Regional virtual events

March 7, 2026: Plotting doesn’t always come naturally—especially if your brain freezes at the word “outline.” But your subconscious is already better at it than you think. In this workshop, writers will learn how to coax their brains into generating plot ideas organically, using tricks and techniques that tap into how stories are naturally structured. They’ll explore key story elements such as goals, stakes, and conflict, and discover how asking the right questions can spark the perfect next scene. Writers will also learn how to spot hidden plot threads in their own ideas and shape them into a cohesive narrative without killing their creativity. Additional MG/YA written critiques available.

March 7, 2026: Join the Austin SCBWI chapter online for a day-long bootcamp about nonfiction and educational markets. 5 amazing speakers will discuss PB, novel, and illustration works and business topics, with additional opportunities such as pitches, critiques, and AMAs.

March 7, 2026: This online event will allow 25 people to submit their work to be read aloud, as well as optional full critiques by Lynne Marie. Participants who submit first pages for review must be present and take their own notes. Submission guidelines will be available after registration in your member home/my events/meeting info. Optional Critiques: Space for the full critiques is limited to 8 participants at 15 minutes per session.

March 10, 2026: Get ready to bring your stories to life—panel by panel! In this presentation, Marcie Colleen breaks down the building blocks of comics and graphic novels—from panels and gutters to bubbles and sound effects—all through the lens of a writer.

March 10, 2026: In this workshop, author Danielle Herzog explores how meaningful conflict drives compelling storytelling. Participants learn to identify internal and external conflicts, raise stakes, and build tension that keeps readers engaged. Through guided exercises, writers practice transforming character struggles into powerful narrative momentum. We’ll examine examples of effective conflict, discuss common pitfalls, and explore techniques for deepening emotional impact. By the end of the session, attendees will understand how to craft purposeful conflict that shapes character arcs, enriches plot, and strengthens overall story structure. This webinar will be recorded and will remain available to registered attendees for 30 days following the event.

March 12, 2026: Join us for this informative workshop with Karen Boss, Senior Editor at Charlesbridge. Whether you're working on a picture book or a novel, we'll focus on POV as you start and end your manuscript. This event will not be recorded.

March 14, 2026: Middle grade or YA nonfiction is sold on proposal rather than a finished manuscript. But preparing a book proposal that will hook an editor or agent is a skill onto itself. The proposal is a sales document, job application, and a giant pitch. This workshop will cover all the sections that make up a book proposal as well as provide tips and tricks to make the proposal irresistible.

March 14, 2026: It’s an exciting time when you’ve finished a publishing project and are ready to query! But if you’re feeling a little lost on where to get started, we’ve got you covered. Literary agent and author, Sandra Proudman, will dive into the parts of a query letter + samples, her top ten tips for writing a standout query, the best ways to utilize and come up with comparative titles, and more in this 80-minute panel. There will be ample time for Q&A, so bring your questions and be ready to talk all about queries!

March 17, 2026: A discussion of picture books, improvisation, mistakes, creative uncertainty, ugly art, and the benefits of a cat-proof cabinet with acclaimed author-illustrator Corinna Luyken, creator of The Book of Mistakes, My Heart, and The Tree in Me.

March 18, 2026: You’re a published author. You’ve worked so hard to get here. You’ve built a killer website & social media presence, set up a book launch, printed bookmarks, and know all about visiting schools. But what about the stuff they don’t tell you? Josh Funk, a veteran newbie picture book author, has published 20 books over the last decade and he’ll share knowledge he’s learned along the way. This workshop is geared toward published creators as well as people who plan to be published in the future. This event is made possible by a grant from SCBWI and the Authors Coalition of America.

March 21, 2026 (registration closes March 20): Most YA authors rely on their memories of adolescence to write teen characters. In this 60-minute presentation (plus time for Q and A), you’ll learn that no matter how vivid your memories are, the fact remains that teenage brains function differently than adult ones. These differences are deeper than the poor impulse control that makes you want to scream, “What were you thinking?” As a book coach and high school teacher who writes for teens, our presenter Sam Cameron will share insights she thinks every YA writer should know. In addition to explaining teen brain chemistry, she'll offer exercises you can use to make your own work in progress more appealing to a teen audience, with plenty of examples from published works. A limited number of manuscript critiques by Sam are also available.

