Narrate, Illustrate, Create: the SCBWI NSW Retreat

**October 6-8, 2023**
This is going to be an amazing opportunity for SCBWI authors and illustrators to come together, develop a piece of work, critique, learn and listen to industry experts and each other. The aim of the retreat is to develop a writing/illustration project in a supportive, professional environment. There will be peer critique sessions, dedicated writing/drawing time and keynote speeches from publishing professionals.
**Places will be limited to only 54 delegates and will be strictly SCBWI Members only so you will need to book fast.**  
 
**You need to be willing to:**
• Bring a project you are working on and develop it across the weekend
• Establish a goal for the retreat
• Share your work
• Listen to constructive feedback
• Provide feedback to others to help develop their projects
 
What you need to bring to create (a list of practical things you’ll need is further below)
• Completed draft of a picture book text OR
• First chapter/opening of a novel
• For authors, a one page synopsis that outlines the beginning, middle and end of your story. This will be important to crystallise your idea.
• A specified age range for your story
• Illustrators can bring along thumbnails for their text
• This is a writing/illustrating retreat, so please bring several pens, journal or notebook or a tablet or laptop if you prefer to create this way.
 
 

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**Program\* (Draft)**
 
**FRIDAY OCTOBER 6** 
**3.00pm-4.00pm—Arrive for registration** and settle in your rooms. 
**4.00pm-5.00pm—Welcome and Opening Address: Crystalising your idea**
Susanne Gervay will talk about how the weekend will run, discuss the purpose of the peer group sessions and reiterate the aim of the weekend: getting to the essence of our stories. Deborah Abela will lead a presentation about getting to the essence of your idea, how can you create the perfect logline and what would be your 30 second pitch? Everyone will be asked to set a goal for their stay that is specific and quantifiable.
**5:00-6:00pm—Peer Group Session: What’s Your Story?**
Participants will share their project and present it to their group. This is a chance to introduce your work and share any concerns you have or problems you need help resolving to develop it further and achieve your goal for the weekend.
Each group will include a timekeeper to make sure everyone has equal time.
The groups will be created before the retreat according to the genre or age group of the specific project that will be workshopped (as indicated at the time of  booking). The manuscript you are bringing can be best described as: 
• Picture Book 
• Chapter Book
• Middle Grade
• Young Adult

**6.00pm-7.00pm—DINNER** 
**7.00pm-8:30pm—Peer Group Session** 
**9:30pm—Free time**
Please help yourself to free tea/coffee and biscuits in the tea room any time you like. There is an entertainment room that includes billiards and ping pong plus a piano. Please be courteous of those who would like an early night!  
 
**SATURDAY OCTOBER 7**
**6.00am-9.00am—BREAKFAST** 
**7.00am-7.45am—Yoga or walking** (Optional) 
**9.00am-10.00am—From concept to conception: Exploring ways to plot a story for every age group** 
Using case studies, our publishing professional will show how a story develops from an idea to a finished picture book, junior fiction novel or novel.  
**10.00am-11.30am—Peer Group Session: Exploring Plot**
In this session, we will be focussing on the one page synopsis to be critiqued by group. Each group will be given a list of Pixar rules they may like to consider in reworking their synopsis.
**Morning tea will be from 10:30am** so please feel free to grab a drink and snack. 
**11.30am-12:30pm—Free Writing/Drawing Time** 
**12:30-1:30pm—LUNCH** 
**1:30-2.30pm—Opening With a Bang** 
Tips for the opening page. How can we create killer pages that make our readers want to read more. Case Studies of PB and novels.  
**2.30pm-4.00pm—Peer Group Session: The Opening Page**
Participants are invited to share the opening page of their manuscript or their first pages of text or images for picture books. 
**Afternoon Tea is available from 3.00pm** so please feel free to grab a drink or snack.
**4.00pm-5.00pm—Free Writing/Drawing Time** 
5.00pm-6.00pm—Bush Reading
This will be an opportunity to share with the wider group a piece of writing to a maximum of one page or an illustration you have developed at the retreat.  
**6.00pm-7.00pm—DINNER** 
**7.00pm-8.00pm—Structural Editing for PB and Novels with case studies.** 
**8.00pm-8.30pm—The 30 Second Pitch** 
Can you crystallise your idea in a 30 second pitch? You have thirty seconds to ‘pitch’ your children’s book idea to your fellow SCBWIies, which will include a silent vote for the best pitch. Three bowls to put votes. The three best pitches will receive our admiration and prizes. 
**9:30pm—Free Time**
Please help yourself to free tea/coffee and biscuits in the tea room any time you like. There is an entertainment room that includes billiards and ping pong plus a piano. Please be courteous of those who would like an early night!  
 
