SCBWI regions host a wide variety of affordable in-person events. From retreats to conferences, you'll find the perfect program for connecting with other creatives and improving your craft. Check here often to find a nearby event that fits your interests. You can also explore the Regional Virtual Events page and visit individual SCBWI Region pages for upcoming events and programming.
Be sure to follow your home region to keep up with the latest local news and activities near you. Go to your Member Home page, click the My Profile button, then the Edit My Profile button. Scroll down the page and click "Set your SCBWI home region," then click the arrow and choose your home region to add it to your profile.
Regional In-Person Events
SCBWI San Francisco North East Bay: Oktoberfest
October 18, 2025: Recharge your creativity and reinvigorate your creative journey at Oktoberfest 2025. New York Times-Best Selling Author, Dashka Slater will be our Keynote Speaker. Connect with top kidlit agents and editors, an art director, and many writers and illustrators for a day of craft and inspiration. Register now and get access to manuscript and portfolio critiques, Ask Me Anything sessions with agents and editors, professional headshots, and more.
SCBWI Rocky Mountain: 2025 RMC Letters and Lines Conference
October 18-19, 2025 (registration closes October 5): SCBWI Rocky Mountain's 49th annual Letters and Lines Conference will be October 18-19, 2025 at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities in Arvada, Colorado. Keynote speakers will include author/illustrators Sophie Blackall and LeUyen Pham. Other faculty will include VP and Editor and Chief of Little, Brown Books Alvina Ling, Sourcebooks editor Melissa Manlove, and many more! Check out our regional website for more information. Registration opens July 17 at 6:00pm MT.
SCBWI Indiana: Nonfiction/Info-fiction Picture Book Mentor & Critique Event with Heather Montgomery
October 24, 2025 (registration closes October 23): During this terrific roundtable event, you will have a 15-minute mentor session with Heather to consult on your manuscript – suggestions on revision and marketability. Prior to the meeting, you will receive a link to upload a 55-word pitch of your nonfiction or info-fiction picture book manuscript. In addition to the mentor session, Heather is offering a written critique of the same nonfiction / info-fiction manuscript (maximum of 1,200 words including back matter).
SCBWI Indiana: Chat and Write Fall Gathering
October 24, 2025 (registration closes October 23): Join us for an in-person gathering at the College Ave. Library Branch for a chance to write together, chat, and enjoy some delicious cider and cookies!
SCBWI Iowa: Halloweekend Conference
October 31-November 2, 2025 (registration ends October 24): BOO! Don't be scared--join us for a multi-day conference in Des Moines, Iowa! Best-selling picture book authors, agents, and publishers will haunt our halls! Written critiques, face-to-face critiques, and post-conference submissions available... if you dare!
SCBWI Western Washington: Write in the Woods Retreat
November 7-9, 2025 (registration closes November 5): Join us in Western Washington Nov. 7 - 9, 2025, for a full weekend of virtual workshops with Feiwel & Friends Senior Editor Kat Brzozowski, and in-person workshops with award-winning local author/illustrator Ellie Peterson. Enjoy hands-on learning, creative time, community, great food, and inspirational nature. Kat will join the group by Zoom for a three-hour workshop on Saturday, with other workshops and group activities throughout the weekend. Opportunities for individual critiques from the editor are available separately.
SCBWI Southern Breeze: Story Sculpting Writing Workshops
November 8, 2025: Join us at the Decatur Library in Decatur, Georgia for Story Sculpting with Southern Breeze Standouts, taught by authors Katrina Moore and Chris Negron. In this writing intensive, you’ll learn about pacing, voice, query letter writing, and much more! Choose three sessions tailored for picture book writers or kidlit novelists (mix and match if you write both!) with an additional “ask us anything” faculty panel. Great for beginners looking to improve their craft and established authors interested in honing their skills.
SCBWI Southern Breeze: Illustration Intensive - Art in Motion and Deep Dives
December 5-6, 2025 (registration closes November 30): Join us for an illustration intensive in Savannah, Georgia with our guest, Agent Kelly Pelsue and sessions with your choice of 3 illustrators/educators: Mike Wimmer will dive into designing strong book covers for the public eye, Jime Wimmer will share how storyboards in animation can develop our picture book compositions and storytelling, and Rashad Doucet, who recently published WISH I WAS A BALLER (Scholastic) will discuss building strong character design. One-on-one portfolio reviews with Kelly are available. Our first Pop-Up "Process to Print" banner exhibition will also be on display.
