Conference FAQs

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 the base-ticket are permitted once you’ve paid to confirm your registration. Therefore, you should visit the conference website before you register to study the options and decide what’s best for you. To add conference add-ons, see the process in the following question.

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

You must register for the main conference ticket all at once, but some Conference Add-Ons, which cost extra, can be added later as long as they are not sold out. Prior to September 1, 2026, paid conference add-ons that still have seats available (intensives, critiques, pitch sessions, AMAs) may be added to your registration by following the instructions below:

log onto the site
go to the SCBWI Midsouth Conference Event page
click 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. No changes of any kind may be made after September 1, 2026, or after registration closes in case of an early sell-out. There are no exceptions to this rule.
after selecting your additional choices, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the green "Purchase" button to be directed to the payment page.
Once you've paid, confirm your selections in your Member Home under "My Events."

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

No. There will be no conference waitlist this year.

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

No. There will be no waitlist for conference add-ons.

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 FACULTY

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 open to submissions for attendees after the conference. You will receive an email a week (or so) after the conference concludes with their submission guidelines.

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

Under no circumstance should you pitch to the agents, editors, or approach the art director with art at any time during the conference, UNLESS you have paid for a pitch, critique, or AMA (Ask-Me-Anything) session. Pitching outside of the pitch session is considered highly unprofessional and will 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). This is helpful to have ready anyway, as you’ll be asked this question all weekend by other attendees!

If you are talking to a faculty member and they don’t ask what you’re working on, 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. Be prepared for a LOT of information, both in the areas of craft AND industry. Be prepared for PEOPLE. This means full rooms and talking to people you don’t know. The Midsouth Fall 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. And you never know who YOU will be able to help in the future!

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 in to the temptation to share your personal story/manuscript ideas or ask personal questions that only apply to your own work.

The prices for the conference seem higher this year. Why is that?

Simply put, costs associated with putting on the conference have gone up. This year, specifically, the base price is higher because we are returning to our TWO-DAY format, instead of what we did in 2025—Saturday-only conference with Sunday intensives, AND the price includes lunch on Saturday.

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. There are no partial tickets.

Can I purchase an intensive if I can’t attend the rest of the conference events?

Intensives may only be purchased 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, as long as you registered and paid for them. Note: intensives are not included in the general conference tuition 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 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 getting a paid face-to-face manuscript critique, review the submission and formatting guidelines by clicking HERE.
If you’re doing a live pitch critique, 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 (found HERE), 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 (#SCBWIMidsouth26) on Bluesky, Facebook or Instagram for a chance to win prizes.

What do I pick up at registration?

Your conference nametag and materials may be picked up from the registration table in the area just outside of our conference rooms at the Sonesta hotel. Conference nametags are alphabetized by last name. If you registered with a pen name, your nametag will be under that name.

Can I bring my kids to the conference?

No, you must be 18 years or older to attend any SCBWI event.

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 want to participate in First Pages, then bring THREE printed copies of your first page.
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 lobbies can be 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, printed art, or manuscripts to submit to faculty members while at the conference, UNLESS a session or workshop you signed up for requires one! 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 venue.

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.

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) 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 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 Professional Feedback for Writers and Illustrators page for other opportunities to share your work at the conference.

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.

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

Online Conference Registration:

Hope Bissell at [email protected]

Illustrator Info:

Scott Soeder at [email protected]

Paid Critiques and Pitch Sessions:

Erica Rodgers at [email protected]

Volunteering and General Questions:

Laura Ayo at [email protected]

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