Regional virtual events

April 22, 2025: School visits offer authors a fantastic opportunity to connect directly with young readers, promote their books, and encourage literacy and creativity in the next generation, all while supplementing their income. Yet school visits remain quite mysterious for many newly published authors. Developing effective school visit materials takes time and requires some trial and error as you learn about your audience. Join author and illustrator Aram Kim for a workshop where she will share her insights on creating and tailoring school visit programs for different age groups, as well as how to prepare for and follow up after these visits.

April 24, 2025 (registration closes April 22): Ready to breathe life into your stories? Join Tracey Baptiste's "Worldbuilding Crash Course" and learn the art of crafting immersive worlds! In this webinar, we’ll dissect the elements of worldbuilding in beloved children's books. This webinar is designed to enhance your storytelling across all genres. Get ready to apply these techniques to your own stories. Dive into the elements of worldbuilding with Tracey Baptiste.

April 25, 2025 (registration closes April 24): SCBWI SF/South is pleased to present our 2025 Virtual Agents and Editors Day! Get the inside scoop from the professionals’ points of view! Manuscript critiques and first-look roundtables will be available. Early Bird pricing for premium members until March 15th.

April 26, 2025 (registration closes April 25): In this highly informative webinar, with a detailed case study about his self-published graphic novel, author and illustrator Roger McMullan teaches you how to find people who want your book, how to build a community around those people, and how to sell your book - all without spending a penny on ads. He'll rate his wide range of promotional efforts with how effective they were in relation to cost and effort, and if they would be worth doing again for a future book.

April 26, 2025: Christyne Morrell, contracts attorney and kidlit author, will walk us through some common provisions in agency and publishing contracts, provide examples of red flags to avoid, and reveal the legal provision that almost ended her writing career.

April 26, 2025: Please join the Oklahoma/Arkansas Region of SCBWI in an inspirational and informative webinar by Monica Rodriguez, Literary Agent at Context Literary on "The First Draft: How to NOT be Afraid of the Blank Page." The webinar will be recorded for attendees to rewatch for 30 days following the presentation. Attendees have the opportunity to purchase a critique for $55, until they are sold out. Attendees also will receive submission guidelines on the day of the webinar for post-webinar submissions to all three faculty members.

April 26, 2025 (registration closes April 25): What’s the first image that comes to mind when someone mentions the word “edelweiss”? If it’s Christopher Plummer strumming his guitar in The Sound of Music or the star-shaped alpine flower, you’re not alone. What if we were to tell you that Edelweiss is also the name of a free — and shockingly underused — online platform that will give you valuable insight into the mindset of publishing industry insiders? In this webinar, freelance developmental editor Susan Chang (former acquisitions editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and Macmillan/Tor Publishing) will demonstrate how to utilize Edelweiss to reverse engineer your query letter pitch, identify potential comparable titles, stay abreast of market trends, and much more.

Registration ends April 26. Program dates are June 2-3 and September 8-9, 2025. Calling all Novelists! Ever wish you could have the same publishing professional look at your manuscript a second time? After you made their suggested revisions? Well now you can! Two-Step Critique participants will meet with literary agent Lisa Gouldy to discuss their synopsis and the first 10 pages of a manuscript once in June, then have about eight weeks to revise and resubmit for a second round of feedback in September.

April 27, 2025 (registration closes April 26): Put on your entrepreneur’s hat, let’s have a fun, no-nonsense deep dive into building a freelance illustrator career—bumps, breakthroughs, and all! Whether you’re starting fresh or leveling up as an illustrator or author-illustrator, Anoosha Syed is here to offer an open, honest chat about freelancing, time management, and making art that pays. No gatekeeping, just real talk, insider tips, and a chance to ask her anything! Topics include a deep dive into Anoosha's career journey; the importance of multiple income streams as a working freelancer; time and project management as an author-illustrator and entrepreneur; a brief overview of agents, pricing your work, and negotiation; how to start your illustration career: and a final Q&A.

April 29, 2025: Middle grade author Sylvia Liu will share how to bring those secondary characters to life, from giving them their own character arcs to tips on making them memorable and unique, and provide examples where they are done particularly well.

