2007 August 25 : SCBWI at UP in the Visayas

A one day seminar &
worskhop for published &
aspiring children’s book
writers & illustrators

Saturday 2007 August 25
At the UPV Art Gallery
UP in the Visayas, Iloilo City

Conducted by
Beaulah Pedregosa Taguiwalo

“What a charming and friendly setting for a children’s book workshop,” someone said of the Art Gallery at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV), Iloilo City. We couldn’t agree more. The lovely old building was formerly the Iloilo City Hall, donated to the UPV in the 1930s. This fortunate handover took place during the term of then Iloilo City Mayor Garganera who, it turned out, is the grandfather of Joseph, one of the participants! Here then is our report, in words and pictures, of our children’s book event that was held there last Saturday, 2007 August 25.

Here we are in the lobby of this historic building, and later inside the UPV Art Gallery. (All photos by Mark Taguiwalo)

First, Prof. Vinnie Tan gave the opening remarks. After that, hands-on sessions throughout the day alternated with Beaulah’s Powerpoint presentations.

We browsed through the children’s books that Nikki and Beaulah brought.

Then we had a Roundtable Booktalk.

As instructed, people picked a book because they wanted to talk about it, or because they had lots of questions to ask about it.

People were so eager to talk, we went overtime!

Afterwards, we did what we said we’d do - craft stories just for fun.

We tried “writing” and “rewriting” our stories using various methods, some of them quite unheard of for a number of participants. “Not only was it fun, it was empowering,” said some. “I never thought I could ‘write’ like this,” said another. “The Crafting Stories Just for Fun was really fun! It was my first experience and found it engaging and stimulating,” said yet another.

Beaulah then talked about what it takes to get published. She discussed writing, submissions, contracts, editing, illustration and book design, pre-press production, printing, and distribution. The final topic was P.O.D. and Self-Publishing.

“It’s as if my unreachable star is now within my reach,” said Noemi Grace Palmares at the end.

Here’s more of what the others said :

“It rekindled my passion for writing. I learned a lot.” (Lyncen M. Fernandez)

“The design of the programme was suitable, comprehensive, compact. The conduct of the workshop was informative, insightful, thorough, fluid, relaxed, fun.” (Joseph C.G. Albaña)

“The presentations were very concrete. The facilitators were approachable. It’s good that the session was limited to only a few so there was focus in every interaction.”

“. . . gave me the inspiration to come up with my own published book . . . [It’s as if] my unreachable star has now become within my reach . . . I just MIGHT find my name on the cover of a hardbound book!” (Noemi Grace V. Palmares)

“The facilitator was articulate . . . a prolific advocate of children’s literature - well versed and enthusiastic. The writing clinics allowed us to at least get started - writing pleasurable stuff for children, so we can eventually get somewhere.” What would I like to see more of in future SCBWI events? “More workhops and clinics [that] can help us follow through whatever we have started here and now.” ” (Niño Saavedra Manaog)

That’s all folks!

2007 May 26 : John Shelley, illustrator

A
SCBWI
DAY
WITH
JOHN
SHELLEY

For those who illustrate, or want to illustrate, for children and young adults. 2007 May 26 Saturday at the British Council, 10th Floor Taipan Place,Emerald Avenue, Pasig City

“Wonderful, wonderful speaker. John Shelley rocks!” (Jill Arwen Posadas)

Below, left to right : British Council Director Andrew Picken giving the Welcome Remarks, SCBWI Regional Advisor Beaulah Taguiwalo standing by to introduce the SCBWI and John Shelley, Assistant Regional Advisor Dominique Torres (Nikki) manning the sign-up table (seated, extreme right). More pictures, and more participants’ comments, below. (Photos by Mark Taguiwalo).

Below : John’s slideshow, starting with his British roots and background.

Below : Display of John’s books.

Below : John and rapt listeners during the portfolio critique - (left to right) Beaulah, Liza, Nikki, Pepper, and Neni (seated).

More pictures below, top to bottom : Karina engrossed in a quiet corner. John with St. Benilde students. John with his sketchbook, and with Robert. Various other shots taken during the character and story development session and the portfolio critiques.

Below : Myrha hands John a gift from the British Council - a British Council bear!

