SCBWI Halloweekend - FIVE Session Recordings

This page is for buying FIVE breakout sessionS.

One Session = $10 for members, $15 for non-members. To purchase one session, click here.

Three Sessions = $25 for members, $28 for non-members. To purchase three sessions, click here.

Five Sessions = $35 for members, $40 for non-members.

All Sessions = $50 for members, $60 for non-members. To purchase all sessions, click here.

Intensive (2-hour session) = $25 for members, $35 for non-members. To purchase an intensive, click here.

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

For Love or Money? With Laura P. Salas

Can you make a living writing for young people? Well…yes. And no. Only a very few writers (not me!) make a livable income entirely from royalties. But there are many other ways to earn income tangential to being a children’s writer. I’ll share my income history and break down my recent years into various income streams. I’ll share my working writer mindset and some basic tips, and you’ll hopefully leave with new income-generating ideas and more realistic expectations.

Get Your Book Published--Learn the Ins and Outs of Acquisitions with Maria Dismondy

Curious about what happens after you hit "send" on your picture book manuscript? This session will demystify the acquisitions process in traditional publishing—from submission to contract. Learn what editors look for, how decisions are made behind the scenes, and tips to strengthen your chances of getting noticed. Ideal for aspiring authors ready to take the next step toward publication.

Have a Little Heart--Writing a Story that Speaks to the Soul with Pat Zietlow Miller

Some picture books are read once and forgotten. Others are read again and again and again. Lots of factors make a good picture books, but the ones that get remembered with love are those that tap into universal human emotions. The ones that have heart. We’ll talk about how to find heart and how to add it to manuscripts.

How to be Inspired by the Masters, No Stealing Required with Pat Zietlow Miller

I love reading books by other authors. And when they’re books I adore, I love looking to them for inspiration. I’ll show you how two of my own books were directly inspired by two books I love, even though they ended up being nothing like them. It’s a technique you can use to brainstorm ideas and improve your writing.

Just the Facts--Sometimes with Laura P. Salas

Our world is amazing, and I love to write nonfiction about it. In this session, I’ll use case studies from my writing to share the steps I follow in crafting an informational picture book. We’ll chat a bit about nonfiction vs informational vs ficformational books. We’ll also touch on the “What? So what? Now what?” and the “About vs. the about-about” lenses for looking at your manuscript, the current market for nonfiction, and some great resources for nonfiction writers.

Picture Books as Teaching Tools for Families and Schools with Maria Dismondy

Discover how picture books can be powerful tools for teaching young readers important lessons and values. This session will explore how to weave meaningful themes into engaging stories without preaching. Aspiring writers will learn how to craft stories that entertain, educate, and inspire—while staying true to a child’s point of view.

Pre-Publication Marketing with Vicky Weber

Your marketing starts before publication. From building an author brand to leveraging social media, this class shows how to grow an audience that’s eager to buy your book the moment it drops. Practical, actionable strategies for all genres.

Rising from the Wreckage--Revision Tips for Your Picture Book with Pat Zietlow Miller

Writing a draft of the story in your head is often the easy part. The hard part is revising that story until it’s the best-possible version of itself. And how do you even know when you’ve achieved that goal? This presentation talks about the two types of revision every story needs and shares actionable tips to help your story rise from the wreckage and stand tall and proud.

School Visit Success! with Charlotte Gunnufson

School visits are one of the best ways to reach readers, connect with parents, educators and librarians (adults who buy books!) and build buzz about upcoming titles. When we visit schools to promote our books, we’re promoting literacy and love of reading. So, how can we make successful school visits happen? In this session, we explore effective ways to contact schools, handle book orders and create engaging, memorable presentations.

The One-Sentence Sell with Vicky Weber

Learn how to craft a clear, compelling logline that captures your story’s heart—and makes agents, editors, and readers say “Tell me more.” We’ll break down what works, what doesn’t, and why your pitch might be falling flat.

Why Isn’t My Picture Book Working?!?! with Charlotte Gunnufson

This story SHOULD work. It’s got cute characters and dynamic dialog or maybe lovely lyricism and awesome alliteration. But it’s not working. Though we don’t know why it’s not working, we start revising, impatiently polishing and timidly tinkering. We apply bandages when our story might need major surgery. In this session, we explore ways to diagnose core problems, brainstorm big-picture solutions and create books kids love.