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FAQs

Conference FAQs

ALL ABOUT FACULTY

Who is on the conference faculty?

Faculty bios may be viewed on the Meet the Faculty page. To get the most out of the conference, we suggest you research faculty members and consider reading their books so you can ask informed questions during and after presentations.

Will the faculty be open to attendees submitting their work after the conference?

Yes! The agents, editors and art director on our conference faculty will be open to submissions after the conference from attendees. You will receive an email a week after the conference concludes with their submission requirements. After listening to the speakers at the conference, only submit to those who seem like a good fit for your work.

Can I pitch to agents, editors, or the art director during the conference?

Under no circumstance should you pitch to the agents, editors, or art directors at any time during the conference, UNLESS you have paid for a pitch critique session. Pitching outside of the pitch session is considered highly unprofessional and will only make you look like a newbie who doesn’t know the ropes. If a faculty member asks what you’re working on, you need to be prepared to answer that question in one brief sentence (also known as the elevator pitch).

How should I talk to an agent, editor, or art director?

If you get an opportunity to speak with agents, editors, or the art director while at the conference, don’t tell them about your work unless they ask. If they do ask, you’ll want to be prepared to answer by telling them what you’re working on in one sentence (again, the elevator pitch). If they don’t ask, use that opportunity to ask them questions about their work in order to help you understand their personal tastes and interests. (Again, this helps you know which faculty are a good fit for your work for post-conference submissions.) Also please remember the faculty needs their downtime as much as the rest of us. Remember to respect their privacy when they’re not on duty. (Or when they’re in the bathroom. Seriously.)

ALL ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

What can a pre-published author/illustrator expect from the conference?

SCBWI conferences are a place to learn more about the industry, improve your craft, and network with other writers and illustrators to help you succeed. This means talking to people you don’t know. The Midsouth Create a Scene Conference is a great place to have fun while learning and making new contacts. The people you meet at the conference will likely be able to help you on your publishing journey down the road.

What questions should I ask? What questions should I avoid?

During the Q&A portion of a presentation, you should ask questions about process, craft, or the industry of children’s literature. Please do not give into the temptation to share your personal story/manuscript ideas or ask personal questions that only apply to your own work.

How much does the conference cost?

Coming to the Midsouth Conference is an investment in yourself and your creative career! Visit the Pricing and Policies page for pricing and to see all the learning and networking opportunities available at the conference.

The prices seem higher this year. Why is that?

Pricing has gone up because costs associated with putting on the conference have gone up since the last time we were together in person in 2022. The volunteer Midsouth Regional Team and the conference planning committee has worked hard to keep costs in line with pricing for other comparable SCBWI events and we hope you’ll agree it’s a good value for the price.

My budget is tight. Do I have to register for everything all at once, or can I add items later?

After you have registered for the main conference and paid the conference tuition, you may add any of the items identified as Registration Add-Ons as long as spots remain, deadlines haven't passed or the conference registration window hasn't closed. You may revisit the conference registration page as often as you like while registration is still open. Please note that some items have limited availability and will sell out quickly. Other items, such as a ticket to the Create a Scene Bash and Dinner, have deadlines, so make sure you visit the Dates & Deadlines to Remember page so you don't miss out.

Can I just pay to attend a single breakout session, or do I have to register for the full conference?

You must register for the full conference. Registration includes access to your selected breakout sessions (three total), the Editor/Agent panel discussion, first pages feedback sessions (whether you participate or observe), the opportunity to watch and learn from pitch sessions (there is an extra charge to pitch to an agent), the Midsouth autograph party with portfolio showcase and the cocktail hour. Whether you decide to attend everything you’ve paid for is up to you, but the more you participate, the more you’ll get out of the experience.

Can I attend an intensive if I can’t attend Saturday’s conference events?

Intensives may only be attended by those registering for the full conference. If you register for the full conference and cannot attend the Saturday sessions, you may still attend any intensives on Sunday that you paid for. Note that intensives are not included in the general conference registration, but are sold on a first-come, first-served basis for an added cost.