May 1 and May 22, 2025 (registration closes May 22): Ready to take your creative career to the next level? Join us for the RMC Webinar Series: The Publishing Path! Whether you're sketching your first storyboard, polishing your manuscript, or already have published works under your belt, this series is designed to meet you where you are. From aspiring illustrators to established authors, we've crafted sessions that will help illuminate your unique path in the publishing world. Speakers include: Molly Idle, Juana Martinez-Neal, Jo Knowles, Rajani LaRocca, and Karen A. Chase. Register now to secure your spot in this valuable professional development series.

May 1, 2025: The key to writing a successful book is to make it unique—to tell a story in a way that only you can. But how do you mine your own life and experiences for stories while still keeping them fresh? Newbery Honor and Walter Award-winning author Rajani LaRocca talks about her author journey and uses specific examples from her books to inspire people to dig deep and write their own stories.

May 3, 2025 (registration closes May 2): Meet Senior Editor, Deeba Zargarpur, of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and Salaam Reads. Deeba acquires picture books, middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels. Limited manuscript critiques available! This webinar will be recorded and made available to registered guests for two weeks after the event.

May 3, 2025: We are pleased to welcome Kayla Cichello, Agent at Upstart Crow Literary, to our latest Meet & Pitch session.Kayla will start off our 90-minute session with information about Upstart Crow Literary as a whole and then move on to information about herself and her manuscript wish list. We will take a few minutes for moderated questions and then move on to the Pitch section of the event. Submissions will be shown on screen without identifying information and read aloud by a moderator. Kayla will then take a few minutes to react and provide feedback. We will do our best to get through all the submissions. See the event webpage for instructions for submitting your pitch.

May 7, 2025: Revision Scene by Scene - An author's best chance at publication lies in a powerful first impression which means showing the strongest draft possible to agents & editors. This workshop will take you through the steps of revising a novel scene by scene to strengthen the plot, characters, setting and themes, helping you make it the best expression of your voice and purpose. If you have a finished manuscript that needs a final polish or a book of the heart that hasn’t found traction when you’ve submitted it, this is the workshop for you.

May 9-10, 2025 (registration closes May 2): SCBWI Illinois welcomes you to wonderland at Spring Thaw, a hybrid pitch program for on-the-cusp authors, illustrators, and author-illustrators! Registration opens March 11th at noon CDT—limited attendance for maximum feedback opportunities. Select Through the Looking Glass Online Chat + In-Person Teacup Table at Barbara Belding Lodge in St. Charles, IL OR Through the Looking Glass Online Chat + Written Cozy Critiques. Each participant will have a chance to pitch three loglines and prune one, plus post-event submission opportunities to all faculty!

May 10, 2025 (registration closes May 9): Ivan Taurisano Presentation: Behind the Desk at Abrams Books for Young Readers with Ivan Taurisano, Associate Editor, Entertainment Publishing and Content Development Abrams Children’s Books. What does Ivan's job entail? What is entertainment publishing and content development at Abrams? What does Ivan look for in great children’s books? Join us and find out!

May 10, 2025 (registration closes May 9): Ready to create that website you've been meaning to build forever? Feeling blah about the website you already have? Whether starting from scratch or refreshing your online presence, come join us for Website Build 101 with award-winning web designer, Abby Feder. In this 90-minute webinar, Abby will help you discover how to select the right content, organize it strategically, choose a platform, and make design and copywriting choices that strengthen your brand. You'll leave with actionable steps to help you build a strong online presence that connects with readers, parents, and industry professionals while serving your unique goals.

May 10-11, 2025 (registration closes April 26): The British Isles' famed Book Launch Bootcamp will help you prepare to launch (or re-promote) your books. There will be sessions with award winning authors – on launch strategy (Sara Grant is a former publicist), school visit performance (Mo O'Hara is an actress/comedian) and web design/social media (Candy Gourlay was a web designer and early adopter of social media) There are also videos of wisdom on how things are going from previous Boot Camp authors. This year, we have author Sheila Averbuch telling us why we shouldn't avoid Goodreads like the plague. We also have industry insiders: librarian Jenny Hawke, publicist Nina Douglas, Yvonne King of author bookings agency Authors Aloud, and Frances Sleigh of Bloomsbury Sales. Join the supportive SCBWI Booklaunch WhatsApp community group. Connect with fellow authors around the globe! The sessions will be recorded and the recordings will be available to rewatch until the 15th of June 2025. Don't miss it!

