Regional In-Person Events

August 22, 2024 (registration closes August 20): What makes a strong illustration portfolio? What are art directors looking for and how can artists make powerful illustrations that will catch their eye? Whether you are new to children's illustration or are hoping to tighten up your existing portfolio, this workshop will cover all the steps from creating compelling artwork, to organizing and presenting your work to potential clients. Join us in person at The Loft or virtually via Zoom.

September 6-8, 2024 (registration ends July 21): Hello Campers! Join us September 6th-8th, 2024 for a weekend of full of nature, creative sessions, inspiration, good fun, and great company! This year's presentations and critiques will be with editor Ariel Richardson (Chronicle Books) and agent Sera Rivers (Speilburg Literary Agency). Spots are limited. Register by July 31st to secure a place and submit material for a critique.

September 15, 2024 (registration closes September 14): This 3 hour long event includes a presentation by special guest, Joann Hill, Creative Director at Disney Hyperion, a collaborative "dream publisher" activity, a promo card submission opportunity, a presentation of cover contest winners and a reception. Great for illustrators and writers! Catalog cover contest now open to all SCBWI members who can attend in person. Contest participants use code: CONTESTWEST94

September 20-21, 2024 (registration closes September 19): The OK/AR SCBWI Fall Retreat will feature Deborah Halverson and Scott Magoon. This will be a deep dive into revision for your work, whether you write illustrate, or both. Optional opportunities include: face to face consultations from Deborah and Scott; pre-retreat manuscript exchanges with critiques in groups during the retreat; and time to spend on your writing or illustrating, free from the obligations of home and family.

September 20-22, 2024 (registration ends September 15): Join editors, agents, art directors and fellow creatives as we develop our craft and careers together. Portfolio Fest, Pitchers Anonymous, First Pages, Meet-Ups, Intensives specifically for advanced writers, Intensives for beginning creators, online and in-person critique meetings, our weekend is packed with opportunities and fun.

September 21, 2024 (registration closes September 20): Book Signing Superstar - How to look like a professional author even if it is your first event ever. Nothing is more demoralizing than sitting at an event for hours with your Sharpie at the ready and not selling even one book. Learn the secrets to making a lasting impression, attracting positive attention, and building your brand one satisfied customer at a time. From small library events to major U.S. book festivals to huge anime cons, award-winning young adult author Sara Fujimura has signed books at all of them. Though she is now a hybrid author, you may be surprised that many of Fujimura’s biggest signings happened BEFORE she was traditionally published with Tor Teen. This workshop covers how to land book signings, especially if your book has been out for more than a year. Participants will also learn how to set up a simple but effective signing table with components that will all easily fit in one piece of carry-on luggage. Fujimura discusses what to do when your signing is a complete failure (it happens!) and how to course-correct afterward. A take-home worksheet ensures that authors show up at their events with all the necessary components. It also helps authors clarify their why for each event, collect important metrics, and offers tips on how to level up their book signing game. Grab your sunglasses and a Sharpie. It’s time to meet your fans!

September 21, 2024 (registration closes September 19): First Page Center Stage is back! And we're LIVE in Lancaster! You won't want to miss this day full of feedback. Come for the first look/first page sessions with the art director and editors, stay for the local agent workshops, and don't forget to take advantage of the critique and pitch opportunities while you're there.

September 21, 2024 (registration closes September 15): Join us in Camarillo, CA for a fabulous and informative event. There will be agent and editor keynote speakers, debut author spotlights, contests for writers and illustrators, and optional add-ons including written critiques and online pitch sessions.

September 28-29, 2024 (registration closes September 25): Join us in Colorful Colorado for Rocky Mountain Chapter's Letters & Lines Conference! For 2024, we have a new venue, a new menu, an amazing faculty, 30+ breakout sessions, 7 intensives, manuscript & portfolio critiques, autographs, contests, social events, and much more!

