SCBWI Midsouth Meetups
Midsouth meetups are a great way to form community in our region. Most are free and open to members and nonmembers alike.
Are you a Midsouth Meetup Director who needs to add your local event to the calendar? If so, CLICK HERE!
Meetups
August
9 – Northeast Tennessee Meetup
Gather to chat and share in our writing journeys
Time: 4 pm - 6 pm Eastern
Location: The Philosopher's House
117 W. Fairview Ave Johnson City, TN 37604
Cost: They ask us to please make drink/food purchases
Contact person: Farrah Snyder
To RSVP or ask questions: [email protected]
16 – Knoxville-Area Meetup
Meetup to catch up in person and to get some writing and/or illustrating done.
Time: 1:00 - 2:30 pm Eastern
Location: SEED Coffee
2558 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville 37919
Cost: FREE
Contact person: Danielle McClean
To RSVP or ask questions: [email protected]
19 – Louisville Online Meetup
Join us for an online social to answer writing, illustrating, and publishing questions, along with a limited amount of time reserved for short critiques.
Time: 11:45 am - 12:45 pm Eastern
Location: Online
Cost: FREE
Contact person: Amy Beaman
To RSVP or ask questions: [email protected]
23 – SCBWI Chattanooga Meetup
Join us for creative inspiration and pitch practice for the upcoming conference!
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Eastern
Location: Reve Coffee & Books
1948 Norhpoint Blvd #144, Chattanooga, TN
Cost: FREE (coffee and treats available for purchase)
Contact person: Hope Bissell
To RSVP or ask questions: [email protected]
23 – Memphis Area Fall 2025 In-Person Meetup
Informal Gathering to Share Work, Socialize, and Conference Prep as Needed
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm Central
Location: Geoffrey Redd Library
5094 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38117
Cost: FREE
Contact person: Amy R. Murrell
To RSVP or ask questions: [email protected]
23 – Lexington-Area Meetup - Illustrator Edition!
Join us for a special meet up with our Regional Illustrator Coordinator Scott Soeder! We will have our regular warm-ups and critique time, but this meetup will be the perfect opportunity for our Lexington -area illustrators to bring a few portfolio pieces or a PB-dummy for conversation. And we'll end with a viewing of Scott's pieces which are currently on display at the Eastside branch!
Time: 12:30 - 2:30 pm Eastern
Location: Lexington Public Library - Eastside Branch
3000 Blake James Dr, Lexington, KY 40509
Cost: FREE
Contact person: Nell Campbell
To RSVP or ask questions: [email protected]
September
8 – Bowling Green Meetup: First Pages
The first page of your manuscript is probably the most important page you'll write in the entire book. Let's work together to make our first pages the best they can be. Bring five copies of the first page of any WIP for discussion at our September meetup and embrace the chance to witness first impressions of your first page in real time.
Time: 6:00 - 7:15 pm Central
Location: Q Coffee (Nashville Road location)
560 Waterbury Court, Bowling Green KY 42104
Cost: Free (food and drink available for purchase)
Contact person: M Hendrix and David Bell
To RSVP or ask questions: [email protected]
October
6 – Bowling Green Meetup: Elevator Pitches and Loglines
You might never be in an elevator with Steven Spielberg, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have a killer logline ready to go for agents, editors, and readers. At the October meetup, we'll discuss what makes a logline pop and help everyone put together a killer logline.
Time: 6:00 - 7:15 pm Central
Location: Spencer’s Coffee
915 College St, Bowling Green, KY 42101
Cost: Free (food and drink available for purchase)
Contact person: M Hendrix and David Bell
To RSVP or ask questions: [email protected]
November
3 – Bowling Green Meetup: Comps
Let's talk about comps: How do you choose the right comps? How do you write about them? Can you use movies or tv shows as comps? How old can comps be? Are there rules about what to avoid? Bring the logline of your current WIP (or just some notes) and leave the November meetup with your comps ready to go.
Time: 6:00 - 7:15 pm Central
Location: Q Coffee (Nashville Road location)
560 Waterbury Court, Bowling Green KY 42104
Cost: Free (food and drink available for purchase)
Contact person: M Hendrix and David Bell
To RSVP or ask questions: [email protected]
February (2026)
2 – Bowling Green Meetup: High Concept
What is high concept? Why is it so hard to define? Why do agents and editors care about it and how can you make sure your new project is seen as high concept in the publishing industry? Join us at our February meetup and we'll talk about all this and more.
Time: 6:00 - 7:15 pm Central
Location: Spencer’s Coffee
915 College St. Bowling Green KY 42101
Cost: Free (food and drink available for purchase)
Contact person: M Hendrix and David Bell
To RSVP or ask questions: [email protected]
March (2026)
2 – Bowling Green Meetup: Synopsis discussion
You've finished a draft of your new book — now what? Now you have to write the dreaded synopsis. That's right, it is time to fit everything that happens in your book into a one-page summary. We'll spend this meetup talking about how to tame the synopsis beast.
Time: 6:00 - 7:15 pm Central
Location: Q Coffee (Nashville Road location)
560 Waterbury Court, Bowling Green KY 42104
Cost: Free (food and drink available for purchase)
Contact person: M Hendrix and David Bell
To RSVP or ask questions: [email protected]
April (2026)
6 – Bowling Green Meetup: Synopsis critique
Now that we've discussed all things synopsis, it's time to put what we've discussed into practice. Bring a draft of your one-page synopsis to our April meetup and get helpful feedback on how to revise and make your synopsis catch the attention of agents and editors.
Time: 6:00 - 7:15 pm Central
Location: Spencer's Coffee
915 College St. Bowling Green KY 42101
Cost: Free (food and drink available for purchase)
Contact person: M Hendrix and David Bell
To RSVP or ask questions: [email protected]
Monthly Online "Let’s Talk About” Discussions
Our Let's Talk About series is a FREE informal roundtable-style discussion for Midsouth members by Midsouth members. The sessions are NOT recorded. A link to join each month's chat is emailed directly to Midsouth members (no registration required) within a week of the start of each event. Be sure you've set the Midsouth as your home region on your SCBWI member home page to receive the link to join each month.
2025 Calendar of Talks
Please note there are no talks during February and September due to SCBWI conferences during those months.
January 8 – Goals for the New Year
March 20 – Mentor Texts
April 22 – Festival Tablescapes
May 19 – Idea Generation
June 17 – Synopsis Writing
July 17 – Research Techniques
August 25 – Conference Prep
October 27 – Conference Takeaways
November 18 – Advances & Contracts
December 9 – Time Management
Midsouth Regional Meetup Directors
Anti-Harassment Policy
SCBWI has a zero-tolerance policy against harassment of any kind. Any violation of this policy is actionable. The Meetup Director has the right to refuse admittance to anyone whose behavior is disruptive to the event, attendees, or faculty.