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FAQs

Symposium

I'd like my friend to come with me who is not an SCBWI member. Can I pay for a place for her at the symposium at the member price because I am a member, or will she need to pay the non-member price?

Answer: The special SCBWI price is for SCBWI members. Your friend can join SCBWI and attend the symposium at the special discounted price (and receive all of the additional benefits of membership) or can choose to pay the non-member price for the symposium.

I can only attend one or two sessions of the symposium, is it possible to attend part of the day for a discounted price?

Answer: There is only one full day price for the symposium, but you are welcome to enter and exit as needed.

I would like to speak / present / read my book at the symposium, do you have openings?

Answer: There are no openings for speakers at the 2010 SCBWI Bologna symposium. We will begin planning the 2012 symposium at the 2011 Bologna Book Fair. Please send an email a few weeks before the 2011 book fair to submit a proposal.

I am a vegetarian. Do I need to make special arrangements for lunch?

Answer: There will be vegetarian items available for the lunch buffet. For other dietary requirements / concerns please email Angela@SCBWIBologna.org before February 10 2010.

I can't find my SCBWI member card. Do I need it to prove my membership to check in to the symposium?

Answer: No, members are verified before your registration confirmation letter is sent. There is no need to have your membership card at the symposium. You may contact SCBWI in LA for a replacement card, if needed.

When will my registration for the symposium and ticket to the book fair arrive in the mail?

Answer: You will not receive paper confirmation by international mail. All registrants receive confirmation electronically. Please print this out and bring with you to Bologna. Tickets to the Bologna Book Fair will be issued upon checking it at the symposium with your electronic confirmation.

Dance Party

Can I buy an additional ticket at the dance party?

Answer: Yes, please visit the bookings page to purchase the "dance party additional guest" ticket(s). The dance party is limited to symposium attendees, speakers, and SCBWI invited guests.

Where is the location of the dance party and what is the best way to get there from the Bologna Fiera?

Answer: The dance party is held in the delightful children's' bookstore, Libreria Trame, in the center of Bologna. The address is: Via Goito 3c. It is easily reachable by foot from the center of Bologna. From the fair it may be possible to take a bus to the city center (Piazza Maggiore) or take a taxi directly to Libreria Trame.

Manuscript and Portfolio Reviews

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What is the maximum amount of reviews one person can order?

Answer: You can order as many reviews as you like (and have time to participate in). All reviews are scheduled during the fair and will be 20 minutes of one-on-one time with a publishing professional.

What is a manuscript review?

Answer: A manuscript review is an individual critique with an editor or writer. You can submit a picture book manuscript or up to 10 pages of a novel along with a synopsis. All manuscript pages are sent in advance so that the editor / published writer can read and review your work. Reviews are 20-minute meetings at the SCBWI Showcase (during the book fair). Each writer is given a written and verbal critique of the work presented and has time to speak with the editor / writer about the publishing industry.

What is a portfolio Review?

Answer: A portfolio review is an individual critique with an art director, picture book editor or professional illustrator. You should bring a portfolio of up to 15 samples (see ''Portfolios') or more illustrated dummies or projects with sample illustrations. Please refer to the SCBWI Illustrators & Photo Illustrators Guide in the SCBWI Publications for more details.

Can I select the person I would like to perform my review?

Answer: Our reviewers are working at the fair. Reviews are scheduled in the following manner: manuscripts and portfolios are matched with reviewers according to their available time at the booth. For manuscripts the reviews are also matched according to the reviewers' preference - i.e. novels, poetry, nonfiction, portfolios etc. This is also matched with the writer / illustrators time at the fair. Your review time will be sent to you before the symposium and fair by email. Your reviewer(s) will be announced when you check in at the symposium. We do this because we know from previous experience that this is the most efficient way to manage critiques at Bologna.

Is the price for one review? If additional reviews are ordered it required to pay again at the same price?

Answer: Yes, the amount is for one review only. To order additional reviews, use the pull down (drop down) menu in the shopping cart to increase the number of reviews. The total will be calculated in your shopping cart at checkout.

When is the deadline for booking reviews? Can I still order additional reviews in March?

Answer: Reviews can continue to be booked as long as they are not sold out. There is a limited number of review slots based on our presenters' schedules. However, it should still be possible to order reviews in early March. We will send an email to everyone who has registered for the symposium with a reminder to order additional reviews, if they are not sold out in mid February. For writers, manuscripts are due March 15. Illustrators must email by a low resolution sample (see 'Portfolios') by March 15. Illustrators should bring their projects or portfolios with them on the day of their review.

First Pages and First Look Panels

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Are the First Pages and First Look panels open to everyone who attends Bologna, or just the people who register early?

