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!

Are you curious how an independent bookstore decides which books to stock and how yours could be one of them? Join Cathy Berner, former school librarian, and Children’s/YA Specialist and Event Coordinator at Blue Willow Bookstore for a tour of the kids' book world from the bookseller's side of the counter. Link to handout: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yzxfZSbWm78Aqk6FxyULU-ERCfeR9-5MEM1kpEE0-DE/edit?tab=t.0

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 us for a webinar that will explore practical strategies for layering middle grade novels from the first draft through revision. Whether you're drafting a new novel or revising a work-in-progress, this workshop will help you create layered stories that connect with young readers and stay with them long after they've closed the book.

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!

What happens when your manuscript faces a string of rejections, your illustration style feels stuck, or the publishing market shifts overnight? Award-winning author-illustrator Katie Mazeika will tackle how to transform creative roadblocks into your greatest career breakthroughs.