March 24, 2026 (registration closes March 23): What is a "revise & resubmit" request, and what do you do when you get one from an agent or editor? This path to publication is more common than you might think, but it doesn't always look the same. This webinar will take creators through the ins and outs of R&Rs from all angles—why an author might do one, what risks might occur, how an editor thinks about them, and what the ultimate outcome might look like. You'll be prepared for any scenario involving an R&R! A limited number of PB & MG critiques available at an additional cost.

March 25, 2026: THE NOVELTY OF GRAPHIC NOVELS will take a brief look at the history and current expectations of graphic novels, then pop-the-hood on workflows and techniques. Using many examples, we will look at the why/how they work in practice by examining pacing, art style, and the larger issues of telling stories across panels. We’ll present a historically grounded approach to the format from a technical and artistic POV, plus look at how other artists and writers have approached this rapidly evolving format. You’ll come away inspired to push your creativity in this format with an expanded understanding of the fundamentals.

March 28, 2026: Creators love to create, but it's hard to understand the other side: the publishing industry. It's dizzying delving into the many avenues and many options! AZ IC Michael Hale will cover all the ways creators can turn manuscripts into books, what options are available in 2026, and the associated costs and potential returns for each method.

April 10, 2026: The SCBWI Illinois Region invites you to Choose Your Own Adventure at our 2026 Spring Thaw Online Pitch Event. Registration opens February 9th at noon CDT. This Spring, your writing journey is in your hands! At 2026 Spring Thaw, the story is yours to shape. Choose how to attend, choose your Compass Quest, and choose your Adventure Guide. No matter which path you take, you’ll hear from industry professionals during live panels, have post-event, above-the-slush-pile submission opportunities with all of our faculty, and collect feedback that helps guide you in your writing adventure.

April 11, 2026: In this interactive workshop, award-winning author Michael F. Stewart identifies various methods of structuring a novel and then introduces a new approach using emotion as a complimentary tool. With children's literature, popular movies, and his own books, Michael shows how powerfully resonant stories are based on therapeutic models that we can leverage to create powerful stories of our own. This workshop is aimed at intermediate to advanced writers.

April 11, 2026: You're invited to a very special virtual workshop, featuring award-winning authors Sara Pennypacker (Pax), Pam Muñoz Ryan (Esperanza Rising), and Sally J. Pla (The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn). Learn about what it takes to develop a manuscript and prepare for submission. Find out what it takes to run a great critique group. Learn some writing strategies. Hear about the state of children's publishing today. Come prepared with all your questions -- this is a special opportunity to plumb the minds of some of children's literature's brightest stars!

April 13, 2026: How do the latest industry developments and practices affect you and your writing? What do publishers discuss behind closed doors? What is no one telling you? In this session, we’ll talk about what creators need know about today’s book market, from advances to publication timelines, morality clauses to AI and more. If these phrases aren’t familiar, you’re not alone—and more reason to attend! Join us for a timely discussion as we tackle the biggest secrets of our book market. It’s a lively time in publishing, so we’ll have lots to discuss! Please bring your questions, as this session will end with Lilly’s signature juicy Q+As, to help you get the most from it.

April 17-18, 2026 (registration closes April 16): Join SCBWI Oklahoma/Arkansas on Zoom for the main sessions of our 2026 Spring Conference. It’s certain to be a weekend of creative and professional growth as you listen to our faculty and speakers. Not only will you learn about the craft of creating books for children and the business of publishing, but you’ll be inspired by hearing the publishing stories of some of our local authors. Plus, registered attendees will have the opportunity to submit to our in-person and offsite professionals after the conference (many of whom are closed to unsolicited queries). You don’t want to miss it.

April 21, 2026: In this session, Newbery Medal-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly (Hello, Universe, We Dream of Space, The Land of Forgotten Girls) will guide us through excerpts from mentor texts to determine how and why the author's dialogue was successful and learn how to implement best practices in our own work.