We asked people what they liked best about the event, here’s what they said:

“Everything. It was very well planned and executed. Wonderful, wonderful speaker. John Shelley rocks!” (Jill Arwen Posadas)

“The portfolio critique was one of the highlights, whether it was shared or [just] my own. We learned so much!” (Mariel Vera Go)

“Interesting presentation - history of children’s illustrations; the venue; the hands-0n workshop session.” (Neni Sta. Romana Cruz)

“I enjoyed the whole event! The lecture part was very informative. The activity/workshop part was challenging - an effective way to get illustrators to create/write their own stories. The portfolio review was also very helpful - wonderful insights!” (Liza Flores)

“John Shelley was very obliging, and it was an honor to meet him.” (Christina Torres)

“The discussion of British illustration history… the best! I suddenly developed a fascination for ‘old style’ illustration.” (Wilford Almoro)

“The workshop gave me a clearer idea of the creative process that goes into illustrating and writing a children’s book. I’m a total newbie in the field, and I am leaving the workshop totally inspired. Totally worth the time and the trip!” (Monette Olivera Pangan)

“The challenge of putting together a storyboard was an adventure for me. The personal history plus illustrators history was an extreme delight. I appreciate what the organizers put together for this workshop. Thank you!” (Teresita Mapua)

About John Shelley

Born in Birmingham (UK) and now based in Tokyo, John Shelley is a widely published artist. He works internationally for publishers in both East and West and has knowledge and experience about illustration in Europe and Japan. He studied at Bournville School of Art, then illustration at Manchester Polytechnic under children’s illustrator Tony Ross. He worked freelance in London from 1983, then moved to Tokyo in 1987 where he became established for commercial illustration. He also continued with children’s books. In fact, his first major picture book “The Secret in the Matchbox” (1988) was shortlisted for the Mother Goose Award and received a Parent’s Choice Award in the US. His publishers include Tokuma Shoten, Hyoronsha, Fukuinkan Shoten, Front Street, Scholastic, Andersen Press, and others. He is a member of JAGDA (Japan Graphic Designer’s Association), PBAA (Picture Book Artists Association), and is a Board member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Visit his website at http://www.jshelley.com

* Meet John Shelley http://www.jshelley.com/prof.html
* John’s children’s books http://www.jshelley.com/child.html
* John’s other artwork http://www.childrensillustrators.com/illustrator.cgi/John
* John’s homepage http://www.jshelley.com

Organizers : SCBWI Philasia

* Beaulah Taguiwalo, SCBWI Regional Advisor
0917-787-4956 or beaulah.taguiwalo@yahoo.com
* Dominique Torres (Nikki), SCBWI Asst. Regional Advisor
0917-667-1267 or nikkigtorres@yahoo.com

The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) was formed in 1971 by a group of Los Angeles based writers for children. It is the only international organization that offers a variety of services for people who write, illustrate, or share a vital interest in children’s literature. There are currently more than 19,000 members in over 70 regions worldwide, making it the largest children’s writing & illustrating organization in the world. More about the SCBWI at http://www.scbwi.org

2006 November 11 : Alice McLerran, writer

JOY
FLIES
IN THE
PHILIPPINES!

A writing workshop
with Alice McLerran

2006 November 11 Saturday
Filipinas Heritage Library
Makati, Metro Manila

Below, top to bottom : Nikki, Beaulah and Alice have a quick early morning meeting before everyone else arrives. Alice at one of the tables during the group critiques. Alice and Beaulah signing copies of their new books. (Photos by Mark Taguiwalo).

There's more! Read two accounts by Dominique Garde Torres here.

2006 March 7 : Mela Bolinao, art agent

A
GATHERING
OF
ILLUSTRATORS

Talk and
portfolio critiques
by NY art agent
Mela Bolinao

2006 March 7 Saturday
Makati, Metro Manila

Below, top to bottom : Mela telling a rapt audience all about her work as an art agent in New York while Nikki takes notes at her left. Mela looking at portfolios, giving comments to individual artists, and chatting with Beaulah while everyone else hobnobs and exchange notes with each other. (Photos by Mark Taguiwalo)

Beaulah writes : Here are the other artists who were there, just as eager as I was to hear what Mela had to say. I’ve heard it many times, and read it in numerous FAQs - the do’s and don’ts in preparing your portfolio. It was something else, however, to hear it again right there, from an honest to goodness artist agent. I certainly picked up more than a thing or two last March 7. And I also finally and completely understood a few things that I knew beforehand, but only in theory. “Have a distinct, signature style,” for example.

