SCBWI Houston

We are the Houston Region of SCBWI which covers the greater Houston metro area and surrounding counties. As a professional organization, our chapter prides itself on being warm, welcoming, and fun! If you are passionate about writing, illustrating, or translating books for children and young adults, you've come to the right place!

Join author Cathey Nickell, creator of the whimsical picture books Arthur Zarr's Amazing Art Car and Yazzy's Amazing Yarn, as she shares how she went from nervous first-time speaker to presenting at more than 150 elementary schools and libraries. Her secret? Finding her “special something”, (hint: it involves art cars), and turning it into a signature experience kids love! In this session you’ll learn to identify your own hook, market yourself and pave the way to paid author visits.

Arrive at the meeting an hour early and bring your first five pages

We have an unique selection of 4 or more writing/drawing prompts that are meant to make your creativity lift-off! Come in for 30 minutes of quiet writing/drawing time and 30 minutes of sharing. You will be surprised where these prompts take you! We meet the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm CST! Save the zoom link because it won't change!

Join your fellow creatives to work together in a motivating ONLINE setting with optional challenge prompts and music or you can mute us while you work in solitude knowing your people are working too! This is a great opportunity to build your accountability group, make friends and get projects accomplished!

Join fellow creatives on a day trip to historic Columbus, TX for a day of urban sketching! 10:30am - 3:00pm October 3, 2026 Workshop is FREE! Attendees will be responsible for transportation and meals. Bring your own sketch supplies, a chair and maybe a hat!

Join us for an evening of celebrating our illustrators and their amazing talents! This event is made possible by a grant from SCBWI and The Author's Coalition of America!

Does marketing your book feel like a second full-time job? Join us online as award-winning picture book author Nadia Salomon presents "The Marketing Hustle: Simplified." Nadia knows what it takes to get a story in front of an audience. Before writing GOODNIGHT GANESHA, A VOICE OF HOPE: THE MYRLIE EVERS-WILLIAMS STORY, and A RAKHI FOR RAKESH, she spent years as an on-air television journalist and anchor, reported for the Boston Globe, and performed as a singer/songwriter. She now teaches at Storyteller Academy and serves as Assistant Regional Advisor for SCBWI Western Washington. Her advice to authors? "Don't be afraid to look for the commercial hooks." Whether you're pre-published or have books on the shelf, come find out how she does it.