**SUNDAY OCTOBER 8**
**6.00am-9.00am—BREAKFAST** 
**7.00am-7.45—Yoga or walking** (Optional) 
9.00am-10.00am—Getting to Know Your Character
What is your character good at? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they do? 
**10.00am-11.30am—Peer Group Session: Getting to Know Your Character**
**Morning tea will be from 10:30am.** 
**11.30am-12.30pm—Free Writing/Drawing Time** 
**12:30pm-1:30pm—LUNCH** 
**1:30-2:30pm—What’s your X Factor?**
This will be our final chance to share our work from the weekend. Invite people to share their X Factor. 
**2:30pm Farewell** 
**End of Retreat** 
 
\*program subject to change.
 
 

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**Bookings for the Retreat**
Tickets include presentations, meals and 2 nights accommodation. Ticket price varies according to choice of room. All rooms include an ensuite. **SCBWI Members only.**
**(Cost to come) Single occupancy room with an ensuite**
**(Cost to come) Double occupancy with an ensuite**

Vegetarian, dairy free, lactose free, gluten free and nut free dietary requirements can be catered for. The dietary requests that you have made on your registration form will be communicated to the centre. 
Feel free to bring any supplementary food or alcohol. The centre is non-smoking. 
**Covid Policy:**
**If the retreat cannot go ahead due to covid restrictions, we will refund the cost of the retreat but you will be responsible for recouping all other costs, including travel. In the event the bulk of delegates cannot be there due to covid, we will consider postponing the retreat. Please do not attend if you are unwell. We have to be especially careful of each other in not spreading any illnesses. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.**
 
**Tickets for Retreat**
**Click Here for Tickets at Trybooking** (Link to come) **SCBWI Members Only.**
Tickets will become available on Saturday June 10 at 8:00am. This is an automated opening of the tickets so first in best dressed.
 
 

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**The Venue**
[![](https://australiaeast.scbwi.org/files/2021/06/Screen-Shot-2021-06-22-at-8.09.28-pm-300x200.png)](https://australiaeast.scbwi.org/files/2021/06/Screen-Shot-2021-06-22-at-8.09.28-pm.png)Mt Carmel Retreat Centre 
[247 St Andrews Road](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mount+Carmel+Retreat+Centre/@-34.0019992,150.8185605,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x197b4c211bef82d3!8m2!3d-34.0019992!4d150.8185605)
[Varroville, NSW, Australia](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mount+Carmel+Retreat+Centre/@-34.0019992,150.8185605,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x197b4c211bef82d3!8m2!3d-34.0019992!4d150.8185605)
(02) 8795 3400 or [0435 857 690](tel:0435857690)
**Website:** [https://mtcarmel.com.au/](https://mtcarmel.com.au/)
Mt Carmel is a conference & retreat centre set in the scenic hills of the Macarthur region of Sydney. The centre offers a range of bedroom configurations, from bunk-style to hotel-style, even yurts. All bedrooms have en suite bathrooms and fans to keep you cool. The kitchen staff is highly experienced and passionate about providing fresh delicious food, and can provide for vegetarian, dairy free, lactose free, gluten free and nut free dietary needs. There are breakout spaces equipped with games and lounges to relax, unwind and catch-up with SCBWI friends. 
 
 

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**IMPORTANT Information and Things to Bring!**
What to Bring: All linen, towels and bedding will be supplied but **please bring your own toiletries.**
**Pen and Paper:** This is a writing retreat, so please bring several pens, journal or notebook or a tablet or laptop if you prefer to write or draw this way.
**Meals:** Breakfast, morning tea, lunch and dinner will be fully catered. There is coffee and tea provided 24/7 available in the tea room.
Vegetarian, dairy free, lactose free, gluten free and nut free dietary requirements can be catered for. The dietary requests that you have made on your registration form will be communicated to the centre.
**Yoga Mats:** Please bring a towel or yoga mat if you would like to participate in the optional morning yoga.
**Torch with extra batteries:** The centre is in a country setting and even though there is path lighting a torch would be most useful for moving around the area at night. 
**Drinking water bottle:** Please bring your own water bottle to refill. 
**Free Wifi:** Is available throughout the centre. 
**Walking Trails:** Please bring appropriate footwear for optional bushwalking. 
 
 

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**Getting There**
Only a 45 minute drive from Sydney CBD, there will be plenty of onsite parking at the centre. 
If you are taking public transport, the closest train station is Minto. Train times are approximately 1 hour and ten minutes with a 15 minute UBER/TAXI ride. We recommend travelling with friends to car pool from Minto Station.

This is going to be an amazing opportunity for SCBWI authors and illustrators to come together, develop a piece of work, critique, learn and listen to industry experts and each other. The aim of the retreat is to develop a writing/illustration project in a supportive, professional environment. There will be peer critique sessions, dedicated writing/drawing time and keynote speeches from publishing professionals.

Narrate, Illustrate, Create: the SCBWI NSW Retreat

Oct 06, 2023 - Oct 08, 2023

Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, 247 St Andrews Road, Varroville, NSW