Guest Blog by Stasia Ward Kehoe, Author of AUDITION

I "met" Stasia Ward Kehoe through our agent, Catherine Drayton.  But as happens often in this technology-driven world, our only contact was via e-mail and Twitter.  So it was truly a delight to meet her in person in New York this weekend and she generously agreed to share with us her experiences of the conference.  --  Katy

FINDING THE MAGIC SPACES at SCBWI NY 2011

SCBWI New York feels enormous.  The conference hotel adjoins the massive Grand Central Station which, in turn, sits in the heart of giant, pulsing New York City. You are surrounded by over 1,000 conference goers, including illustrious agents, editors, publishers and NYT-best-selling authors.  A grilled cheese sandwich costs a staggering twelve bucks.   Perhaps you traveled a great distance to get here.  Certainly your hopes and dreams for these 48 hours are, well, enormous.  Whether you are unpublished,  newly agented, or have even sold a book, it can be hard, amidst all this enormity, not to feel a bit puny (and poor). 

Still, with notebook in hand and wearing a good pair of heels, you consult your schedule and begin.  You sit through keynotes and attend breakout sessions (all wonderfully summarized at the SCBWI Team Blog) hoping to discover that opportunity, that insight that will nudge your writing career a little further down the path.  The day wears on and all you've heard is the scratch of your pen noting the "likes" and "dislikes" of a given editor or a somber publisher musing on the fate of the hardcover book.  You begin to despair.  Then...it happens.

You're not in the cavernous lecture hall, nor even one of impressive break-out sessions.  It happens around 7 PM in the hotel lobby.  You find the courage to talk to a famous author who has inspired you and receive encouragement and a warm smile in return.  It happens again when you sit, somewhat timidly, at a table with nine other writers you've never met before and  meet someone who writes in your genre or loves the same books or wants to trade guest blog posts.

Just like the best writing, the magic of the NY SCBWI conference happens in the spaces in between; in the serendipitous discoveries and moments of summoning the courage to reveal yourself to others.  You must attend the sessions, just like you must write (butt-in-seat) even when you're feeling uncertain or world-weary.  You need to learn about the people and the industry just like you need to hone your writing craft.  But, the conference is also a catalyst, bringing together like-minded, passionate, creative people who know how to find magic not in the enormity of the venue or the masses of people, but in the nooks and corners, the smaller moments--in the perfectly chosen word.

My magic moments from SCBWI NY 2011:

1. Meeting the amazing Ellen Hopkins (see us in the picture?)

2. Getting an autograph from the conference's most inspiring speaker, Sara Zarr.

3. Meeting my agent-buddy, the awesome YA muse Katy Longshore, in person!

4. Drinks and meals and coffees with old friends and folks I've only cyber-known until now.

5. Coming home with a pile of cards, twitter names, and other contact information from fellow writers with whom I look forward to keeping in touch!

Stasia Ward Kehoe blogs at www.swardkehoe.blogspot.com.  Her debut novel, AUDITION, will be published by Viking this October.