Regional virtual events

April 26, 2026: In this workshop, Scholastic Art Director and Illustrator Maeve Norton will explore the difference between style and visual voice, breaking down not only how to find yours but also how to make it heard in the publishing industry.

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: Find your story seeds and the images you need to illustrate them! Illustration isn’t drawing; it’s storytelling through pictures. You are a storyteller! But how do you know what stories you have to tell, and how do you find the right symbols to illustrate these ideas and help them come to life? In this talk, we will explore storytelling basics, how symbols work in classic stories, and how Andy thinks about these things in his own books. Andy J. Pizza is a New York Times Bestselling author-illustrator of many books for children and adults such as "Invisible Things" and "A Pizza with Everything On It". Pizza is also the creator of the popular podcast Creative Pep Talk which Vanity Fair says “is every bit as bright and effervescent as its title would lead you to believe."

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

May 2, 2026: Join the Austin SCBWI chapter online for 5 hours of education: How to Start (and Finish) that Novel! Join editors, agents, and authors to get help on plotting, pantsing, book bibles, young love, openings and endings, and making sure your character drives the plot. Writing a (good) novel takes a lot of work, let these top faculty make it a little smoother. For MG and YA novels. Optional: query, pitches, critique options with agents/editors.

May 6, 2026: Rachel Rowlands gives a talk on getting submission-ready, covering query letters, synopses, manuscript formatting, and common craft issues seen in opening chapters. Rachel is a freelance fiction editor and author, and an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP). She holds a degree in English and Creative Writing and has worked on hundreds of books for both independent authors and publishing houses, including Hachette, HarperCollins, Chicken House Books, Badger Learning, and Penguin Random House. Event is free for SCBWI premium members.

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 9, 2026: Join us as author Emily Matheis will explore what separates a forgettable antagonist from one that lingers long after the last page. You'll learn how to ground your villain in believable motivation, build a backstory that earns reader empathy without excusing harmful behavior, and create confrontations that genuinely threaten your hero's success. We'll look at how the villain-hero relationship works across the kidlit spectrum — and why the best villains in children's literature don't just challenge the protagonist's strength, they challenge their beliefs.

May 11, 2026: Ashley is the author of middle-grade fantasy adventures The Boy to Beat the Gods and Spirit Warriors – both published by Usborne. His books have been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Jhalak Prize, the Branford Boase Award and The Week Junior Award for Breakthrough Book. He will talk to members via Zoom about The Craft of Characterisation – before answering our questions.

May 12, 2026: Join us online for a casual coffee shop chat. Brew your favorite cuppa and get comfy while Jewel Davis shares an overview of her time as Caldecott Committee Chair, including examples of how the criteria is used in practice, what makes titles rise to a level of distinction, and how committee discussions move from preference language to criteria-based evaluation. This event is free to attend, but registration is required to receive access to the Zoom link and the recorded replay for 30 days following the event. This event is made possible by a grant from SCBWI and the Authors Coalition of America.

May 14, 2026: In this informative, eye opening, and interactive webinar, author and early childhood educator Katrina Moore will take audience through an in-depth look into creating board books for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. She will break down their format, key features, target audience, and elements that make them stand out in a crowded marketplace, as well as give a behind-the-scenes look at the making of her Big Jobs For Little Babies board book series, from crafting through production. A Q&A will follow her presentation.

May 16, 2026: Dive into various methods on how to use humor to surprise readers. From dramatic irony to unique picture book formats to setting up the perfect page turn, Kathryn Rammell will dissect humorous picture books and the different techniques their creators utilized to elevate their stories. The presentation will conclude with an activity to help spark humorous story ideas. The presenter will also offer picture book, dummy, and portfolio critiques.

May 17, 2026: Let's talk about storytelling and building connections with the people who enjoy what we do. Every line we draw, every sentence we write, everything we make is an opportunity to build relationships with our audience. The things we get "wrong", the little imperfections, are a window into the only thing we have to offer in a crowded market: ourselves. Q&A will follow the presentation and interview. This event will be recorded.

May 19, 2026: A thriving illustration career is built on more than client work alone--it's about sustainability. In this webinar, we'll explore the many ways illustrators can support themselves over time, including developing multiple income streams, understanding the basics of running a small business, managing finances & taxes, continuing to grow skills, marketing thoughtfully, and cultivating a mindset that supports long-term creativity. Designed for new, emerging, and seasoned artists, this session offers practical guidance and encouragement on building a career that can grow and adapt alongside you in any stage of your illustrator career journey.

May 21, 2026: Join us for a lively discussion with three published authors as they discuss their pathways to publication and share their tips from along the years. We’ll have a full 30 minutes for Q&A after their talks, so this is a great time to bring your publishing related questions to the table. The panel will be moderated by our chapter regional advisor Mirka Hokkanen. This event will be recorded and a replay will be sent the following day. You’ll have 30 days to watch the replay. This free event was made possible by a grant from SCBWI and the Authors Coalition of America.

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.

May 23, 2026: San Diego MayFest Zoom Webinar features a keynote speaker, an editor panel, and an agent panel. For an additional cost you may choose an optional Art Portfolio Showcase, and optional Zoom Critiques. Individual Zoom Critiques are from 2-5 p.m. (PT) that afternoon. Each critique is 15 minutes. Portfolio Showcase will be judge by two Art Directors and one image of the participants choice will be viewed by all during the event.