Will the conference be live-streamed?

No. All conference events are held in-person only.

Will the conference be recorded?

No. All conference events happening Sept. 13-14, including the breakout sessions and intensives, are in person and will not be recorded for later viewing opportunities.

What should I do to prepare for the conference?

● Research and read books by conference faculty

● If you’re an illustrator showing a portfolio, watch the Three Steps To A Better Portfolio video at the Illustrator Lounge page.

● If you're an illustrator who signed up for a Portfolio Critique, or is participating in the Portfolio Showcase, consider signing up for the pre-Conference webinar Portfolio Myth Busters with Nicole Tugeau on June 18.

● If you’re getting a paid face-to-face manuscript critique, review the submission and formatting guidelines by clicking HERE.

● If you registered for a live pitch critique during the early bird period, plan to attend our pre-conference pitch practice webinars and review the guidelines by clicking HERE.

● Review your conference schedule and selections on the SCBWI website:

Log into your Member Home on the SCBWI website.
Click on the My Events tab from the menu to see everything you’ve registered for.
The website does not allow you to download a personalized schedule, but you will receive one when you check in at the conference. If you want a hard copy of the full schedule, we suggest you print it at home (Download from link at bottom of this page), highlight or otherwise mark your selections on the printout, and bring it to the conference. Changes to breakout sessions are not possible due to space considerations.

● Follow our social media channels and use this year’s conference hashtag (#SCBWIMidsouth25) on Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky for a chance to win prizes.

● Check traffic and weather before you leave home in case of delays.

● Allow extra time. The parking lot at the Southwestern Conference Center is massive, so you might have to walk a long way to your car. Translation = showing up at the last minute could make you ten minutes late.

When should I arrive at the conference?

You do not need to arrive at the conference until Saturday morning. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Central time with the program starting at 8 a.m.

What do I pick up at registration?

Your conference nametag and materials may be picked up from the registration table in the lobby of the Southwestern Conference Center. Conference nametags are alphabetized by last name. If you registered with a pen name, your nametag will be under that name.

Will food be provided at the conference?

Complimentary beverages—Complimentary coffee and water will be available throughout the conference near the bookstore as long as supply lasts. The Southwestern Conference Center also has water bottle refilling stations available for those who wish to bring their own bottle.

Saturday lunch—Lunch on Saturday is NOT included in your conference tuition. You have several options for lunch on Saturday:

a) You can bring your own lunch. The venue has several indoor places you can sit to eat, as well as a handful of outdoor picnic tables.

b) You can purchase your own lunch at a nearby restaurant or through DoorDash/UberEats. (See the Stay, Eat and Explore page for information about nearby eateries

REMEMBER: YOU ONLY HAVE 90 MINUTES FOR LUNCH

Saturday dinner—The Create a Scene Bash on Saturday night is NOT included in your conference tuition, but can be added at any time as long as registration is open. The $50 dinner ticket includes your meal, served buffet style, along with a variety of dishes, including vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, rolls, iced tea and dessert. While we make every attempt to accommodate food sensitivities, please understand that we cannot ensure every participant’s dietary preferences and food sensitivities for every meal. If you have serious allergies/sensitivities or strict food preferences, please bring supplementary food with you. If you have any questions regarding dietary restrictions, please email Janet K. Lee at [email protected].

The conference center also has snacks available for purchase.

Can I just come to the Create a Scene Bash?

No. To attend the Bash, you must register to attend the conference.

Can I bring my kids to the conference or the Bash?

No, you must be 18 years or older to attend any SCBWI event, including the Create a Scene Conference and Bash.

When is the conference bookstore open?

The conference bookstore will be open during conference hours on Saturday in the lobby of the conference center and will have both cash and credit card payment options.

If there is a book you know you want signed, you will have to purchase it before or during any autograph sessions. Check our schedule for exact times and location for autographs.

What should I bring to the conference?

● Note-taking materials: paper and pen/pencil or your laptop, or both. Don’t forget your chargers!