Answer: The First Pages and First Look panels are open to ALL attendees. First Pages will be read in the order received. All manuscripts must be properly formatted. First Look jpgs must conform to the guidelines. First Pages and First Look illustration submissions must be sent via email. NOTE - applications are free and dealt with on a first come, first served basis. There are a few First Pages slots left - please send your submission by March 15th. As panel time is limited, there is no guarantee that all applications will be discussed.

Does everyone in the audience comment on the First Page readings and the First Look illustrations?

Answer: No, a panel of agents will comment on the First Page readings and a panel of art directors will comment on a powerpoint of the submitted jpeg illustrations shown to the panel before an audience.

Can illustrators submit work to be shown anonymously?

Answer: Yes, but they should submit their contact details by email. A list of shown work and contacts will be given to art directors in case they may wish to contact them.

Showcase

Will I need to purchase an additional ticket in addition to the Symposium to attend the SCBWI Showcase?

Answer: No, the SCBWI Showcase is the SCBWI booth at the Bologna Book Fair. Events at the showcase are open to everyone who attends the book fair and fair tickets are included in the Symposium registration.

I am an SCBWI PAL member. How can I present my work at the Showcase?

Answer: Please send a proposal to Showcase@SCBWIBolgona.org and discuss how you plan to present your work. Two-hour slots are given to SCBWI regions, symposium presenters and SCBWI PAL members whose proposals are accepted. SCBWI regions decorate their table with local flair and may provide food samples and music, and organize activities. Please remember that the SCBWI Showcase is really a forum for a presentation and so much more than a collection of books.

Will signing up for the symposium automatically allow inclusion of my (book, magazine story, illustrations) in the Showcase of members' work? If so, how do I send it in?

Answer: The Showcase is the trade booth for SCBWI during the fair. This is a space for regions, our speakers, and SCBWI PAL members to showcase their previously published works. PAL members must submit an application form. Each region / speaker / selected PAL member will be given a two-hour slot at some time during the fair as space allows. Unpublished work and submissions from SCBWI members who are not PAL members would not be the topic for a presentation at the fair. Attending the Symposium and dance party is a great time to learn about the market and find out which publishing houses would be a good match for your work.

What does the term "SCBWI PAL member" mean?

Answer: The PAL category is for SCBWI members who are Published And Listed. SCBWI keeps a list of traditional, university, and independent book publishers and a list of children's and teen magazines that have large circulations. If an SCBWI member publishes with an established publishing house / magazine, they are recognized as PAL. Unpublished and self-published members are not PAL members. Please see www.scbwi.org for more information on the different types of membership and official descriptions of membership categories.

Do editors come to visit the SCBWI booth and seek us out or must we circulate with our stories?

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Answer: Often it is the rights managers, art directors, agents and publishers who attend the fair. We had many professionals visit our booth in 2008. Several found books they were potentially interested in acquiring rights to. A great way to find out what is happening in publishing throughout the world is to walk through the fair - it is amazing!

Illustration Display Portfolio

Is the Illustrator Display Portfolio the same thing as showcasing my illustrations?

Answer: No. The Illustrator Display Portfolio is a separate collection of submitted illustration works that will be on display at the SCBWI stand throughout the fair. Submission for the IDP is open to published and unpublished illustrators attending the Symposium. For details of how to submit please see Illustrator's Display Portfolio.

Can submissions to the Illustrator Display Portfolio include published or soon-to-be-published work?

Answer: SCBWI does not prohibit published illustrations or soon-to-be-published work. We advise you check with the publisher about the submission in advance.

Lodging

Does SCBWI have a conference hotel for Bologna?

Answer: No, SCBWI does not have a conference hotel in Bologna. The Book Fair has a travel agent they use for Bologna Children's Book Fair. Her contact information is below:

Donatella Pariali
Phone: +39 051 6375142
Email: dpariali@conventionandtravel.it

Do you have any tips for finding lodging in Bologna?

Answer: Bologna is a convention city and has a variety of rooms to rent, from pensions with bathrooms down the hall to 4 star hotels. Be sure to understand the location of the hotel and the room's price and features before you book.

Price

Remember the rates for the hotels really jump during fair time. So your first night will usually be a lot less expensive. If you notice the same price for all nights you may want to let them know the fair dates. The hotels are allowed to increase prices during fair weeks. Even if you made your reservation they will change the rates with little notice by simply informing you "there is a fair." The change in rates can be as little as a 50% increase or as much as 300%. So be sure they know you are reserving during the fair week.

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Location

The Symposium takes place in Hall 36 on the fair grounds and the dance party is located at a bookstore in the city center near the Piazza Maggiore.

It is a good idea to map your hotel to make sure it is close enough to the fair (some hotels that are far from the fair may be less expensive but not have adequate taxi service to the fair or may have the additional cost of using a hired driver - yes, really!). For more information see our 'How to get there' webpage.

Amenities & Confirmation

Read reviews of your hotel / apartment before confirming. Trip Advisor is a good source for hotel reviews.