Here’s more, from Nikki : On March 7, 2006, from 5:30 to 9:30 in the evening, the SCBWI hosted a Gathering of Illustrators. Our speaker for the evening was Mela Bolinao, a Filipino American who is also a New York based illustrators’ agent with 11 years experience, specializing in children’s books. She critiqued portfolios and gave a brief talk on the art and craft of putting together a portfolio. But this was not what the evening was solely about – at least not for me.

Read Nikki's whole account here.

2005 March 5 : Deborah Ellis, YA author

WRITING
FOR TEENS
& YOUNG
ADULTS

A seminar with
Deborah Ellis,
Canadian author of
young adult novels

2005 March 5
Museo Pambata
Roxas Boulevard, Manila

In photo at left and below : Deborah Ellis and panelists Krip Yuson, Ani Almario, Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, Gino Luayon, and Gwenn Galvez. (Photos by Mark Taguiwalo)

Who was there, what we did

The attendees included five teachers from International School Manila, three students, two marketing staff of a children's book publishing house, and three published children's authors who are also SCBWI members. After a short introduction from Beaulah Taguiwalo, SCBWI Regional Advisor, Deborah talked about her books and her experience as a writer. This was followed by a panel discussion, then lunch. Shown below are some pictures taken during the panel discussion.


In the afternoon, SCBWI member Carla Pacis conducted a writing workshop. Participants ended up ready to write the first chapter of their YA novel. In fact, some of them were almost done with the first draft of their chapter! The day ended with some of the participants happy to receive surprise gift copies of Deborah's books, which were donated by her publisher and given away as door prizes by the organizers. Shown below are some pictures of Carla and the workshop participants.

All in all, it was a successful seminar. Those present were thrilled to meet Deborah and loved listening to her talk about her writing experience, the issues that drive her writing, and how her books came to be published. They also liked the panelists' different viewpoints on what young adults are like and how young adult literature should be defined. They also liked the writing workshop that SCBWI member Carla Pacis conducted in the afternoon, and asked for more of it future events.

What our attendees said

"I really loved meeting Deborah Ellis! She's so cool! I've never met a writer who's gone to war-torn refugee camps and written stories about the lives of children she's met there. I am inspired to tell stories that, as Deborah puts it, make people who are distant from us seem more human, more real, and just like the rest of us." (Fran Ng, author-illustrator)

"I'm in the process of writing a book [but] I find it difficult to find the time to write. After listening to Deborah I felt inspired and I plan to make myself write...I also enjoyed Carla's workshop and started a story that I've been meaning to write for 20 years!" (Victoria Egan, ISM teacher)

"It helped me organize my thoughts and ideas on how to go about structuring a short story and possibly a YA novel." (Gidget Jimenez, author)

"The writing workshop of Carla Pacis was very useful. As a teacher it is sometimes difficult to remember what we are asking of our students. The workshop was an opportunity to regain a feeling of empathy for our students' writing experiences and a reminder that when engaged interactively we are more stimulated. I would really enjoy more author presentations, especially Filipino authors, and to learn more about what motivates authors and their writing process." (Patrice Hill, ISM teacher)

About Deborah Ellis

Deborah Ellis is a writer who also works as a mental health residential counselor in Toronto. Her first novel for young teens, Looking for X, published in Fall 1999, won the 2000 Governor General's Award for Children's Text, as well as being shortlisted for the 1999 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award and the 2001 Silver Birch Reading Award. It was published in the US in Spring 2000 to acclaim in The Horn Book, Booklist and School Library Journal.

In 1999, Deborah spent several months talking with women and girls in the Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan and Russia. During her stay, she met the mother and sister of a girl in Kabul who cut off her hair, put on boy's clothes and sold things off a tray in the marketplace to support her family. This reminded her of children's enormous capacity for acts of courage and creative survival when the adult world conspires to stifle their future. The incident inspired Deborah to write her second teen novel, The Breadwinner, published in Fall 2000. It has been shortlisted for the Red Maple Reading Award 2001. All the royalties from The Breadwinner are being donated to the education of Afghan girls in the refugee camps in Pakistan.

More about Deborah at http://www.allen-unwin.com.au/authors/apEllis.asp

At left are some of Deborah's books that she brought to the seminar.