9:00-9:15 a.m. Welcome
9:15-10:15 a.m. Keynote
Eliza Wheeler, Award-Winning Author/Illustrator
10:15-10:25 a.m. Break and Portfolio Showcase
10:25-11:25 a.m. Editor Hour
Kristie Choi, Associate Editor, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster
Celia Lee, Executive Editor, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Sally Morgridge, Executive Editor, Holiday House
11:25-11:35 a.m. Break and Portfolio Showcase
11:35 a.m.-12:35 p.m. Agent Hour
Chad W. Beckerman, Agent, The CAT Agency, Inc.
Jennie Kendrick, Agent, Red Fox Literary
Sandra Proudman, Literary Associate and Agent, Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency
12:45-1:15 p.m. Showcase Slideshow & Awards & Thank You to Faculty and Volunteers
2:00-5:00 p.m. Optional 15-minute Critiques
Attendees receive submission guidelines from the editors and agents with the MayFest recording on Tuesday, May 20th.
The showcase will be seen by all MayFest faculty and attendees. Awards will be presented for the portfolio showcase after the Agent Hour at MayFest.
Portfolios must be uploaded to SCBWI San Diego by April 12, 2025.
Each individual critique is 15 minutes. Critique feedback includes written comments on the SCBWI Gold Form as well as written comments placed directly on your manuscript or portfolio. Your critique faculty will meet with you on Zoom in a private breakout room, where you will be able to ask questions and receive valuable feedback. After the Agent Hour, awards for most promising manuscript for each critique faculty will be announced.
Critique Timeline (Pacific Time)
April 12 by 7 p.m.: Participants upload their files
April 13 by 7 p.m.: Participants receive an email confirming their file was uploaded. If their file was not uploaded, they will receive an email asking them to resubmit immediately.
May 14 by 7 p.m.: Faculty uploads the Gold Form and comments on submission.
May 17, 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.: MayFest Conference
May 17, 2-5 p.m.: Zoom Critiques.
MayFest registration refunds (minus a $20.00 cancellation fee) will be granted until midnight (PT) on April 26 by emailing Debra Schmidt at scbwi-ra2@scbwi.org
NO REFUNDS will be given for the optional MayFest Critique and Art Portfolio Showcase, because the fees go directly to the faculty.