“Attend a writers’ conference,” is advice given to successful, unsuccessful, and wannabe kidlit authors. I’ve attended conferences in GA, PA, NY, OH, OR, and who-knows-where-else. For three years, I helped organize conference events for our Alaska region of SCBWI (that’s the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). Conferences for our region are difficult. Our small membership is far flung, and it is expensive for members to travel to a conference site.

One year, we tried flying the two visiting editors to Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks, figuring it was cheaper to fly them than fly dozens of members to a single location. The brave editors were exhausted and hoarse after three days of presentations.

It was a great effort, but, ultimately, the traditional writers’ conference formats don’t work very well here. What we need is something that works long-distance. You know, something online.

What Alaska kidlit writers need is WriteOnCon.

It’s a thing of beauty!

Here at last is an online kidlit writers’ conference. We Alaskans can take no credit whatsoever. Nor can SCBWI. Rather, seven kidlit writers from Washington DC, CA, and I-don’t-know-where have undertaken the monumental task of organizing this, and they are doing it for free. Kudos and thanks to:

• Jamie Harrington
• Elana Johnson
• Casey McCormick
• Shannon Messenger
• Lisa and Laura Roecker
• Jen Stayrook

Currently, 17 editors and agents are on board. A schedule is not yet posted, but registration is open. The conference takes place Tuesday – Thursday, August 10 – 12.

I’m counting down the days in the sidebar!