April 21, 2026: Most picture books are meant to be read out loud. How does yours actually sound to a listener's ear? This webinar will give you tips and tricks for strengthening the musicality of your manuscripts. We'll consider why writing in rhyme gives everyone the heebie-jeebies, how to revise for rhythm, and when to break the monotony of perfect meter. This event will be recorded, and a replay will be available for 30 days after the live event.

April 21-22, 2026: Okay, you've written a picture book! Now how do you make it better? Heidi E.Y. Stemple will pull apart one of her published picture books to look deeply at what makes it successful. She will discuss, intentionality, arc, word choices and heart. You will leave with new eyes for looking at your own manuscript and new skills for revision. A Q&A session will follow immediately afterwards.

April 23, 2026 (registration closes April 20): No Plot, Just Vibes - Are you the kind of writer who goes into a story with no idea of what's actually going to happen, but a strong grasp of the vibe you want to capture? Are you a reader who likes to save witchy reads for October and summery reads for July? Have you ever argued with someone about whether every scene in a book really needs to move the action forward, or how much plot a book actually needs? Then this is the class for you! Cindy Baldwin has made my career as a vibes-based writer who also learned to write a strong enough plot to get a book through the publishing gatekeepers. In this class, she'll teach you how to go from "vibe" to "real book."

April 23, 2026: Every agent, editor, and writing teacher will share specific “rules” you must follow to sell your manuscript: don't rhyme, don't try to teach a lesson, and never, ever write a story about a kid who won't eat his vegetables. But why do we have these rules? And more importantly, when can you break them? This workshop will help writers better understand what agents and editors are looking for, and what they can do to improve both their storytelling and their chances at getting published. Plus, a little extra mindset support for when writers need some magic.

April 28, 2026: Get a Handle on Your Author Biz with Sara Fujimura! Grow your author business exponentially by working smarter, not harder. Your book is out! Now, what once was your greatest dream suddenly feels like your biggest nightmare. A proven three-step interconnected marketing system teaches debut authors—and seasoned authors, too!—how to grow their businesses exponentially with the least amount of work. Let's work smarter, not harder, authorpreneurs! This webinar will be recorded and will remain available to registered attendees for 30 days following the event.

May 2, 2026: Join us virtually with your work-in-progress during these two Advanced Writing Workshops led by two amazing editors.

May 7-8 and September 14-15, 2026 (registration closes March 28): Calling all Picture Book Author-Illustrators! Ever wish you could have the same publishing professional look at your dummy a second time? After you made their suggested revisions? Well now you can! Two-Step Critique participants will meet with literary agent Kait Feldmann to discuss their picture book dummy (illustrations and completed manuscript) once in May, then have about 3 months to revise and resubmit for a second round of feedback in September.

May 21, 2026: Being both an author and an illustrator places you in a specific creative position—one where story and art can be developed side by side, in conversation with each other. That combination comes with real opportunities, but also real decisions about where to focus, what to show, and how to shape your work for the market. In this webinar, we’ll explore how to use your dual role intentionally when building dummies, developing portfolio pieces, and presenting your work to agents and editors. We’ll look at how writing and illustration can support one another without competing, and how to make choices that serve the project rather than trying to do everything at once. This session is about understanding how to work from the position you’re in as an author-illustrator—using both skills together to strengthen your storytelling, elevate your materials, and put forward work that feels cohesive, confident, and true to you. A limited number of PB & CB critiques available at an additional cost.

Registration closes September 25, 2026: Engaging Stories! Readers must have a compelling reason to start—and continue—engaging with your story. Engaging Stories is designed to provide takeaways and insightful creative strategies and techniques from acclaimed authors, illustrators, author-illustrators, agents, and editors. Join us at the SCBWI Wisconsin 2026 Engaging Stories webinar series and in-person conference. Webinar series dates: Feb.17, March 10, April 14, May 2, June 9, Aug. 9, 2026. In-person conference: October 8-10, 2026