SCBWI Kidlit Series: From Concept to Career
Sep 01, 2026 - Oct 31, 2026
Online event
A free kidlit series presented by the Inland Northwest, Los Angeles, Midsouth, Southwest Texas, Nebraska, Illinois, and Wisconsin Regions. Live workshops take place throughout September. You can register for replay recordings until October 31st.
SCBWI Kidlit Series: From Concept to Career
Discover a sampling of kidlit expertise with the SCBWI Kidlit Series: From Concept to Career September series.
Celebrate World Kidlit Month with eight dynamic, 20-minute presentations. From picture book basics to querying, portfolios, and publishing paths, each session includes time for questions, so you can connect, learn, and move your work forward. Join us all month long for this fast-paced, inspiring series created for writers and illustrators ready to grow their careers.
Replay recordings available until October 31st. You can register anytime.
This series is made possible by a grant from SCBWI and the Authors Coalition of America.
A Free 8-Course Sampling
The Basics of Picture Books presented by the Inland Northwest Region
Learn the basics of picture books in this short and informational presentation. We’ll go over picture book audience, word count expectations, page count, point of view, and an introduction to different types of picture books and basic structures.
Consider Your Reader presented by the Los Angeles Region
Writing for children means understanding how young readers experience the world. In this workshop, we’ll explore how age, emotional development, humor, pacing, and perspectives shape stories that truly connect with kids and teens. Perfect for writers and illustrators looking to create authentic, engaging books for today’s young readers.
The PB Dummy presented by the Midsouth Region
Join Midsouth Illustrator Coordinator Scott Soeder as he takes you through process of building a picture dummy from first sketch to final PDF. Scott will show his process for: -sketching out thumbnails -organizing your files -laying out your sketches in InDesign to build the dummy -creating your submittable PDF
Portfolio Basics for Illustrators presented by the Southwest Texas Region
Learn what children’s book illustrators should include in a portfolio and how to share your work in a way that feels clear, thoughtful, and true to you. This presentation will offer guidance for building a focused, professional portfolio that highlights your storytelling, style, and strengths.
The Query Letter presented by the Nebraska Region
A solid query letter is essential for any writer, at any stage of their journey, when seeking representation or looking to submit directly to publishers and editors. This presentation will effectively break down the key elements needed in any query letter, while helping writers explore ways to present their project clearly and with confidence.
How to Find an Agent presented by the Illinois and Wisconsin Regions
Tips and tricks for researching agents, finding submission opportunities, networking, and tracking your success. You’ll leave with a downloadable Query Tracking Worksheet, a list of major pitch fests and contests, and a place to start on your journey towards finding an agent!
