SCBWI San Diego 2025-2026 Season
For questions about our region or our events, please contact us at [email protected].
Chapter Meetings
2025-2026 Meetings Will Be Virtual
All meetings will be recorded, and all registered attendees (Season Ticket or Individual Purchase) will receive the link to the recording.
Chapter Meetings 2025-26(Pacific Time).
Times and Dates Subject to change.
Chapter Meeting Dates and Speakers:
Sept 27, 2025: Deborah Halverson, Turning a NO Into a YES and Top Picks of Agents and Editors (4 agents and editors and 2 art directors) Currently Open to Submissions. For more info and to register click here.
Oct 18, 2025: Meet the Publishers - Kade Dishmon, Assistant Editor, Holiday House, and Madison Pelletier, Editorial Director, Mayhem Books and Mischief Books, will share the history and mission of their publishing houses and what they are acquiring. They will answer questions about the publishing process, securing a book contract, writing a strong proposal, navigating submissions to publishers, and the current state of publishing. For more info and to register click here.
Nov 8, 2025: Using Pitches to Create Opportunities with Natascha Morris, Agent, Season Ticket Holders will receive a link to submit a pitch for the speaker to possibly use during their presentation. For more info and to register click here.
Dec 6, 2025: Dec 6, 2025: Lessons Learned on the Path to Publication with Marie-Laure Couët, PB Illustrator, "Butterfly Sea"; Patricia Daniele, PB Author, "The Girl Who Tested the Waters: Ellen Swallow, Environmental Scientist", Jen Haymore, YA Author, "All Gowned Up"; Joyce P. Uglow, PB Author, "STUCK! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits"; and Elisabeth Norton, Board Book Author, "Big Feelings, Gentle Lessons" Series. For more info and to register click here.
January 2026: No Chapter Meeting In January - SCBWI International Winter Conference
February 21, 2026: Neurodiversity & Disability - Authentic Characters & Voice, Larissa Melo Pienkowski, Agent, Azantian Literary Agency. Summary TBA. The 2026 San Diego Region DEI Grant recipients will be announced.For more info and to register click here.
Mar 14, 2026: The Anatomy of a Query Letter: Writing a Standout Query with Sandra Proudman, Agent, Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. For more info and to register click here.
April 11, 2026: The Publishing Process (Tentative Title), Sally Pla, Author (Editor and Agent Invited). Summary TBA. For more info and to register click here.
Schedule (Pacific Time)
2:00-2:20 p.m. Announcements and Member News
2:20-3:30 p.m. Craft Talk by Guest Speaker
3:30-4:00 p.m. Questions
Prices
Individual Chapter meeting cost: $10 for SCBWI members, $25 for nonmembers.
Season Ticket: September through April Meetings $60 for SCBWI Members, and $115 for Non-Members.
Season Tickets provide admission to all chapter meetings; discounted pricing for intensives, conferences and workshops, with provided discount coupon per special event. If for some reason the discount coupon doesn’t work for you, it is up to you to notify the ARAs.
Registration is now open and will be available through December 7, 2025. Those who purchase a Season Ticket between Aug.-Dec. will receive recordings of the meetings they missed.
Season Ticket
September through April Meetings $60 for SCBWI Members, and $115 for Non-Members. Registration for season tickets is now open and will remain open through December 7, 2025. Register at www.scbwi.org/events/san-diego-2025-2026-season-ticket
Those who purchase a Season Ticket between Aug.-Dec. will receive recordings of the meetings they missed.
Season Tickets provide admission to all chapter meetings; discounted pricing for intensives, conferences and workshops; access to chapter meeting recordings; and more.
Photographer Alberto Lau will provide complimentary black and white head shots for season ticket holders who purchase by September 30, 2025.
Proposed photoshoot dates, times, and locations.
October 18 @ Village Park Recreation Club 4, 2083 Park Lane, Encinitas, CA 92024
November 1 @ Presidio Park, Presidio Drive & Cosoy Way (NOT Jackson Drive)
November 15 @ Chula Vista Bayfront Park
If you are an SCBWI member facing financial hardship, please contact us at [email protected]. We will be offering a free meeting, one time per person.
IMPORTANT Information
Those who register and pay online will receive the Zoom invite by email no later than the Friday evening before the meeting. Registration for each event closes the Friday evening prior to that meeting so we are assured of getting the Zoom invite to attendees on time. SCBWI members please verify your correct email is on record with SCBWI to facilitate your receiving your invite. Any issues please contact us at [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].
