NCTE—What's the deal?

Just back from the event for the first time, Vicky dishes her impressions!

Okay! Let’s talk NCTE. Maybe you had FOMO this year. That’s exactly how I felt last year, and so I made a big effort to go this year. And I did it! So, how did I feel about my first NCTE experience?

First up, if you don’t know, NCTE is the National Council of Teachers of English. Their annual conference is filled with educators, publishers, authors and illustrators! This was my first year attending, though not my first year applying.

Getting invited

As far as I know, authors all try to propose sessions to get into NCTE. That’s how I got in. Actually, I was on two submissions, but only one was accepted. You’ll want to form a session that will be of interest to English teachers, so think of ways to help them teach reading and writing. The broader the appeal, the better. Having recognizable names on your session certainly can’t hurt. And you must have an educator as part of it! This is usually the stumbling point for authors. I was lucky enough to be asked to join a panel that had an educator already attached, so I didn’t have to figure this piece out. I did meet some educators while I was there, so maybe I’ll have better luck forming a session for next year, but it does feel like a bit of a chicken and egg problem.

NCTE panel: Josh Funk, Laurie Wallmark, Vicky Fang, and Jed Dearybury

Getting funding

Speaking of chicken and egg… Once my panel was accepted in May, I asked my publisher for any possible support: funding, signings, social events, etc. Some of my publishers told me funding had already been allocated in January. But, one publisher provided funding for my flight, three hosted signings for me, and two invited me to social events. I still had to pay for my own registration and hotel. Most authors I know did not receive any funding. Some received funding through SCBWI, so keep an eye out for their funding opportunities. It’s a bit frustrating to have to pay to present, and I am generally fundamentally against this. However, I did get a lot out of the experience, so I’m willing to consider it again.

So is it worth it?

In the end, it was worth it for me. The FOMO is supported—I ran into so many authors and illustrators there, plus so many teachers! It was definitely overwhelming, and a LOT of socializing for an introvert, but I feel like I made some nice connections that made it all worth while.

Vicky Fang and Valerie Bolling signing books at the Scholastic Booth

Being able to do three signings was also a definite highlight. It was so much fun to meet so many teachers and hand them signed books! It felt like a huge thing to be able to get my books into the hands of book lovers and educators. To be honest, if I didn’t have the signings, I might have felt a little bit rudderless—it was nice to have the added purpose while I was there.

Things I’d do differently…

If I go again, there are a few things I would do differently.

I think I was running around so much that I didn’t get a chance to spend quality time with a few people that I really wanted to! If I go again next year, I’d like to find more time to connect with a handful of people.

I’d bring more swag! I probably gave away about 50-100 items with each signing, and I ran out. Swag isn’t necessary at all, but I made some bookmarks about my books in general, and almost everybody took one. I think it helped them recognize me as an author because they might not have made the connection to my other books!

I’d pay more attention to the sessions. I didn’t read the booklet at all because I was so overwhelmed with meetups and signings and running into all the kidlit folks that I didn’t look at the schedule or make it to any sessions! I’d definitely prep better next time and look for a few to attend, including meetups of different interest groups, like the Asian American Caucus, which I fortunately stumbled upon thanks to word of mouth.

And next time, I’d drag Christine Evans with me so she can be my wingwoman!

So, will I go again next year?

I’m going to try! I will have new books out, but they are mostly subsequent titles in my series, so I’m not sure whether or not the publishers will support signings for me again. Covering flight, hotel, and registration feels like a lot if I don’t have any signings. But I think it would be fun to reconnect with so many kidlit people again! So, I’ll give it a think and see if I have some great session ideas, and see where it takes me. If it doesn’t work out, I will definitely be disappointed but I won’t be devastated—there are so many wonderful events to attend and there’s not enough time to make it to all of them every year!