Date/Time
Date(s) - 12/14/2020 - 12/31/2021
12:00 am
Welcome to
A Golden Gate Year:
An Online Series of Craft and Connection
REGISTRATION FOR THE GOLDEN TICKET IS NOW CLOSED. You can still sign up for individual monthly webinars at the start of each month.
Join us each month of 2021 for learning, inspiration, and connection. Our program brings together many of the elements you know and love from our annual Golden Gate Conference, including:
– Illustrator and Author Keynotes
– Deep Dives from respected author/illustrator instructors
– Manuscript Critiques from professional editors and agents
– Portfolio Reviews from a professional illustrator
– Roundtables with professional editors and agents
– Panel discussions with local writers and illustrators
– Opportunities to connect with old friends and make new ones
All of the presentations we have planned will be held online, including pre-event socials and post-event Q&A sessions. We are confident that our programming will help you move forward with your craft and make new connections.
Read on for an overview of our exciting faculty and their planned keynotes, panels, and workshops.
Schedule:
(Dates and times subject to change. Each month will include an online social the evening prior to the presentation.)
January 23, 2021, 11:00 am – 2:30 pm Pacific Time (includes break for lunch)
Conference Kick-off and three presentations:
A Golden Gate Year Kickoff, 11:00 – 11:30 am Pacific Time
Local Author Presentations from:
Lindsay Lackey: Building a Book with Touchstone Moments, 11:30 – 12:15 pm Pacific Time
Abigail Hing Wen: Writing Contemporary Fiction for Teens, 1:00 – 1:45 pm Pacific Time
Diana Toledano: The Stories You Tell Yourself are Holding You Back, 1:45 – 2:30 pm Pacific Time
February 27, 2021, 11:00 am – 2:30 pm Pacific Time (includes break for lunch)
Keynote and Deep Dive from Uma Krishnaswami:
Keynote: Why Stop at Windows and Mirrors? Diverse Children’s and YA Books that Serve as Prisms for Readers
11:00 am – 12:00 pm Pacific Time
In this lecture, Uma will apply Rudine Sims Bishop’s striking metaphor to a range of contemporary titles for children and young adults. The brilliance of the glass image continues to offer new ways of thinking about representation in literature for the young. Consider this a call to question conventions, blur borders, trust young readers, and grow our own ability to read and write generously. Uma will share a range of fiction and nonfiction titles from picture books through YA that play with the light shining on and from diverse characters, settings, and storylines.
Deep Dive: Making a Scene, Breaking It Down: Understanding the Fundamental Unit of Story
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Pacific Time
This class is based on the premise that a scene is the building block of long-form fiction and narrative nonfiction. We’ll begin with working definitions of scene and sequel. Then we’ll look closely at how character, setting, and plot reveal themselves in a scene. We’ll discuss how showing and telling are complementary and can be manipulated for effect. We’ll look at the passage of time, psychic distance, and significant details. We’ll reflect on imagery and theme, on what should be left unsaid and why, and how scenes link to one another in roughly alternating sequences of folding and unfolding. This session will include exercises, so come prepared to write and share. You can create draft scenes for this purpose or bring a scene or two from work in progress to revise.
March 20-21, 2021, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Pacific Time
Keynote and Deep Dive from Charles Santoso:
Keynote: Dreaming and Doing: an illustrator’s Journey
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Pacific Time
In this presentation, Charles will share his journey from the beginning of his career – dreaming about being an illustrator while having a day job – to finally illustrating and writing picture books. He will share how he learned the craft of illustration and the joy of being a student for life.
Deep Dive: Fitting In: a Character Design Exploration
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Pacific Time
Do you know that Maurice Sendak used various styles for the books he illustrated? One of the essential components in illustrating picture books is to create a character design look that best fits the story. In this workshop, we will experiment with different designs and directions to match a character to different story moods.
