Faculty Sessions

Pat Zietlow Miller has published 22 picture books and has more on the way. Her first book, SOPHIE’S SQUASH, won the Golden Kite Award, an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor, and a Charlotte Zolotow Honor. BE KIND was on the New York Times bestseller list for 10 weeks, and IN OUR GARDEN is a two-time Dolly Parton Imagination Library selection. Pat lives in Wisconsin. Find her at www.patzietlowmiller.com, on Twitter and TikTok at @PatZMiller, and on Instagram at @patzmill.

There are SO MANY ways to structure a picture book. And, choosing the right one is as important to your story’s success as choosing the right design when you’re building a house. I’ll share common picture book structures, tons of book recommendations and tips for making your structure sing.

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.

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.

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.

5 Written Critique Slots

Vicky Weber is a literary agent, bestselling children’s book author, and publishing industry expert with years of experience helping authors navigate both traditional and self-publishing. As the founder of At Home Author, she has guided countless writers through the process of crafting, publishing, and marketing successful books. With a background in education, Vicky is passionate about breaking down complex industry concepts into actionable steps. Whether securing book deals for her clients or sharing insights on the ever-evolving publishing market, she is dedicated to helping authors turn their creative dreams into reality.

Great plots become extraordinary when driven by characters who feel real and whose choices shape the action. This interactive masterclass will show you how to integrate character depth with plot development, creating stakes that resonate and stories that captivate—no matter your genre.

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.

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.

15 Written Critique Slots; 15 Face-to-Face Critique Slots

Attendees are welcome to submit board books through YA manuscripts, excluding sci-fi and graphic novels, for 30 days following the conference. **Select "SCBWI Invitation" in the genre dropdown box.

When Maria was a little girl she was teased for her curly hair and favorite lunchbox fare, spaghetti in a hot dog bun. Many moons later, these and other real-life moments continue to fuel what is now her critically acclaimed children’s book writing career. Maria has penned ten books that feature stories with topics ranging from anti-bullying to overcoming adversity, to friendship trials and tribulations, and beyond. Maria is dedicated to empowering those around her through her roles as author, teacher, public speaker, community leader, and friend. Maria is intentional about making each day count and lives in southeast Michigan with her high school sweetheart husband, three kids, and two pet snails.

This is an opportunity for writers to go beyond basic craft techniques. Break through the current noise in the literacy world with out of the box writing practices while still maintaining a timeless piece of work. This session will take a look at how accomplished authors, writers and editors are using craft in award winning picture books today. Writers will have a chance to work on some of the ideas presented.

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.

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.

5 Written Critique Slots; 10 Face-to-Face Critique Slots

Attendees are welcome to submit realistic picture books to Cardinal Rule Press until Nov 30th.

Laura Purdie Salas is a curious, impatient Minnesota author. She’s written more than 140 picture books and board books, including Zap! Clap Boom!, Water Can Be…, and BookSpeak! Her newest is Flurry, Float, and Fly! The Story of a Snowstorm (coming in less than 2 weeks!). Her books have earned the Minnesota Book Award, NCTE Notables, a Charlotte Zolotow Honor, starred reviews, and more. She knows books change kids’ lives, and she enjoys sharing her experiences (warts and all), process, and insights with other writers. Laura also loves donuts, games/puzzles, and big storms.

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.

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.

7 Written Critique Slots; 3 Face-to-Face Critique Slots

Charlotte is a former teacher turned children’s author who loves connecting with readers, writers, teachers and librarians. Her newest book, Hard Hat Hank and the Sky-High Solution, has been named Iowa’s 2025 Great Read for Children by the Library of Congress Center for the Book Iowa affiliate. Charlotte’s titles include Dream Submarine, Halloween Hustle, and coming soon, Eight, Nine, Tengineers and School Spirits. She cares deeply about young people and this old planet, and volunteers for YMCA Camp Wapsie and Trees Forever.

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.

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.

10 Written Critique Slots; 10 Face-to-Face Critique Slots