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!
June 2026
8 — Lexington Commit & Create (A Kidlit Write-In & Sketch Session)
Monday, June 8 | 1:00–3:30 p.m.
Join us for an accountability and work session for children's book writers and illustrators. We'll start with a brief goal check-in, then spend focused quiet time writing, revising, illustrating, or working alongside fellow kidlit creators.
Location:
Lexington Writer's Room
271 W. Short St., Suite 202
Lexington, KY 40507
(Second floor above Frank & Dino's. Elevator access available.)
LWR membership is not required, but please RSVP to Ashley at least 24 hours in advance to ensure access to the space.
RSVP or questions: [email protected]
9 — Louisville Meetup (Virtual)
Our next meeting is on Tuesday, June 9, from 11:45 am to 12:45 pm on Google Meets.
Join using this link: meet.google.com/yoc-mfea-xhn
We will catch up with each other, offer encouragement and tips for improving craft, and share work. There will be time for several authors/illustrators to read/show a portion of their work and receive feedback. (Authors/Illustrators are given approximately ten minutes for their turn, so each will have to decide how to split their time. More reading equals less time for feedback. Around 250 - 500 words for authors seems to work well in the time allotted.)
For more information, contact
Shannon Stocker ([email protected])
or Amy Beaman ([email protected])
20 — Chattanooga Meetup
Come meet us at Oaks Coffee and discuss publishing with local author, Matthew Hubbard. Author of three young adult books as well as two forthcoming adult books, Matthew is a wealth of knowledge and excited to talk with us.
11-1pm EST
2916 Silverdale Rd Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421
Free with the option to purchase food and drinks
Contact: Hannah Courtney
27 — NETN Meet Up
Gather with fellow writers and illustrators!
Hybrid (in-person with an online component)
Time: 4 pm EST
Location: Johnson City Public Library
100 West Millard Street Johnson City, TN 37604
Cost: Free
Contact person: Farrah Snyder or Gretchen Sherrill
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.
2026 Calendar of Talks
Please note there are no talks during February and September due to SCBWI conferences during those months.
Jan. 3 - Making the Most of SCBWI/Volunteer Opportunities
March 24 - Reaching Readers Part 1: Mailing Lists & Curating Content
April 29 - Reaching Readers Part 2: Pre-publication Tips for Building a Platform
May 28 - Self-Editing Tips
June 25 - Comp Titles
July 11 - The Author-Illustrator Relationship
Aug. 27 - Prepping for the Face-to-Face Critique
Oct. 26 - Reaching Readers Part 3: Street Teams
Nov. 16 - Reaching Readers Part 4: In-person Events
Dec. 15 - Finding Inspiration
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.