April 24, 2021, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Pacific Time
Life is Messy: Tackling Tough Topics in Picture Book Biographies from Kandace Coston
May 22, 2021, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Pacific Time
Who Are These People? A Deep Dive into Character from Matthew Ringler
June 26, 2021, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Pacific Time
It’s Not a Race: How To Find and Build the Perfect Pacing for Your Manuscript from Grace Kendall
July 24, 2021, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm Pacific Time
Panel: Maintaining Creativity in the Face of Jobs, Kids, Stress, and More with local authors Diana Farid, Lindsay Lackey, Faith Pray, and Abigail Hing Wen
August 28, 2021, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm Pacific Time
Panel: It Takes a Village: Enlisting Critique Partners, Paid Editors, Craft Book Clubs, Mentors and Coaches with local authors Lynne Ann Biscay, Faith Kazmi, Sonia Antaki, and Darcey Rosenblatt
September 2021
Month off for Illustrator Month/Day (separate event)
October 23, 2021, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Pacific Time (includes break for lunch)
Three presentations:
Story Structures from Jennifer March Soloway, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Pacific Time
Beginnings and Endings from Jennifer March Soloway, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Pacific Time
Daring Compositions: When Text and Illustrations Work Together from Diana Toledano, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Pacific Time
November 13, 2021, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Pacific Time
Two presentations:
Opportunities (and Success) in Children’s Nonfiction Publishing from Lionel Bender, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Pacific Time
The Nuts and Bolts of Writing Non-fiction Picture Books from Emma Bland Smith, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Pacific Time
December 11, 2021, 11:00 am – 2:30 pm Pacific Time (includes break for lunch)
Two presentations and Conference Wrap-Up
Envision Your Revision: Tools and techniques to wrap-up your WIP from Jenn Bailey, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Pacific Time
Crafting Effective Query Letters and Synopses from Stephanie Fretwell-Hill, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Pacific Time
A Golden Gate Year Wrap Up from the Regional Team, 2:00 – 2:30 Pacific Time
Faculty:
Full bios can be found HERE.
Keynotes:
Uma Krishnaswami, Keynote Author
Charles Santoso, Keynote Illustrator
Editors:
Lionel Bender, Editorial Director, Bender Richardson White
Kandace Coston, Assistant Editor, Lee and Low Books
Grace Kendall, Senior Editor, MacMillan
Matthew Ringler, Senior Editor, Scholastic
Jenn Bailey, Freelance Editor, Angelella Editorial and Reedsy
Agents:
Stephanie Fretwell-Hill, Agent, Red Fox Literary
Jennifer March Soloway, Associate Agent, Andrea Brown Literary
Authors/Illustrators:
Lindsay Lackey, Author
Emma Bland Smith, Author
Diana Toledano, Illustrator, Teacher, Author
Abigail Hing Wen, Author
Panelists: Sonia Antaki, Lynne Ann Biscay, Diana Farid, Faith Kazmi, Faith Pray, and Darcey Rosenblatt.
Stay tuned for updates and additions as we finalize our last few faculty members.
Tickets, Pricing, and Details:
1. SCBWI members can purchase an Early-bird Golden Ticket for the year-long series of content
Early-bird Golden Tickets for SCBWI members will be on sale from between December 15, 2020, at 9:00 am Pacific Time until January 1, 2021, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time.
A Golden Ticket will grant you access to all presentations, deep dives, and panels, plus recordings of each for 30 days after the live event. Add-ons for manuscript critiques, portfolio reviews, and roundtables are available to those who have purchased Golden Tickets and must be purchased separately.
Price of Early-bird Golden Ticket for SCBWI members (between December 15 – January 1) – $100
2. SCBWI members who miss the early-bird deadline can still purchase a regular priced Golden Ticket for the year-long series of content
Regular priced Golden Tickets for SCBWI members will be on sale from January 2, 2021, until January 21, 2021, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time.
A Golden Ticket will grant you access to all presentations, deep dives, and panels, plus recordings of each for 30 days after the live event. Add-ons for manuscript critiques, portfolio reviews, and roundtables are available to those who have purchased Golden Tickets and must be purchased separately.
Price of Golden Ticket for SCBWI members (after January 2) – $115
3. Non-members of SCBWI can purchase a Golden Ticket for the year-long series of content
Sign up now to become an SCBWI member
Golden Tickets for the year-long series of content (for non-members) will be on sale from January 10 – 21, 2021.
Price of Golden Ticket for non-members (after January 10)- $150
4. SCBWI members and non-members can purchase individual tickets for presentations each month
Tickets for individual webinars will be on sale as the date of each webinar nears. Information about purchasing individual webinar tickets will be sent in a separate communication.
Add-ons for manuscript critiques, portfolio reviews, and roundtables are not available to those who purchase individual tickets.
Price of individual webinar tickets: between $10 – $20
Note: Every webinar (keynotes, lectures, deep dives, and panels) will be recorded and available for 30 days after the event. Roundtables, socials, critiques, and small-group workshops will not be recorded.
