California: San Diego Regional events
Serious about improving your craft? SCBWI's regional events provide opportunities for professional growth and help you connect with a supportive, creative community.
2026 2027 SCBWI San Diego Season Ticket September-April Meetings
Aug 15, 2026 - Dec 20, 2026
8 event
Online event
Unlimited seats
The SCBWI San Diego Virtual Chapter Meeting Season Ticket pays for all chapter meetings from September 2026 through April 2027 and provides discounts on other chapter events.
Writing for Children 101 Online Class with RAE Patricia Morris Buckley
Aug 31, 2026 - Dec 12, 2026
1 event
Online event
Available seats 25
This class takes you from idea to a polished manuscript and covers plotting, dialogue and characters, as well as finding agent or publisher. It meets the next Saturday after our chapter meeting, October through April from 1 to 3 p.m. via Zoom. Classes will be held Oct. 24, Nov.24, Dec. 13, Jan. 2 and 23, March 27, April 10. Cost is $60 for members, $90 for nonmembers. Registration will be open through December 12. The class is online and is recorded so participants have the opportunity to watch or rewatch the class online. Includes two free critiques.
September 19, 2026, 2-4 p.m. (PT) - How To Hook An Agent: Fishing For The Perfect Match, with Paige Terlip, Agent and Co-Founder, Starling Literary + Media
Sep 19, 2026 - Sep 20, 2026
1 event
Online event
Unlimited seats
How To Hook An Agent: Fishing For The Perfect Match. The querying process can be stressful with an ocean of possibilities. How to Hook an Agent shares tips and tools to help writers stay afloat during the querying storm. From crafting a dynamic query to exploring what it's like to read submissions and how I manage my query box, discover how to catch the best agent for you—and if you should throw them back!
Illustrator Mentorship with Maria T. Middleton, Senior Art Director, Candlewick Press
Sep 26, 2026 - Apr 27, 2027
1 event
Online event
Available seats 17
Offers SCBWI Premium Member illustrators the opportunity to work directly with Maria T. Middleton. Registration opens on Sunday, September 26th at 4 p.m. (PT) for SCBWI Premium Members.
Author Mentorship with Kade Dishmon or Zoie Konneker, Editors from Peachtree Publishing
Sep 27, 2026 - Apr 15, 2027
1 event
Online event
Unlimited seats
Offers SCBWI Premium Member authors and author/illustrators the opportunity to work directly with Kade Dishmon or Zoie Konneker.
October 17, 2026, 2-4 p.m. (PT) How to Build a Rollercoaster: Creating an Emotional Arc That Moves Your Story with Melissa Manlove, Executive Editor at Sourcebooks
Oct 17, 2026 - Oct 18, 2026
1 event
Online event
Unlimited seats
Have you been told your book is “too quiet” or “needs more arc”? Do you have a vignette or mood-piece that wants to become a whole story? In this webinar we’ll look at how these rich beginnings can turn into extraordinary connections with your reader--and whether your ‘rollercoaster’ leaves your readers’ hearts pounding…or just makes them pleasantly dizzy, we’ll explore how you can end up with a ride that is worth the price of admission!
November 14, 2026, 2-4 p.m. (PT) Meet the Editors! Featuring Editors from Scholastic, Sourcebooks, and Viking
Nov 14, 2026 - Nov 15, 2026
1 event
Online event
Unlimited seats
Meet The Editors: Get an inside look at the world of children’s publishing with editors from Scholastic, Sourcebooks, and Viking. They’ll introduce their publishing houses and the lines they acquire. They’ll also highlight favorite past and current projects and reveal their wish lists for future projects. There will be time at the end for a Q&A, and attendees will receive submissions guidelines following the meeting.
January 16, 2027, 2-4 p.m. (PT) - Fabulous First Pages with Agent Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency
Jan 16, 2027 - Jan 17, 2027
1 event
Online event
Unlimited seats
In FABULOUS FIRST PAGES, Rachel Orr from Prospect Agency will take a look at what makes a strong, enticing beginning in picture books and novels, using examples from classic texts, her own clients’ work and manuscripts from San Diego SCBWI Season Ticket Holders. She’ll give tips for how to catch an agent’s eye in those opening lines, and warn against common pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. If time allows, Rachel will offer thoughts on how best to wrap-up a manuscript as well. Don’t miss it!
February 6, 2027 2-4 PM (PT): Stories for Everyone: Allyship for Authors and Illustrators with Saribel Pages, Literary Associate and Laurent Linn, Art Director
Feb 06, 2027 - Feb 07, 2027
1 event
Online event
Unlimited seats
Why Allyship Matters in Children’s Book Publishing Children’s books help shape how young readers see themselves, understand others, and make sense of the world. That’s why allyship is so important in children’s book publishing. As authors and illustrators, we can create stories that help children feel seen while introducing them to experiences and perspectives different from their own. Allyship means listening to voices and communities that have historically been underrepresented, challenging stereotypes, seeking authentic perspectives, and supporting a broader range of creators and stories. It also means recognizing that we don’t have to share someone’s experience to care about it or stand beside them. As readers, we can practice allyship by seeking out diverse books, recommending them, and supporting the authors and illustrators who bring these perspectives to young readers. Together, we can help create a children’s publishing community where more voices are heard, more experiences are represented, and every child has the opportunity to find both a mirror of their own life and a window into someone else’s.
Author Intensive, March 27, 2027, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (PT) - Industry Q&A and Virtual Pitch Roundtable
Mar 27, 2027
3 event
Online event
Unlimited seats
Industry Q&A followed by Pitch Roundtables: Four industry professionals will take your questions. Then, for an additional fee, you can attend Zoom pitch roundtables, where you will have an opportunity to pitch your project to up to two faculty members of your choice.
April 3, 2027, 2-4 p.m. (PT) - Laugh Out Loud: Writing Humor for Kids for PB, MG, and YA Authors & Illustrators with Adria Goetz, Senior Literary Agent and Illustration Coordinator at KT Literary.
Apr 03, 2027 - Apr 04, 2027
1 event
Online event
Unlimited seats
In this workshop senior literary agent Adria Goetz delves into how to incorporate humor into books for young readers. The instructor will examine successful humor-driven books, decode the secret to their success, and identify specific techniques you can use in your own work. Humor is a fantastic entry point into reading, particularly for kids who are intimidated by books, so the instructor takes silly books very seriously.