events but am considering this.  Any thoughts?

[Lill]

I'd want to know who the agents, editors, and writers were. If there weren't very many in the children's field, I might bypass the event.
Even the "advanced" track sounds very basic.

Although the actual cost is low, will this require travel? an overnight stay?

Since I know you are very active in SCBWI ... and aren't you also active in OWFI? ... I'm not sure there's going to be enough bang for
the buck for you.

Bottom line --- the presenters are what would be the make/break for me.

[Stephanie Leeth]

Lill, that's kind of what I thought too.   I don't feel like a "beginning" writing class is what I would need.   I would have one night overnight, as it's in OKC and I'm in Tulsa. 

It looked to me like they threw in the kid category to try to reach an audience.  One of the two agents lists YA as one of the genres she represents, but her website certainly doesn't seem to emphasize that at all.

[rab]

I think it sort of depends on what you want out of it. If you want to focus on craft, I think you might learn a  lot. But if your focus is on making connections that would help you get published, this doesn't seem like it's the right one, necessarily.

[Lill]

Stephanie, from the description, I don't think the craft sessions are going to be at the level you need.
The other question to ask yourself is, how big of a deal is it if you spend this money and you're disappointed in the course?
Is it no big whoop, or will spending this money now put a kink in your paying for a more useful or appropriate conference later?

I have to be stingy with time and money for conferences, so maybe these concerns aren't as important for you.

[Stephanie Leeth]

 Thank you for your thoughts.  I'm thinking I'll pass on this.  Lill, I feel like i am not really the intended audience.  I have already put in a lot of time, learned a lot and improved my craftna lot.  Generally, I believe that we can always learn even ifnwe hear something we have heard before,  maybe it reminds us or we hear it in a different way.  But I don't want to invest in a conference that holds little promise of bringing something really new and little likelihood of meaningful connection building.