Info for Everyone

The MayFest Zoom Webinar features a keynote speaker, an editor panel, an agent panel, an optional Art Portfolio Showcase, and optional Zoom Critiques. MayFest is on Saturday, May 23, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (PT). Optional, Individual Zoom Critiques are from 2-5 p.m. (PT) that afternoon. Each critique is 15 minutes.

MAYFEST PRICING

MayFest Registration SCBWI Members $45.00

MayFest Registration SCBWI Non-member $70.00

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS

MayFest Portfolio Showcase SCBWI Members $20.00

MayFest Portfolio Showcase SCBWI Non-members $25.00

MayFest Critique SCBWI Members $85.00

MayFest Critique SCBWI Non-members $95.00

MAYFEST SCHEDULE: (All Times are Pacific Time)

9:00-9:15 a.m. Welcome

9:15-10:15 a.m. Keynote

SYDNEY SMITH, award-winning author and illustrator

10:15-10:25 a.m. Break and Portfolio Showcase

10:25-11:25 a.m. Editor Hour

RACHEL DIEBEL, Editor, Feiwel and Friends

ALLISON WEINTRAUB, Editor, HarperCollins Children’s Books  

KRISTA MARINO, VP and Senior Executive Editor, Delacorte Press

11:25-11:35 a.m. Break and Portfolio Showcase

11:35 a.m.-12:35 p.m. Agent Hour

STEPHEN BARR, Senior Literary Agent, Writers House

HALEY CASEY, Associate Agent, Creative Media Agency

JEN ROFÉ, Senior Agent, Andrea Brown 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 26th.

PORTFOLIO SHOWCASE:

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.

CRITIQUES:

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 21 by 7 p.m.: Faculty uploads the Gold Form and comments on submission.

May 23, 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.: MayFest Conference

May 23, 2-5 p.m.: Zoom Critiques.

REFUND POLICY:

MayFest registration refunds (minus a $20.00 cancellation fee) will be granted until midnight (PT) on April 26 by emailing Debra Schmidt at [email protected]

NO REFUNDS will be given for the optional MayFest Critique and Art Portfolio Showcase, because the fees go directly to the faculty.