Add-ons for Manuscript Critiques, Portfolio Reviews, and Roundtables (all via Zoom):
You will be selecting the faculty member who will critique your work. When purchasing a manuscript critique, portfolio review, or roundtable, please review the faculty bios to inform your selections. Manuscript preferences (Picture Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult, etc.) for faculty members are also noted at point of purchase.
All manuscript critiques, portfolio reviews and roundtables will be held on the Sunday after the faculty member’s presentation unless otherwise scheduled by the faculty member. For example, Jennifer March Soloway’s manuscript critiques and roundtables will be held on October 24, 2021.
Space is limited. These add-ons fill up very quickly. If the add-on you want is sold out, you can be added to a wait list. See below for details. You will not be charged for any waitlisted items. We will contact you if a waitlisted item becomes available and arrange for payment at that time.
Manuscript Critique:
Receive a 15-minute manuscript critique with an agent or editor.
Cost: $60.
Manuscript critiques will be held on Zoom on the Sunday after the faculty member’s presentation unless otherwise scheduled by the faculty member. You will be contacted with details regarding the time of your manuscript critique. See Submission Guidelines
Space is limited. Please sign up early to secure your spot. Once sold out, please email: sfsouth@scbwi.org to be added to the waitlist.
Manuscript Critique Submission Deadlines: Please note that attendees are responsible for submitting their manuscripts on time. Late manuscripts may not be considered.
| Kandace Coston | 2/13/2021 |
| Matt Ringler | 3/14/2021 |
| Grace Kendall | 4/18/2021 |
| Jennifer March Soloway | 8/14/2021 |
| Lionel Bender | 9/5/2021 |
| Stephanie Fretwell-Hill | 10/3/2021 |
| Jenn Bailey | 10/3/2021 |
Portfolio Reviews:
Receive a 15-minute portfolio review with our keynote illustrator.
Cost $60.
Portfolio Reviews will be scheduled by Charles Santoso and held on Zoom. You will be contacted with details regarding the time of your review. See Submission Guidelines
Space is limited to 10 spots. Please sign up early to secure your spot. Once sold out, please email: sfsouth-ic@scbwi.org to be added to the waitlist.
Author & Illustrator Roundtables:
The roundtable will include you, a faculty member (agent or editor) and up to five of your peers. Receive a ten-minute review with an agent or editor of your choice. During this one-hour session, first pages will be read aloud and commented on openly by the agent or editor leading the roundtable group. Each writer will be given the opportunity to ask questions for clarification after the agent or editor comments on his/her piece, but otherwise, writers are asked to remain silent while listening to the faculty member’s valuable feedback. You benefit both from hearing the agent/editor comment on your work, as well as learning from the comments they make to your colleagues.
Cost $45.
All roundtables will be on Zoom and held on the Sunday after the faculty member’s presentation. You will be contacted with details regarding the time of your roundtable. See Submission Guidelines
Space is limited. Please sign up early to secure your spot. Once sold out, please email: sfsouth@scbwi.org to be added to the waitlist.
Golden Gate Year Portfolio Showcase:
We are excited and proud to display the artwork of illustrators attending our conference. For the Golden Gate Year Portfolio Showcase, we will be using the same digital platform, Albums in Google Photos, that we used for the 2020 Portfolio Showcase.
Albums is a well-designed virtual space that allows your work to be viewed and celebrated in a format that is accessible, customizable, shareable, and easily viewed by everyone.
The Best-In-Show Award will be announced after the Illustrator Keynote presentation. Please read more details here Illustrators are automatically entered into the showcase contest when they sign up. (If, for whatever reason, illustrators want to be in the show but do not want to be eligible for the award, they should sign up and contact Isabella at sfsouth-ic@scbwi.org to request to be excluded from judging.)
Please read this instructional PDF for requirements and tips and tricks. Submission deadline is: 3/5/2021
If you have questions or trouble uploading your portfolio, please email Isabella at sfsouth-ic@scbwi.org.
Refunds:
Conference tuition: You may request a full refund, minus a 25% administrative fee, on your Golden Ticket until the first event on January 23rd.
No refunds are available for individual tickets.
Critiques: A full refund, minus a 25% administrative fee, is available up to 8 weeks before a critique.
* Please note: our faculty and program is subject to change.
Questions or concerns? Email sfsouth@scbwi.org
REGISTRATION FOR THE GOLDEN TICKET IS NOW CLOSED. You can still sign up for individual monthly webinars at the start of each month.
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