May 28, 2026 (registration closes): 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. This program is geared more towards novels. Registered participants who attended or had access to the live presentation may view the recording for up to 30 days after the event. Optional Critiques on Sunday, May 31.

May 30, 2026: Are you ready to start querying you work? Take a guided journey through the six key steps every author needs to take to prepare their writing for submission to agents, editors and contests. This webinar will cover the best ways to present yourself and your story, and who best to present it to. It'll include tips to include and pitfalls to avoid, and will help you approach your own submission process with all the professionalism you'll need to grab the attention of the right people.

June 3, 2026: Carnegie Medal-nominated author Ros Roberts writes middle grade fiction and poetry about all things normal - friendships, break-ups, first romance and growing up. She builds her work around the intense details that distinguish us and make our lives complete. Her writing celebrates the everyday with warmth and humor. As a former primary school teacher, Ros believes passionately in working with children to promote free, imaginative writing. Join us for this special session with Ros and discover how you, too, can aim for all readers to find something of their own experience within the pages of your work.

June 4, 2026: Join MD/DE/WV SCBWI to hear self publishing secrets from author Angie Natale. Angie started writing in 2022, after a 37-year detour. She launched 5 books in under 6 months in the first year and has launched a new book every year since. Her presentation will take you along the path she traveled from “I wrote a story!” to “I published a book!”. Angie will share how she put her creative team together, how and where she promotes her books, and marketing, advertising and branding ideas. She'll also talk about why she made some of the choices she made (self publish vs traditional; POD vs offset printing; wholesale vs retail), and what she would change if she could start over again.

June 8, 2026: Self-Publishing 101 will cover what's happening in the world of self-publishing (it's come a long way in the past 2-5 years!); when it makes sense to pursue self-publishing versus traditional; benefits and challenges of self-publishing; what it takes to self-publish a high quality children's book; how to make money as an author-publisher (this is the hardest part!); and how to stay motivated when it feels like everyone is hugely successful and you "haven't made it" yet. Author Ariane Erickson will show examples of the process, successes, and failures (some of them quite funny) using her books and publishing experience.

June 16, 2026: Does your picture book story feel "slight"? Does it feel like it just isn't going anywhere? What you need is layers. Adding them to your manuscript will give it richness and depth- and most importantly "re-readability". The marketability of your story increases with every layer, and it becomes all the more enticing to your readers, agents and editors. In this webinar, award-winning author Wendi Silvano will discuss 4 must-have layers and 15 additional types of layers that might fit your story-giving it extra depth and delight.

June 18, 2026: Agent Julia Churchill is over the children's department at A. M. Heath, the oldest independent literary agency in the UK. Founded in 1919 by Audrey Heath and Alice May Spinks, two women who challenged the conventions of publishing, throughout its history it has represented great writers including Anita Brookner, A.J. Cronin, Katie Fforde, Winston Graham, Radclyffe Hall, Joseph Heller, Patrick Hamilton, Conn Iggulden, Shirley Jackson, Judith Kerr, Hilary Mantel, George R.R. Martin, Flann O’Brien, Maggie O’Farrell, George Orwell and Noel Streatfeild. Based in Holborn, the agency today comprises ten agents working across fiction, nonfiction, children’s, and YA.

June 23, 2026: Bethan Woollvin is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator, best known for her bold, witty storytelling and empowering fractured fairytales. She launched her career with Little Red, created while studying illustration at the Cambridge School of Art, which won the Macmillan Children’s Book Competition in 2014. Since then, Bethan has continued to reimagine classic tales including Rapunzel and Hansel & Gretel, alongside her own original tales such as Three Little Vikings and Luna and the Sky Dragon. She will talk to us about her career, and the interplay between text and image in picture books, before answering questions.

June 29, 2026: Award-winning UK author Dan Smith will talk us through: i) writing a manuscript, ii) going from there to having a published book and iii) sustaining and building momentum around your book post-publication. Dan is the author of popular books for young readers such as THE WINTERMOOR LIGHTS, THE DEADSOUL PROJECT, THE WALL BETWEEN US, and NISHA'S WAR.

June 29, 2026: Step into the world of professional illustration with confidence in Industry Ready: Best Practices for (beginning) Illustrators—a dynamic webinar designed to help you bridge the gap between passion and paid work. Whether you're refining your portfolio or wondering if you're ready to start querying, this session will give you clear, actionable guidance on what industry professionals actually look for. You’ll learn how to build a portfolio that stands out, discover insider tips for getting noticed and hired, and understand the subtle but critical differences between “good” and “ready.” We’ll also review real portfolios and websites together, breaking down what works, what doesn’t, and how to level up your presentation instantly. If you’re serious about turning your illustration skills into real opportunities, this is the roadmap you’ve been waiting for.

July 13, 2026: Georgia Tournay-Godfrey of the Bright Agency will discuss with us how to get her attention whilst querying, and what she is looking for when reading manuscripts. She will also discuss with us the issue of working class representation in the industry.

August 27, 2026: Invisible identities shape the lives of countless young readers, yet they often go unrecognized or are portrayed inaccurately in children’s literature. This workshop explores how to authentically represent experiences that aren’t immediately visible—such as bilingualism, chronic conditions like diabetes or epilepsy, and neurological or psychological differences including dyslexia, ADHD, or depression. We’ll discuss how to avoid stereotypes, build fully realized characters, and integrate these identities naturally into story. A limited number of MY, YA, & NIV 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