SCBWI MD/DE/WV Spring 2014 Conference Summary - Part One: The Keynote

SCBWI MD/DE/WV Spring Nature’s Revised Draft Conference Summary

March 29^th, 2014

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Since my thoughts on the day quite lengthy, I’m breaking up the day into 3 (ok maybe 4) chunks for easier digesting. 

One of our RAs Sue Peters starts off the morning.

What a great conference! I always feel so energized after a writing conference. Ready to sit down and shred on my WIP, write out a new idea and connect with those I met.  So much to do and never enough time right?

But on to my summary (Part One) of the fantastic day:

We started off with an emotional, inspiring session by Lesléa Newman with her talk He Continues to Make a Difference: The Story of Matthew Shepard.

I was in high school, about the same age as his brother, when Matthew Shepard was murdered, but I don’t remember hearing about it then. It wasn’t until I was in college a few years later when I heard about THE LARAMIE PROJECT when I learned about the horrific acts that took place that night. I remember wondering how it was possible that two people could be so awfully terrible to another person just because they were who they were. It was a sad acknowledgement for me, that hatred was (and unfortunately still is) terribly present in our society.

Lesléa Newman

Lesléa shared a number of poems she wrote as she looked for truth in the murder of Matthew Shepard. Of these poems she said, “I wasn’t so much after THE truth as I was after MY truth.” I was so taken by her talk I didn’t take many notes. All I could do was listen. Listen and imagine a place where we could all live without feeling fear. What a place that would be, huh? She asked us all what we would do to make the world we are in today a more accepting place. I want to continue to teach my children that being different is ok and is to be celebrated. For each of us are different in our own way. Perhaps if the two young men who murdered Matthew Shepard had been taught more acceptance in their own lives instead of hate, all three lives would have taken different paths.

Lesléa reminded us to “write about what you are passionate about.” Make “better lives through our literature.” I want to thank her for all the work she has done and continues to do for the LGBTA community. Please recommend her book OctoberMourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard to all the young adults in your life, gay and straight, that we might foster a culture of acceptance and without a feeling of fear.

Click here for more information about Lesléa Newman and Matthew Shepard. 

Quick interesting fact: THE LARAMIE PROJECT is 2^nd only to OUR TOWN in productions across the country. Find one near you and share the knowledge with a young adult in your life. Let’s expand acceptance.

Tomorrow I’ll share my biggest take away form the session with Tara Lazar! Picture Book writers don’t want to miss this!