Regional In-Person Events

March 13-16, 2025 (registration closes March 7): Connections and writing time are two of the most important things writers need. This retreat provides plenty of free time in a beautiful Aribnb on the shores of Bear Lake while rubbing shoulders with three children’s publishing professionals. Two editors and an agent will join us in this idyllic setting, provide educational presentations, and join us for meals. Jumpstart your writing this spring with a four-day, three-night getaway.

March 15, 2025 (registration closes March 12): Join us for a one day hands-on workshop for illustrators, picture book writers, graphic novelists and and author-illustrators. Event includes presentations, interactive activities and off-site written critiques.

March 22-23, 2025 (registration closes March 14): Join us in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai'i for two days of inspiring words and hands-on wonders, including a keynote by Caldecott Medalist, Dan Santat. We will also have informative breakout sessions and intensives led by our faculty of industry experts, including: Tiff Liao, Executive Editor at Random House Books for Young Readers, Sally Kim, Associate Agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Tammy Yee, Award-Winning Author/Illustrator. Your adventure in creativity awaits on the beautiful Big Island! Get ready to unleash all the Words and Wonder you can imagine!

March 27-29, 2025 (registration closes February 12): Take a break from real life and escape to our secluded retreat to commune for 2 days with fellow children’s book writers. Learn from Sourcebooks Editor Wendy McClure and fellow writers as you receive critiques. And spend time revising your manuscript!

March 29, 2025 (registration closes March 28): Join us for SCBWI Westchester's first Kitlit Open Mic! Come and read your work in progress! SCBWI members please register on the website; don't email the venue. Thank you!

April 5, 2025 (registration closes April 4): Program in Tucson, Arizona includes the following segments: 1) The Picture Book Dummy for Dummies - The Foundation For Creating Better Picture Books presented by Michael Hale.Understanding the mechanics of the picture book as a medium for storytelling is essential to every writer or writer/illustrator. Knowing how to create, revise and edit a picture book dummy needs to be part of your process. Learn how to create one and how you can use this vital tool to improve your writing. 2) The Picture Book Dummy: The Writer’s Revision and Editing Friend presented by Tanja Bauerle. Picture book dummies are the domain of the illustrator. Not so! This workshop will guide you through how to use a dummy to ensure that your story will function properly within the picture book format. Learn about page turns, pacing, rhythm, language and more, in order to craft a manuscript that editors will love. Includes hands-on time to work on your dummy with Tanja and Michael.

April 17, 2025 (registration closes April 16): Matt Eicheldinger is the New York Times bestselling author of MATT SPROUT AND THE CURSE OF THE TEN BROKEN TOES, MATT SPROUT AND THE DAY NORA ATE THE SUN, and STICKY NOTES: MEMORABLE LESSONS FROM ORDINARY MOMENTS. Six more books in the series will be released in the year ahead. Matt's videos have garnered over 100 million views on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, where he is known for his captivating and relatable storytelling. Matt will talk about growing your social media platform authentically, and share his journey of perseverance to get a book deal, the mistakes and successes he's made over time, and the myths and reality of being on social media with a large following and what happens when you go viral. This program will have valuable information you can use whether you are an illustrator, PB, MG, or YA author.

May 1-4, 2025 (registration closes April 28): Want to polish your middle grade or young adult novel? Join our four-day small-group intensive writer retreat in idyllic Idyllwild. You’ll be able to hone your craft and polish your manuscript with the guidance of industry professionals. This event includes four critique group sessions led by an agent or editor, a 1:1 coaching session, and optional paid written critiques. Our faculty include editors Alexa Pastor and Joy Peskin, and agents Hannah Andrade and Kathleen Rushall.

May 3, 2025 (registration closes May 2): In this three-hour session, Emma Dryden, owner of drydenbks, will guide us through the exciting and multi-layered landscape of manuscript revision. She will share many techniques and tools that we can use to revise our manuscripts at the deepest level, and will supplement her discussion with hand-outs, writing prompts, and a couple of writing exercises. There will be one short break about halfway through the session, as well as some time at the end for Q&A. Please bring your tablets or laptops to access a manuscript you are revising, as well as notebooks and writing tools--we will be doing some writing and even some drawing. Location: Red Hook Community Center, 59 Fisk St #1713, Red Hook, New York.

May 3, 2025 (registration closes May 2): Program in Phoenix, Arizona includes the following segments: 1) The Picture Book Dummy for Dummies - The Foundation For Creating Better Picture Books presented by Michael Hale.Understanding the mechanics of the picture book as a medium for storytelling is essential to every writer or writer/illustrator. Knowing how to create, revise and edit a picture book dummy needs to be part of your process. Learn how to create one and how you can use this vital tool to improve your writing. 2) The Picture Book Dummy: The Writer’s Revision and Editing Friend presented by Tanja Bauerle. Picture book dummies are the domain of the illustrator. Not so! This workshop will guide you through how to use a dummy to ensure that your story will function properly within the picture book format. Learn about page turns, pacing, rhythm, language and more, in order to craft a manuscript that editors will love. Includes hands-on time to work on your dummy with Tanja and Michael.

May 9-10, 2025 (registration closes May 2): SCBWI Illinois welcomes you to wonderland at Spring Thaw, a hybrid pitch program for on-the-cusp authors, illustrators, and author-illustrators! Registration opens March 11th at noon CDT—limited attendance for maximum feedback opportunities. Select Through the Looking Glass Online Chat + In-Person Teacup Table at Barbara Belding Lodge in St. Charles, IL OR Through the Looking Glass Online Chat + Written Cozy Critiques. Each participant will have a chance to pitch three loglines and prune one, plus post-event submission opportunities to all faculty!

May 16-18, 2025 (registration ends May 10): The NESCBWI Spring Conference has a new location and a new look! It will be held at UConn Stamford the weekend of May 16 - 18. Register now for this reimagined event!