Regional virtual events

July 15, 2025: Author and agent Eric Smith of Neighborhood Literary will do on-the-spot query critiques. Queries will be chosen at random from those submitted one week in advance (due to time constraints and the number of queries submitted, not all will be chosen). There will be time for Q and A as well. The webinar will be recorded and available for 30 days following the event.

July 16, 2025 (registration closes July 15): Just getting started and not sure what comes next? This one-hour webinar covers the most common beginner questions—from industry basics to submission do’s and don’ts. Led by literary agent Vicky Weber, this session is designed to give new children's book writers the clarity and confidence to take the next step. Simple. Straightforward. Exactly what new writers need. Includes the opportunity to submit one manuscript for agent consideration.

July 17, 2025 (registration closes July 15): No matter your story’s genre, research can save you time when writing or illustrating and bring your work to life! Join nonfiction author-illustrator Melissa H. Mwai as she shares her research tips and experiences from working with publishers like National Geographic, DK, and Paw Prints. Along with a Q&A, there will be an interactive research challenge! Critiques are limited.

July 19, 2025: How do you create a thorough story and character arc in 500 words or less? Join Michele McAvoy, CEO of The Little Press, as she goes through strategies and key points. Michele McAvoy is a multi-award-winning children’s book author, publisher, attorney, and educator from New Jersey. While Michele wears many hats, they all point towards a single goal, bring entertaining and meaningful stories to kids.

August 12, 2025 (registration closes August 11): Are you a picture book author looking to move into middle grade, but feel daunted by the prospect of writing a novel - literally? Or are you a middle grade author who wants to move into picture books, but are struggling to adapt to sparse language and 500 word counts? Please join the Kansas/Missouri SCBWI and Minnesota regions as they welcome authors Alison Goldberg and Cynthia M. Surrisi as they share their journeys "changing lanes" from writing picture books to middle grade (Alison) and middle grade to picture books (Cynthia). They'll each talk about writing different categories in kid lit, how they broke the bonds of building a single genre brand, and how writing across genres helps their final books. There will be a Q&A at the end. The Zoom will be recorded and available for 30 days after the event.

August 23, 2024: Are you an artist in need of a refresh and update to your portfolio? Are you an illustrator prepping a portfolio for conference season? If so, this webinar is for you! Nicole Tugeau, agent-owner of T2 Art & Literary Agency, helps you break free from dated portfolio rules and expectations, and break out a portfolio that connects.

August 25, 2025 (registration closes August 24): Author and SCBWI OK/AR Regional Advisor Jennifer Sneed will share her screen and her tips, demonstrating how to get started using Canva, or take your usage to the next level. From eye-catching social media graphics, to video, to adapting a template, rights limits, and QR codes, she'll demonstrate how to create low cost, DIY promotional materials for you and your book(s).

August 26, 2025: Learn the components of a successful nonfiction book proposal in this presentation by literary agent Maria Vicente. Maria will share everything agents and editors expect to read in your book proposal, then break it down section by section so you can easily apply the blueprint to your own project. You will gain a deeper understanding of the MG and YA nonfiction market and the knowledge to turn your nonfiction book idea into a book deal. PB, MG, YA, & Graphic Novel critiques for both fiction and nonfiction projects are also available at an additional cost.

September 2, 2025: Discover the key to writing great graphic novels, the secret to successful writer/artist collaborations and four tricks to make your prose novels more visually compelling.

September 10, 2025 (registration closes September 9): Join Kelly Pelsue of Morgan Gaynin, a boutique agency specializing in publishing, as she shares her professional expertise as an agent and as a mentor for Theispot Mentorship Program, a program that guides artists in how to build their business as an illustrator. She’ll cover ways to think about your portfolio and online presence from a marketing perspective and share other business insights and need-to-knows in the publishing space. *Note: Illustrator Day—Live! In Lancaster 2025 participants are automatically registered for this event.

September 11, 2025 (registration closes September 9): School visits offer a great way for authors and/or illustrators to connect with children, and they can also provide an opportunity to sell your books. This webinar is designed to address all the FAQs related to such events. Panelists will address keys to successful school visits while providing valuable information designed to help you get new or increased opportunities. Each will present on an aspect of school visits for about 20 minutes. A Q&A will follow the presentations. Come prepared to learn, and get needed information to begin filling your school visits calendar!

September 13, 2025-April 25, 2026 (registration closes September 10): Join renowned chapter book expert Marcie Colleen in this 8-month virtual workshop and learn how to captivate readers ages 6-10. Participants will learn what defines a chapter book, use mentor texts, develop a strong premise for a chapter book series, create compelling characters, hone plotting and pacing chapter-by-chapter and across a series, engage and participate in peer critiques, and conclude with a finished Book 1 of a chapter book series.

September 15, 2025 (registration closes September 14): We all know that every story needs a beginning, middle, and end (even if it's not narrative-driven!). But how many pages to dedicate to each part of the story? And how do make sure readers don't get bored and feel satisfied by the time they reach the end? This workshop will use mentor texts to show how to best pace your picture book so your readers stay engaged with your story, page after page. A limited number of PB, CB & MG CRITIQUES available at an additional cost. *Note: PB Author Day—Live! In Lancaster 2025 participants are automatically registered.

September 21, 2025: SCBWI Illinois invites you to attend the 2025 Community Gardens: Fall Harvest online conference. It’s harvest time in the community garden! Whether you’re planting your first manuscript or tending a well-established story, our online conference is designed to help you cultivate deeper industry roots, sow seeds for future connections, and gather the tools you need to grow your creative career as authors and illustrators! Join us on Sunday, September 21, 2025, and let’s grow something beautiful—together.

September 25, 2025: Gain skills and insights to create incredible book covers to successfully sell your children's books to prospective publishers and book buyers. A great cover is the most critical piece of artwork you'll create for your book, and the most scrutinized part of any book project. In this workshop, you'll learn the process, nuts and bolts, pitfalls to avoid, and how to stand out, and enjoy the process, all from award-winning illustrator Kaz Windness! Whether you're a published or pre-published illustrator, and interested in picture books, early readers, or even middle grade covers, this class is for you. Gain skills and tips you'll be using for many successful publishing years to come.

October 4, 2025 (registration closes September 28): Writers and illustrators are invited to a full day of speaker presentations, critiques, pitches and mingling with fellow creatives! We'll have agents, an editor, an art director, published authors and an illustrator. This hybrid event is both in-person at Cal State Fullerton and via zoom. Attendees will have access to the videos for 30 days following the event.

October 9, 2025 (registration closes October 8): In this 2-hour workshop, discover the key to plotting and revising a cohesive, satisfying novel through the intersection of plot structure and character development. In this interactive workshop, you’ll be introduced to a variety of storytelling structure tools from the basic three act structure to the more complex Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. Each storytelling guide will be applied to Star Wars: A New Hope to see how guides overlap and intersect with each other, and attendees will have the chance to experiment with applying these tools to their own work during the workshop portion of the presentation. A limited number of PB, MG & YA critiques available at an additional cost.