To get all of the SCBWI discounted rates you are entitled to you must be logged into the SCBWI.org website with your email and password before registering and paying.
Writing for Children 101 With RAE Patricia Morris Buckley
This online class takes you from idea to a polished manuscript and covers plotting, dialogue and characters, as well as finding an agent or publisher. Also included are critiques of students' work.
Cost is $60 for members, $90 for nonmembers.
Registration will open in mid-August, 2025
Intensives
Picture Book Intensive – November 1, 2025, 9:00 a.m. - Noon. From Idea to Print - What Happens After Your Submission Gets Noticed with Tracy Shaw, Art Director, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. For more info and to register click here.
Topic TBA, Speaker, Tracy Shaw, Art Director, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. For more info and to register click here
FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS ONLY Virtual Intensive: Price is $35 for SCBWI Members and $45 for Non-Members when they use the discount coupon provided to them for this special event. If for some reason the discount coupon doesn’t work for you, it is up to you to notify the ARAs.
FOR NON-SEASON TICKET HOLDERS Virtual Intensive $40 for SCBWI Members and $50 for Non-Members
Author Intensive – February 28, 2026, 9:00 a.m.- Noon: Tips for Crafting Compelling First Chapters and Insightful Synopsis with Hillary Fazzari, Bradford Literary Agency. For more info and to register click here.
FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS ONLY Virtual Intensive: Price is $35 for SCBWI Members and $45 for Non-Members when they use the discount coupon provided to them for this special event. If for some reason the discount coupon doesn’t work for you, it is up to you to notify the ARAs.
FOR NON-SEASON TICKET HOLDERS Virtual Intensive $40 for SCBWI Members and $50 for Non-Members
All Intensive SAME-DAY Registrations will not receive the Zoom link to attend live, but you will receive the recording link on the following Tuesday.
FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS ONLY Virtual Intensive: Price is $35 for SCBWI Members and $45 for Non-Members when they use the discount coupon provided to them for this special event. If for some reason the discount coupon doesn’t work for you, it is up to you to notify the ARAs.
FOR NON-SEASON TICKET HOLDERS Virtual Intensive $40 for SCBWI Members and $50 for Non-Members
Illustrator Mentorship
This is a San Diego SCBWI Member Only Event.
The mentorship provides illustrators or author/illustrators the opportunity to work directly with an art director (TBD).
Registration Opens September 21, 2025 7:00 p.m. - Mentor and Topic TBA
$190 for members without a SD Season Ticket and will be $170 for members with a SD Season Ticket when they use the provided discount coupon for this special event. If for some reason the discount coupon doesn’t work for you, it is up to you to notify the ARAs. As.
Author Mentorship
This is a San Diego SCBWI Member Only Event.
The Author Mentorship is open to Unpublished SCBWI Members to work directly with a publishing professional.
Registration Opens September 28, 2025 7:00 p.m. - Mentor Hillary Fazzari, Agent, Bradford Literary Agency
$190 for members without a SD Season Ticket and will be $170 for members with a SD Season Ticket when they use the provided discount coupon for this special event. If for some reason the discount coupon doesn’t work for you, it is up to you to notify the ARAs.
MayFest 2026
Virtual Conference May 23, 2026
Speakers and Critique Faculty TBD
There will be two optional add-ons, each for an additional fee:
1) Optional Portfolio Showcase judged by industry art professional(s).
2) Optional Critique from an editor or agent
IF YOU WANT AN OPTIONAL CRITIQUE (1 per person), it's important that you review each faculty's critique preferences prior to registering. During the registration process you can choose the faculty and critique time (all times are PT).
MayFest 2026 Illustrator Contest
Design our website banner for MayFest 2026! The winner will be attributed to our website–great for publicity–plus receive free registration to MayFest, San Diego SCBWI’s annual one-day conference.
Watch here for further information sometime after September 2025.
SAN DIEGO REGION REFUND POLICY
Chapter Meetings, MayFest, and Intensives--refunds will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Any refund will be minus Stripe fees and any other expenses. No refunds one month before the event, because all events are being recorded and available for viewing for 30 days after the event.
Critiques and Mentorships--no refunds because the payment is already promised to the faculty.
NO REFUNDS will be offered for Season Tickets, because the meeting recordings are available to attendees for thirty days.