Write to the hotel with any questions and keep copies of the email to take with you!

Fair Hotels

There are two hotels that are just outside the fair in the back of the fair grounds:

Both hotels are walking distance to the Symposium and the fair grounds. There is no bus service to this side of the fair grounds. You will have a long walk around the Fairgrounds to your hotel after fair hours, as taxis are often in great demand. In addition, when you want to go into town to eat, you will need to call and wait for a taxi to arrive. Thus, these two hotels are expensive and convenient to the Fairgrounds (during opening hours) but they are not so convenient after hours.

Book Fair and Publishing Related Questions

Should I plan to attend the book fair as well? Would this be helpful? If so, for how many days?

Answer: Yes, the book fair is a great way to learn more about the children's publishing industry worldwide and all Symposium attendees will be given a pass to enter the book fair. At least one day to two days are needed to see what the fair is about. SCBWI has its own booth at the fair this year. This is what we call the SCBWI Showcase. Events are scheduled at the booth throughout the four days of the fair.

I'm an unpublished writer, how do I get a book contract at the fair?

Answer: It is important to remember that at the Bologna Book Fair agents and editors are searching to for RIGHTS (i.e. the right to take a book from Japan and publish it in the UK, or to turn a book from France into a movie in the US.) And while it isn't unheard of for an unpublished writer to get work from the fair, it is very rare. Publishers aren't searching for unpublished manuscripts at the fair. They are looking for published or contracted work.

Can you book me with a publisher to sell my manuscript?

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Answer: No, SCBWI does not book appointments at the fair with publishing professionals. The professionals at the fair are there to buy and sell rights to published or already contracted work.

Can you book an appointment for me with art directors?

Answer: No, SCBWI does not book appointments with art directors, though many publishers have time set aside to review artists' portfolios. You may be able to find more information about this on the Bologna Book Fair website and on the websites of publishing houses or in the programme the first day of the fair. The Bologna Book fair also has an Illustrators' Corner for illustrators to meet up, post samples of their work, and share advice. The SCBWI Showcase will host five minute quickie reviews' for illustrators to share their work with another experienced illustrator in order to gain valuable feedback. This is a free event and sign-up times will be available at the SCBWI Showcase on the first day of the fair.

Is this book fair also for stories written in Italian or is it only for English?

Answer: The book fair is for selling rights to books in all countries. Italian publishers have a large presence at the fair. US and UK publishers are also prominent.

What is the best way for writers / illustrators to get publishing contracts at the fair?

Answer: Typically publishing contracts are not offered at the book fair, but come after a publisher has had time to review your work. The "best way" to eventually land a contract for your work is to use your time at the fair to learn all you can about the publishers present. Study the books presented, look through catalogues, if the booth is not crowded look through some of their books. If you have an opportunity to speak with someone, be polite and professional. If you think your work is a good match, ask who to send it to and how to send it (often the people at the fair are not the same people who acquire work or hire illustrators). Illustrators are advised to contact specific publishers in advance of the fair to see if any editorial staff / art directors are available to meet by appointment. Certain publishers from other countries including France and Italy are willing to view artwork at certain times. Bring labeled samples to give them if they show interest. Large-sized portfolios are discouraged.

What is the best way for writers / illustrators to sell rights at the fair?

Answer: It is not the writers or illustrators who sell the rights. Typically it is the writer or illustrator's agent / publisher that has rights to the work and attempts to sell it at the fair. What you can do in advance is let your agent and publisher know that you will be at the fair.

Are the programs through the Illustrator Café in English?

Answer: The Illustrator Café during the Book Fair is run by the Bologna Book Fair organizers and is a small, open, round theatre with tiered seating, usually near the main entrance. It's not closed off and is near the Illustration exhibition area, and the famous illustrator wall where visiting illustrators can pin up a small sample of their work.

The Café is very informal, with passers-by coming and going during talks. It's worth checking out the programme of talks when you get there - they sometimes change it at the last minute. You can go and sit through any number of talks by different people and organizations across the world. They usually have simultaneous translation into English as many nationalities attend and speak.

Do you have any suggestions for illustrators on how to best plan our time at the fair?

Answer: The book fair is made up of several halls (the size of airplane hangars), which contain publishers' booths from countries all over the world, including our SCBWI booth in one of the US areas.

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You'll walk a lot so bring comfortable shoes and a lightweight, big bag to pick up catalogues of publishers that inspire you, and you can ask at the booth of art directors whom you might want to contact later. The Bologna Book Fair Catalogue lists publisher and agent names and contacts too - worth buying if you're there. UK and US publishers don't always have their editorial staff there although you can check their websites in advance to find out. Some other countries like France tend to have editors and art directors there, although as it is a rights fair, their main task is to buy and sell foreign editions of their books. I've always gone more to learn and check out than to promote my own work. But some people get appointments and some art directors have visiting hours. English is spoken by most publishers.