Our retreat is kicked off by a 5 pm cocktail hour on Thursday afternoon. We have all our meals together, from Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings are scheduled talks, and afternoons are designated for SparkSpace. There are evening activities, and we have a large salon room for gathering as late as people would like.
SparkSpace is a true Kindling Words tradition. We have a board available throughout the weekend, on which people post ideas for afternoon sessions. Some topics have been: a picture book critique session, discuss agents or contracts, brainstorm effective book promotion techniques… really, it can be any subject you like, as long as it isn’t self promotion. Post your idea and list a time and place to gather and voila: an impromptu break-out session is born.
Kindling Words is a retreat for professional writers, editors, and illustrators in the children’s book industry. As the publishing world changes, we’ve found that we need to be more specific about what we define as the “industry.”
If you are an author or illustrator you must have at least one book published or under contract with a publisher that meets all of these criteria (check list below). If you are an editor you must currently work for a publishing house that meets ALL of these criteria, or if you are currently an editor whose prior work history matches these criteria, you are also eligible (and please check all five boxes on the email signup form).
- The publisher pays authors/ illustrators an advance against royalties
- The publisher’s books are published in print format (not only on demand or digital)
- The publisher has editorial, marketing and distributing processes in place
- The publisher must have at least one prior list in print
- The publisher must publish multiple authors / illustrators each season
- Enter your contact info into the Email List Sign-up form, because the lottery link is not public.
- An official invitation to the lottery will be sent to the email list when it goes out in early September.
- We will send notification of lottery results via email within two weeks, with either a registration link or waitlist information.
- As plans change, a number of people do get in off the waitlist. People on the waitlist who are local to the greater Boston area will be put in a special group. When a last-minute spot opens, they will be notified.
Historically, Kindling Words East has generated a great deal of excitement, and we usually are able to accept about a third of the people who sign up for the lottery. We take great pains to make the lottery fair so that people are not turned away year after year.
All that said, for 2022, we have no idea how many in our community will be willing and able to gather in person even with our Covid restrictions. This well could be be the year with a short lottery.
If you think you may not be on our email list and are eligible, please fill out the Email List Sign-Up form. If you have eligible friends, please encourage them to sign up for the email list.
Please choose the one category that corresponds with how you primarily make your living in our industry. That means, for example, if you are primarily a writer, but have illustrated one of your books, that you should register as a writer, and come to both sessions. If your day-job is as an editor, but you have also written a few books, register as an editor, and also come to the author sessions.
Yes, you may ask someone to submit your name for you. They will need to know your eligibility information (how many books do you have out by a publisher that meets all five eligibility points; and the title, publisher and date of your most recent or best known book.) Please make sure they provide us with your email address for a reply, as well as what strand you are registering for.
No, Kindling Words has a strict no-pitch policy. Editors are there to retreat, too. One of the great things about KW is the familial environment in which everyone, editors included, can relax and enjoy each other without being ‘on’.
No., see answer to question #7. 😉
Nope. Nobody does. There’s lovely music. Each slide is shown for about ten seconds, and it’s a visual getting-to-know you. Some people add words to their photos and keep it short. But you don’t have to. Up to you!
About two weeks after registration closes, once things have settled down a bit with waitlist folks getting registered, we’ll send a survey out to gather info about people who need a roommate or who want to carpool. Then we’ll send those who respond the list and you find each other. We don’t have the capacity to match up roommates or carpool buddies, but we help facilitate you finding each other.
At Kindling Words, everybody is cool. We work hard to develop a safe atmosphere where there are no cliques or fans. During the retreat, we share a bio book so you can get to know your cool colleagues. And we’ll share an email list of people who want to car-pool. But if you won’t come unless someone you admire is coming, you should give your spot to someone who better understands the nature of the retreat.
Please contact the hotel to let them know your restrictions. Following up with that person by email would be appreciated.
None. Rosters of speakers are published in good faith, and courtesies are extended to faculty who may at the last minute be unable to meet their obligations.
That said, the workshops are only 90 minutes out of each day. The real wonder of attending Kindling Words is the deep intimate time we have getting to know each other and joining in spark-space discussions. The workshops are the wrapping on the package, but the gift is being there, with your colleagues, for the whole weekend.
We set up a library space at Kindling Words for everyone to share their newest (or favorite) work. Please feel free to bring a copy of your latest book to share. Editors should also bring a book they have recently worked on (and please remember to add a note including your name, so we know who edited it)!
You are welcome to take your book back home with you at the end of the weekend, but if you would rather leave it behind, it will be donated to a local library or literature organization.
Please do not bring promotional materials.
We’re sorry, but that is not possible as it would be unfair to the other people who have registered through the lottery.
No, we’re sorry, but every person must register for the lottery separately so that we ensure a fair process for all registrants.
Our registrar has so many details to keep track of throughout our process that we are unable to update people as to their status on the waiting list. In the initial email, we let you know if you have a strong chance of getting in. Then as time goes on, if you are within the next 3 or 4 slots that might open up, we will alert you.
For Kindling Words East, if you drop out before the 11/1 deadline, you will be able to receive a tuition refund. If you drop out after that date, your tuition will be redirected to our scholarship fund and you will receive a receipt for a charitable donation. Before November 1st, any refund will incur a $25 processing fee.
For Kindling Words West, the tuition, room and board deposits are not refundable, but can be transferred to another person, and they can reimburse you.
We understand that last minute crises can arise. Unfortunately we are unable to reserve spots for future years when someone needs to cancel.