The Ballad of SCBWI Conference 2016 - or The Spelling Beast

To reiterate our midpoint Story Arc post - 'SCBWI people can party', hearty as it were, arrr!

Here's the little ditty that whet our appetites on the Dinner Dance Party night by poet master, Harry Laing, aka red hot speller; aka twister on the dance floor.

 

So here we are at The Menzies

soon we’ll be whipping up frenzies

 

‘cos SCWBI people can party

they’re not just kids’ literati

 

no they’re crazy, they’re wild

(ask their strange inner child)

 

or that’s what I think

but then I’ve had a few drinks

 

first up…Susanne Gervay

who does it her way

 

she’s a true force of nature

a passionate creature

 

her voice is commanding

do you think she’s demanding?

 

when her eye falls on you

you just bloody well do

 

Tracy get up here

Harry…where are you (feelin’ the fear!)

 

Susanne’s not really scary

though she can look a bit glary

 

people do things for her

(would they dare to demur?)

 

um…er…um…er

Susanne, you’re a star

 

which brings me to stellar…

cue Deb Abela

 

she just gets everywhere

look – she’s under your chair!

 

and she’s on drugs

now she’s under the rug!

 

hum, what rhymes with Abela?

here’s a word – fella

 

blokes, guys, yes men

there’s not many of them

 

I feel like a minority

triumph of the sorority

 

yes, you can jump to your conclusions

he’s got masculine delusions

 

that’s just the way it is

not so much manuscript as Ms

 

but let’s get back to this feast

and the famous spelling beast

 

it’s more fearsome than a bee

you’ll get so anxious you will pee

 

right, spell SCWBI

mmm…S..Q..U..I..B..B..Y?

 

go to back to your table

with a can’t spell label

 

OK, next word: seceded

but why is that word needed?

 

it’s what WA have done

they’ve gone off on their own

 

so how do you spell SCWBI?

Deb Abela, take more drugs, tell me!

 

C..C..Q..E..P..P..Y..E

ShhhhKWIPPPYYYY

 

meaning squib, a firework, verbal joust

but I’m sure my time is running out

 

is there anything I’ve missed?

here’s a final checklist:

 

are you branded or stranded

has your contract landed

 

are you showcased, po-faced

is your profile mostly web-based

 

are you upbeat or defeatist

can you spell TMETUS

 

did you quiver at the pitches

develop involuntary twitches

 

have you handed over cards

have you done the hard yards

 

and I think we’ll leave it there

it’s time to let down the hair!

©Harry Laing 2016

#SCBWISyd