Years ago, SCBWI had its own board. It wasn't moderated. There were a few members who stopped by regularly and tried their best. (Shout out to Harold and Chris Tripp.) I was one of them. We had no oversight. SCBWI saw there was a problem, but they didn't have the staff to manage it. So they began discussions about merging with the already well-established and loved Blueboard.
As part of that discussion, they contacted a few of the SCBWI board regulars. We talked on the phone. We were asked what the needs would be. We were even asked to volunteer here. I took over the Online Critique board as a mod for that board only. My first day, I was met with some shock that the SCBWI boards hadn't been a total free for all. I was accepted, but warily. I had never been on the Blueboard before.
It was a few years before Verla asked me to take on a Global Mod position. That's the point when I fully became part of the behind-the-scenes family. It was hard getting used to the rules. And Verla did have to (okay, so does have to) reign me in once in a while. But this is truly a safe space for writers in the way no other location is because of those rules. We discuss the work and the industry. But we did sometimes also find ourselves as the only outlet for someone who just needed folks to talk to. That is what a family does. That's true community.
SCBWI eventually decided we work so hard that we should be given stipends. Our membership is comped. The stipend for a global moderator (I believe all of us) was once as high as $600 annually. It's down to $400 now. I would be here without it. I was for quite a while. I'm trying to think of how many hours it's been. I read every new post except those in introduce yourself (I don't have the titles memorized, but you get the idea). Those I only look it if no other mod or admin has replied. I reply to many. I believe I have critiqued about 95% of posted works. The only nights I've skipped are the Jewish Holidays and my annual vacation. I don't take a device out of town. I've also missed nights when each of my kids had been admitted to the hospital. And those nights, I had my hubby email the boards or use Contact a Mod to let everyone know. That is this mod's commitment to this community. I know I'm not alone.
I've learned how to edit myself by doing so many critiques and I've posted work for comments by others. I've learned about a variety of agents and courses. I've learned about marketing, though I haven't had anything to market until this year. I've learned about points of law and contracts. My work for hire invoice is from a fellow Blueboard mod. I can't conceive of how much I've learned year. (And that doesn't even touch behind the scenes friendships that form or social media connections I have because of this place.) I have more than 20 books, but I'm not self published or earning an advance and royalties. They are all work for hire. I'm one of the people Olmue references. (Yes, PAL, but not like most.) This is where SCBWI addresses everyone.
My first writing job came from the old SCBWI boards. I've gotten jobs here too. This loss is like telling me I have to move out of my house. No on is dying, but the neighborhood is sure going to be different. But there is a new house. There is nothing else like this. Nothing is searchable. No where else does Harold Underdown pop in so generously to answer a random question. No where else can you get 24 hour support for your writing and industry questions from folks with many books and agents without having to pay extra for the privilege, and we cover all of it from art to text, board books to YA, Self publishing to book and library markets .
When I first joined these boards because of the merger, I didn't know what to expect. Later, I regretted not having done it sooner. Now, I am very sorry we have to leave. I thought it might help the decision process for Sarah and others to see one person's full story. I'm the writer I am, the person I am, in part because of the old SCBWI boards and the Blueboard. I'm also purposely pointing out the difference between how this decision was handled and how that one was.