September 28, 2024 (registration closes September 26): Choose Your Own Adventure” at the 2024 SCBWI SF/South Golden Gate Day, Saturday, September 28, 2024 in San Bruno, CA from 9am - 5pm. We've got stellar presentations from: Caldecott Honor recipient author/illustrator LeUyen Pham; Editorial Director Connie Hsu; Associate Editors Sydnee Monday and Ian Tseng; Art Director Tracy Shaw; Literary agents Ian Lendler, Sally Kim and Jennifer March Soloway. In-person or virtual manuscript critiques, portfolio reviews, and first-look roundtables will be available. Additionally, in-person attendees may register for our first ever *Pitch Clinic,"" an opportunity for a 5-minute consultation with an agent or editor to perfect your pitch! Registration for the in-person option opens June 14 at 10am PST for premium members, August 1 for non-premium. Registration for the virtual option opens August 1.

October 5, 2024 (registration closes October 3): Hybrid in-person/virtual event. Join us as we learn about craft and book publishing, connect with agents, an art director, authors, and an illustrator. Mingle with other creatives. We’ll offer critiques, portfolio reviews, pitches, and contests. When: Sat., Oct. 5, 8:30-5:30 pm PST Where: California State University Fullerton, Titan Student Union OR online via Zoom.

October 19, 2024 (registration closes October 14): Sign up for one of our morning workshops taught by four special guests: art director Sarah Hokanson, agent Jennifer Mattson, and editors Karen Boss and Melissa Manlove. In the afternoon, you’ll join a breakout session by a published children’s author or illustrator of your choice AND a 1 1/2-hour First Look Critique Session by one of our Special Guests. That's right, every attendee will get their first pages or artwork looked at by a special guest!

October 24-28, 2024 (registration closes September 30): SCBWI New England is thrilled to announce a brand new retreat for PAL members! Open to traditionally published authors and illustrators, the Acadia Retreat will be held October 24-28, 2024 at the Schoodic Institute in Acadia National Park in Maine. Our stellar faculty for this inaugural retreat are: Eileen Robinson (Editorial Director/Executive Editor, Charlesbridge Moves), Kevin Hawkes (Author/Illustrator), and Alison Johnson (Director of School Programs for Island Readers & Writers). In addition to faculty presentations, working time, optional school visit consultations, and play time, the afternoon of October 27th will be a children’s book festival so we can celebrate our books and each other out in the community!

October 25-27, 2024 (registration closes October 24): The Europolitan Conference is finally back! Sharpen your pens & bring out your sketchbooks, notepads, and tablets - here comes the Europolitan Conference 2024! Nothing compares to meeting others who share a passion for children's literature. Real life community - that's what the Europolitan Conference is for—to bring those of us in Europe together so we can grow stronger in our craft. Join us in historical Cologne for a weekend designed to inspire and educate aspiring and experienced writers, illustrators and translators! Mix and match between sessions from three parallel tracks, get personal feedback from industry professionals and connect to fellow creatives.

November 1-3, 2024: Join us in-person in beautiful Santa Fe New Mexico and/or online for an enriching and invigorating weekend celebrating children's literature and its creators! The conference features keynotes will feature acclaimed and award-winning creators, author Lesa Cline-Ransome and author-illustrator Diane Stanley, plus eight breakout session options led by experienced and decorated creators and educators, including Children's Literature Legacy Award-winning illustrator James Ransome, National Jewish Book Award-winning author Susan Wider, and NAACP Image Award Finalist, author Khadijah VanBrakle. We have five agents on faculty joining us in-person or virtually with opportunities for submissions, critiques and pitches--and for our self-publishing and small press creators, a marketing workshop taught by New Mexico/Arizona Book Award-winner RJ Mirabal. All content will be available to in-person and online-only attendees. We hope to see you there!

December 6-8, 2024: After a whirlwind of a year, you're going to deserve a little getaway. Picture a cozy retreat nestled in the heart of the Navasota woods, surrounded by like-minded writers and illustrators, all eager to share their craft and stories. It's the perfect opportunity to recharge, refuel, and reconnect with your passion.