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!
October 2026
3 - Chattanooga October Meet Up
Let's meet at Rosie Mae's Alpaca Farm for coffee, hanging out with some adorable alpaca's, and catching up on our writing one month post-conference.
Time: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Eastern
Location: Rosie Mae's Alpaca Farm
550 Old Birmingham Highway, Wildwood, Georgia
Cost: Free, with optional coffee and snacks for purchase
Contact person: Hannah Courtney [email protected]
10 - Lexington Area Meetup
Bring your query letter draft! Whether you're preparing to query your first manuscript or revising an existing query package, this session will provide practical guidance, discussion, and opportunities for feedback.
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern
Location: Tates Creek Public Library
3628 Walden Drive, Lexington, KY 40517
FREE
Contact: Randi Lynn Mrvos
10 - SCBWI Fall Picnic at Centennial Park October 10th 1-3pm
Come join for an afternoon of community on October 10th 1pm-3pm with the SCBWI. Light refreshments will be provided, bringing your own blanket or chair is encouraged. Please RSVP if you are planning to come and put in your email in the event we have to change location due to inclement weather.
The location is Centennial Park between the Parthenon and the Centennial Performing Arts Studios on the grass.
Time: 1-3pm CST
Location: Centennial Park
2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN. 37203
FREE
Contact: Camille Brea Smaby
13 - Bowling Green Meetup with Kristin O'Donnell Tubb
Award-winning middle-grade author and former SCBWI Midsouth regional advisor Kristin O'Donnell Tubb will be discussing her debut YA novel, THE SPIRITUALISTS, at the Lisa Rice library on Tuesday, October 13th. Please join us for this event (open to the public) at 6pm and a private dinner with Kristin at Mellow Mushroom at 7:15pm. The library will also be giving away 100 copies of THE SPIRITUALISTS!
Time: 6-7pm cat Kristin's event at Lisa Rice Library; 7:15pm cat Dinner with Kristin at Mellow Mushroom
Location: Lisa Rice Library / Mellow Mushroom
Lisa Rice Library (1225 State St, Bowling Green, KY 42101) / Mellow Mushroom (1035 Chestnut St, Bowling Green, KY 42101)
Free
Contact: David Bell & M Hendrix
17 - Memphis-Area Post-Conference Fall Meetup
Conference debrief, general check-in/chat, and if-time a discussion of how music can inform kid-lit
Time: 1:30 to 3:30 pm Central
Location: Cordova Library
8457 Trinity Rd. Cordova, TN 38018
FREE
Contact: Amy R. Murrell
24 - Remote Meetup
Social gathering for writers who would like to meet virtually. We'll discuss publishing, writing, and illustrating and get to know each other.
Time: 10:00 AM Central time
Location: Online
FREE
Contact: Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
24 - Northeast Tennessee Meetup
Gather with other kidlit writers and illustrators. We’ll recap the Midsouth conference and share our writing journey successes.
Time: 4pm
Location: Online
FREE
Contact: Farrah Snyder
29 - Louisville Online Meetup
A social gathering to answer writing, illustrating, and publishing questions, with time reserved for brief writing/illustration critiques.
Time: 11:45 am EST
Location: Online
FREE
Contact: Amy Beaman
November 2026
7 - SCBWI Knoxville-Area Fall Meetup
Come join Knoxville-area authors and illustrators as we meet for coffee and great company!
Time: 12:45 PM - 2:15 PM
Location: Seed Coffee
2558 Sutherland Ave. Knoxville TN 37919
Free
Contact: Danielle McClean
9 - SCBWI Bowling Green Monday Meetup: Changing Genres
Ever thought about leaving your comfort zone and writing in a different genre? Come share your successes, disasters, and questions. Local author Teri Polen will lead our discussion.
Time: 6pm cst
Location: Pub by Novo
2425 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, KY 42104
Free
Contact: David Bell & M Hendrix
19 - Louisville Online Meetup
A social gathering to answer writing, illustrating, and publishing questions, with time reserved for brief writing/illustration critiques.
Time: 11:45 am EST
Location: Online
FREE
Contact: Amy Beaman
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.