SCBWI FACES BB Taylor
Let's go behind the scenes at SCBWI-BI to meet the volunteers who keep our Society ticking. This month, Fran Price meets BB Taylor, ARA Member Services and Celebrations editor for Words & Pictures.
Welcome to Words & Pictures. Please tell us what you write.
Literally anything that pops into my head from picture books to Young Adult. I think it's easier to say what I don't write. I don't write romance or real-life stories as I like to escape into the stories I'm writing. Most of my work is fantasy, sci-fi and adventure though.
There are lots of different tasks volunteers can take, ranging from occasional help right up to permanent roles. These can include helping out with our social media, running/facilitating workshops, being part of our editorial or online magazine team. There are so many ways for people to get involved.
Describe your writing space.
I've just moved so I finally have a writing space of my own; it's in the loft with a steep ladder up to it and it has the night sky on the ceiling, brick open plan walls, and blue, purple and grey floor. I like to have my books, musical instruments and lots of creative things up there that I can play with when I'm struggling to sit still at a screen.BB Taylor with her raccoon, Sox.
How long have you been a volunteer?
I became an accidental volunteer helping out here and there in the early days of my membership but I've been an official volunteer for about three years.Describe the main tasks of a SCBWI volunteer.
So I have two volunteer roles. I write the Celebrations page, which is awesome because each month I get to shout about all our members' good news and achievements, and I am also the ARA (Assistant Regional Advisor) for Member Services, which means I try to make sure our members are happy, that they are up to date with all the opportunities available to them and that they have someone to come to if they need pointing in a particular direction for SCBWI support or advice.There are lots of different tasks volunteers can take, ranging from occasional help right up to permanent roles. These can include helping out with our social media, running/facilitating workshops, being part of our editorial or online magazine team. There are so many ways for people to get involved.
Do you do any other volunteering?
When I can I visit libraries to support them and the amazing work they do.Has volunteering influenced your writing in any way?
It has given me the opportunity to experience so many new things which have inspired my writing in so many different ways.What are the advantages of being a volunteer?
From networking and finding new opportunities, to finding new friends and connecting with people who are at various stages of their creative journey, there are so many advantages to being a volunteer. I love being able to connect with new people, knowing I've managed to help someone in some small way. There are also the opportunities to meet industry professionals and be able to learn so much about the industry we are surrounded by.
BB at the book signing for her latest book.
How many hours per week do you spend volunteering?
About 15 on average I would say including monitoring our social media, compiling newsletters, updating websites etc, sometimes more, sometimes less :)Do the boundaries between volunteering get blurred or do you have clearly demarcated writing/volunteering times/space?
I try to have a set routine, but I'm disorganised with a short attention span so I often flit between tasks.Favourite children’s book?
Doomspell Trilogy by Cliff McNish. It's just been reprinted for its 20th anniversary and it's still one of my all time favourites.*All photos of BB Taylor and her book by Tiny Tree Books.
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Professional daydreamer and superhero in training BB Taylor has been dreaming up stories for as long as she can remember. From yetis to fairies and zombies too, the Midlands-based author loves nothing more than sharing stories and meeting new readers. Her latest book The Vigilante Tooth Fairy was released in March 2020 by Tiny Tree Books.
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