May 13, 2025: Have you written something that’s not a picture book and don’t know what it is? Are you interested in engaging our youngest readers? Join author Kari Allen for a workshop on creating early chapter books and early readers. Kari will talk about the form, ways to engage readers, how to play within the constraints of the format, and how these kinds of books are used by her Second Grade readers. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of early chapter books, a list of mentor texts, and hopefully some ideas!

May 13, 2025: Stories can, and do, change lives. But talking about our books, and even worse, selling our books, can be daunting. However, YA author and coach, Caroline Leech, will give you a deceptively simple five-point plan to use as you prepare to meet any audience, online or in person. Whether you’re pitching a new story to your agent or editor or preparing to launch a new book to the public, Caroline will make sure that you know how to face any event, speech, presentation, workshop, or media interview – as well as your social media content – as the confident and professional storyteller you are. This webinar will be recorded and available to registered attendees for 30 days following the event.

May 17, 2025 (registration closes May 16): Join SCBWI San Diego for a virtual one-day conference for authors and illustrators! MayFest features a keynote speaker, Eliza Wheeler, Award Winning Author/Illustrator. An editor panel with Foyinsi Adegbonmire, Kristie Choi, Celia Lee, and Sally Morgridge. An agent panel with Chad Beckerman, Jolene Haley, Jennie Kendrick, and Sandra Proudman. And an art portfolio showcase judged by art directors Katie Fitch and Mariam Quraishi. Optional Zoom critiques available. See pricing on the "Info for Everyone" sub-page.

May 17, 2025: Are you lost and without focus? Does your creative life feel stifled or unfulfilling? In this third session of our Creative Mindset series, award-winning journalist Jodi Hausen will lead you through a series of writing/drawing exercises to guide you toward your creative mission. Whether your intent is to educate, to change a paradigm, or to share beauty through your work, you will leave the session feeling clearer about what drives you to create and what it is you want to say with your craft.

May 17, 2025 (registration closes May 16): Join debut picture book author Keenan Jones as he shares his decade-long journey to publishing SATURDAY MORNING AT THE 'SHOP. As a Black male educator-turned-author, he’ll discuss the challenges, lessons, and triumphs of breaking into the industry, the power of authentic storytelling, and what kept him going through the ups and downs. Whether you're just starting or deep in the process, this session will inspire you to stay the course and tell the stories that matter.

May 20, 2025 (registration closes May 19): Live Comp Critique with literary agent Kelly Dyksterhouse. What do your comps say about your manuscript? Whether you're in the query trenches or still in the drafting stage, knowing where your book fits in the market is crucial to hooking agents and selling to publishers. Join us for a chance to receive live feedback on your comp titles and hear an agent's expectations and first impressions on your submission. A limited number of written critiques also available at an additional cost.

May 22, 2025: Every author needs an author-centered (not book-centered) marketing plan, regardless of how you publish, how many books you have, or in which genre. That plan also defines the tools necessary to build engagement through each subsequent book. In this class, we'll help participants understand brand and marketing plans, including a defined network/audience, a platform-tools list, and marketing outlets. We'll also discuss how to manage writing time versus marketing time. It's all to help you be the boss of your author career.

May 29, 2025 (registration closes May 28): Join us for a First Pages event with literary agent Vicky Weber from Creative Media Agency. Participants can submit the first page of their manuscript (picture book, chapter book, middle grade, or young adult novel) and receive live feedback. The moderator will read as many first page submissions as possible in the 90-minute session.

