Texas: Austin Regional events

2026 Austin SCBWI Sticker Competition!

We're inviting our talented community to design a sticker that captures this year's spirit and theme of Austin SCBWI: COMMUNITY. The winning artwork becomes more than just a sticker.

FEBRUARY MONTHLY MEETING: Tips & Tricks from the New York Winter Conference

Join us for a run down of SCBWI's National NY Winter Conference. Anna, Nataly, and Tiffany will be sharing insights, lessons learned, and industry updates from the various classes and sessions attended. Get ready to take notes and bring your questions!

WEBINAR: Self Publishing 101 - The Need-to-Know Basics

BOOTCAMP: The ins & outs of educational & nonfiction kidlit

FREE SOCIAL: A Kidlit Trivia: From Picture Books to Publishing

Knowing the ins and outs of the kidlit world is important whether you’re already published or just getting started! Put your knowledge (and your guessing skills) to the test with a Kidlit Trivia afternoon during our next SCBWI social event! For this social, we’re heading north to the independent bookstore, Lark & Owl. If you’ve been looking for a reason to visit, this is it! Come mingle with fellow members, flex your industry know-how, and treat yourself to something delicious from Alouette Bistro located inside the bookstore!

MARCH MONTHLY MEETING: Age Isn’t Just a Number: Exploring Age Categories in Kidlit

NEW LOCATION: Hampton Branch at Oak Hill - 5125 Convict Hill Rd. When it comes to kidlit, age is more than just a number. Our readers span the developmental stages from first steps to leaving the nest (with countless important moments in between) and our writing must keep pace. Understanding age categories is a vital part of our writing and illustrating practice, especially in the current climate of book banning. In this session, we’ll discuss the key differences of kidlit age categories, from board book to young adult, and why these distinctions matter now more than ever. Then, we’ll explore relevant examples and do hands-on exercises to practice what we’ve learned.

APRIL MONTHLY MEETING: Bumps Along the Path: The Creative Journey of Writing for Children

A major publishing contract out of the gate--almost. Quitting the day job. Going back to the day job. Two agents. Four writing groups. Detours to start a typewriter poetry business and a publishing company. An MFA. Dozens of conferences & hundreds of rejections. A writing coach. To-do lists, resolutions, & avoidance techniques. Writer friends who've made it big & those who haven't. Redefining "big." Imposter syndrome. A small shelf of published books with shiny awards. And an amazing community. Join Austin author, Sean Petrie, on a two-decade journey of what it's like to write for children in Austin.

BOOTCAMP: Start & finish that novel!

Get ready for the 2nd bootcamp for 2026, with some of the best faculty ready to help you start and finish your MG or YA novel. 60-90K words is daunting, let these pros help! Additional AMA, pitch, zoom, and critique sessions available in limited supply.

Coming Soon - 2026 Austin SCBWI Conference: Community, Passion, and the Persistence of Art