● Business cards to exchange with other authors and illustrators. (Please do not give your business card or postcards to editors and agents at the conference unless they ask; they do not have room to take them home from every conference attendee and will just have to recycle them before they leave.)

● Illustrators might want to bring postcards of your work (in addition to business cards) to exchange. You might also want to bring supplies for sketching during the conference.

● If you registered for the Saturday portfolio showcase, then bring your portfolio to the conference.

● If you registered for an intensive that provides the option to bring materials to workshop during the program, bring the requested materials.

● Layers! The conference rooms are air conditioned and tend to be quite chilly, but the atrium is warmer, so be sure to dress in layers.

● A tote bag for all the books you know you’re going to buy!

● Your wallet. The conference bookstore takes credit or cash. Consider bringing cash or setting up Venmo if you have not already, as a possible way to tip our bartender Saturday evening.

Is there anything I shouldn’t bring to the conference?

● Query letters or manuscripts to submit to faculty members while at the conference. If you would like to query an editor or agent who is on the faculty, you’ll be given guidelines on how to do that after the conference.

● Weapons. It is the policy of SCBWI to maintain a safe environment. To that end, SCBWI maintains a firearms- and weapons-free environment at all events and prohibits the possession of firearms and weapons regardless of any license or permit that an individual may have which would otherwise authorize the individual to carry firearms or weapons. Weapons are defined as anything intended to cause harm to another person.

● Pets. Only trained service animals are allowed in the conference center.

What should I wear to the conference?

Everything goes at the Midsouth conference—from business casual to jeans. You want to feel comfortable, yet be professional. Because some conference rooms will feel warm while others will feel cold, you will want to dress in layers.

What should I wear to the Saturday night Bash and dinner?

The theme for Saturday night’s dinner is Create a Scene, and we invite you to dress like your favorite Broadway character or show by wearing anything from just a fun hat and glasses to a full-on costume. You are free to wear the same thing to the dinner on Saturday night that you wear to the conference during the day, but consider dressing up a little for the fun of cocktails and dinner!

Are there any events happening outside of the conference?

Yes! Over the summer, three pre-conference learning opportunities will be held online: a Portfolio Myth Buster webinar on June 18 for illustrators and artists who select this optional add-on during conference registration; and two pitch presentations for writers on July 19 (Pitch Perfect webinar) and August 30 (Pitch Practice virtual roundtable) who sign up for a pitch critique before early bird registration ends. Read all about these pre-conference opportunities HERE.

On the Friday night before the conference, there will be an informal meet-and-greet in one of the nearby hotels. The Saturday evening festivities include a cocktail hour to coincide with our autograph party and portfolio showcase, followed by the Create a Scene Bash - all at the conference venue. Read all about them HERE.

Who should I contact to make accessibility arrangements for my time at the conference?

SCBWI Midsouth welcomes attendees of all abilities to join us at the conference. If you will need assistance, please contact Laura Ayo at [email protected] to discuss your specific needs and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Will there be a dedicated conference forum to meet attendees before we get to Nashville?

We are not managing a formal conference forum (like a ListServ, Google Group or Discord channel) this year, but you are welcome to follow our social media channels (you can find links to all of them in one place HERE) to do some pre-conference networking and see who is coming to the conference. Please note that these channels may not be used to find conference roommates per a new SCBWI policy.

Will there be an opportunity to swap manuscripts or get peer critiques at the conference this year?

Due to time and space considerations in our new venue this year, we will not be offering a structured opportunity to do informal peer-to-peer manuscript or portfolio critiques. Please visit the For Writers and For Illustrators pages for other opportunities to share your work at the conference.

Can I set up my own table at the conference to display and sell my books?

Due to space constraints at our conference venue, we do not have room to allow members to set up their own tables to display their books.

How can I sell my book in the conference bookstore?

Space in the bookstore is limited per our agreement with the bookstore we have partnered with to handle book sales for the event. Titles must meet the following requirements:

must be published as children’s or young adult literature
must be returnable
must have no minimum order requirements
must be readily available from Ingram according to Parnassus Books’ sales terms. Exceptions may be made if the book is already stocked by Parnassus Books.