Registration closes May 30, 2025: This two-part webinar series features two sessions. The first webinar in the series was recorded in March 2025, "Start Here: a Roadmap to Building Your Creative Business," presented by Tanisia "Tee" Moore. The second program takes place April 30 - "The Definitive Communications Primer: Building Communities through Narrative Communication," led by Lys Fulda. You may choose both sessions, or just one. Both sessions will be recorded and made available to those who registered for 30 days.

May 31, 2025 (registration closes May 30): In this dynamic program, you’ll learn how to discover and refine the unique angle that will make your nonfiction KidLit stand out in a crowded market. Whether you're writing a picture book or a young adult narrative nonfiction title, your story deserves a distinct voice and perspective. We'll dive into techniques to help you identify your book's unique hook, ensuring that your message resonates with your target audience. Through interactive exercises and exploring comp titles, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to make their book stand out by finding its unique angle—one that captivates your audience and makes your message unforgettable.

June 3, 2025: Scholastic Executive Art Director Brian LaRossa will take participants through the do’s and don’ts of kid lit illustration with an emphasis on your website, social media, your deal, and your process. No matter where you are on your path to publication, you will gain valuable insights from this webinar. This event will be recorded, and a replay will be available for 30 days after the live event.

June 6-7, 2025 (registration closes June 5): Manuscript Marathon Virtual Retreat, where stories and illustrations come to life! Join us for a one-of-a-kind online experience designed to fuel your imagination and bring your stories to life. Whether you’re drafting your next picture book, refining an illustration, or searching for inspiration, this retreat is your digital oasis for creative breakthroughs. Workshops! WIPs! Oh my! Block June 6-7th and come with your WIP or inspiration in hand!

June 14, 2025 (registration closes June 12): For the finale of the Creative Mindset series, we will speak with four industry professionals about their creative processes. These published authors and illustrators will talk about their rituals, inspirations, challenges, and more. The panel will include author/ illustrator Shadra Strickland, agent at Painted Words; young adult and picture book author Marie Lamba, agent at Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency; author of novels, nonfiction, picture, and board books Ammi-Joan (Joan) Paquette, agent at Erin Murphy Literary Agency; and illustrator Mariam Quraishi, senior designer at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. Panelists will also be open to submissions from session attendees.

June 14, 2025 (registration closes May 2): Join Gretchen Durning, editor at G. P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, for an online roundtable critique event! You will get a chance to read your peers' manuscripts ahead of time AND to join in for an online LIVE critique roundtable session hosted by Gretchen alongside your peers on the event day. It's a great opportunity to get your MG and YA manuscripts in front of an industry professional.

June 17, 2025: Using her own Newbery Honor and Caldecott-winning picture book, Watercress, as well as books by others as examples, Andrea will discuss the differences and similarities between fiction PBs and memoirs, including elements such as plot, structure, theme, and research. Andrea will also talk about some of the methods she’s used to mine her life for emotion and conflict, and how she has applied them to her own work. She will lead attendees in some guided freewriting exercises, so come prepared to write! She’ll also offer suggestions on how to incorporate the results of your freewriting into your works-in-progress, whether they're memoirs or not. This event will be recorded, and a replay will be available for 30 days after the live event.

June 21, 2025: Join us for Marketing Labs in the morning to learn more about Branding, Platform, Website, and Pinterest. Afternoon Social Media Labs will demonstrate Canva, Video Making, & Book Trailers. Half-day and Full-day tickets available. A limited number of consultations and personalized tutorials are also available at an additional cost.

July 15, 2025: Author and agent Eric Smith of Neighborhood Literary will do on-the-spot query critiques. Queries will be chosen at random from those submitted one week in advance (due to time constraints and the number of queries submitted, not all will be chosen). There will be time for Q and A as well. The webinar will be recorded and available for 30 days following the event.

August 26, 2025: Learn the components of a successful nonfiction book proposal in this presentation by literary agent Maria Vicente. Maria will share everything agents and editors expect to read in your book proposal, then break it down section by section so you can easily apply the blueprint to your own project. You will gain a deeper understanding of the MG and YA nonfiction market and the knowledge to turn your nonfiction book idea into a book deal. PB, MG, YA, & Graphic Novel critiques for both fiction and nonfiction projects are also available at an additional cost.