In addition to meeting these requirements, titles are also limited to faculty teaching at the conference and SCBWI members who secure one of the limited spots in the author signing party. Priority is given to Midsouth members.

Can I volunteer to help at the conference?

We love it when attendees sign up to volunteer at the conference! The Midsouth conference could not happen without the help of DOZENS of volunteers (including the entire volunteer conference committee). We try to utilize each person who offers to help, but sometimes we don’t need to tap everyone. If you sign up to volunteer and don’t hear from us, don’t fret. We’ll probably need your help the next year instead.

ALL ABOUT REGISTRATION

Why did I get charged non-member pricing if I’m a Premium member of SCBWI?

First, check to make sure your membership hasn’t expired. To do so, log into your SCBWI Member Home by clicking HERE. Then click on “My Profile” and then “Membership Details” and confirm your membership status and expiration date. If your membership has not expired, in all likelihood, you didn’t log into your SCBWI Member Home with the same email address that you used to secure your SCBWI membership before you went to register for the conference. Please contact [email protected] if you need assistance with this type of matter.

I’m registered. How can I add to or change my selections?

No changes to your choices of breakout sessions and other events included with the price of admission are permitted once you’ve paid to confirm your registration. Therefore, you should visit the conference materials before you register to study the options and decide what’s best for you. Prior to Aug. 23, 2025, or registration closing due to an early sell-out, conference add-ons that still have seats available (intensives, critiques, pitch sessions) may be added to your registration by logging onto the site, going to the SCBWI Midsouth Create a Scene Conference Event page and clicking on the green Register For Event button. The registration form will show you everything you are already registered for and allow you to add more options if they are still available. You may add a ticket to attend the Create a Scene Bash up to August 23rd or until the conference closes due to a sell-out following the same steps as listed above. No changes of any kind may be made after Aug. 23, 2025, or after registration closes in case of an early sell-out. There are no exceptions to this rule. After selecting your choices, you will then be directed to the payment page.

The conference sold out before I could register. Is there a waitlist?

Yes. Please fill out our Waitlist form in case a spot becomes available.

The paid critiques and pitches sold out before I could register. Is there a waitlist?

Yes. Please fill out our Waitlist form to be considered if additional spots become available.

I’m having technical issues with the registration page. HELP!

Email [email protected] and put REGISTRATION HELP in all caps in the subject line. Please note that this email address is managed by Midsouth volunteers who do not monitor it around the clock, but we will be checking it daily once registration opens.

ALL ABOUT THE STAY

I’m flying into the Nashville airport. How far is the venue from the airport?

The conference center is 3.1 miles via I-40 from Nashville International Airport (BNA). There are many hotel options in the vicinity and several offer free shuttle service to the airport for hotel guests.

How do I get to the venue?

Directions are available for download below on this page.

Is there a hotel coupon code? A preferred hotel?

There is no preferred hotel for this conference and no conference rate at any neighboring hotels, but there are many options within a 10 minute drive of the conference venue at varying and affordable price points. Please see our Stay, Eat & Explore page for more information.

Where can I park? Is it free?

The conference center has ample parking on-site that is free to attendees. Download the parking map at the bottom of this page. If you are staying in a nearby hotel, please note that some hotels include parking with your reservation, while others charge for parking, so make sure you research your options and factor those expenses into your travel plans.

Can I walk to any restaurants from the venue?

While there are several restaurants within a quick drive from the conference center, only the restaurant at the DoubleTree Hotel across the street is within walking distance. Please see our Stay, Eat & Explore page for more information.

Where can I smoke during the conference?

The Southwestern Conference Center is a smoke-free environment. Cigarettes, including e-cigarettes and vaping devices, may only be used by the flagpoles in the parking lot. Smoking near the doors, entrances or the picnic areas are prohibited per venue policy.

Don’t see your question here? Here’s who to contact for more information about…