Cen South Ohio SCBWI

SCBWI England South/London: Why Book Fairs and Conferences are for YOU March 30, 2026: Are book fairs and conferences REALLY worth the time and money? As creatives we are often stretched for both these resources, and even if we do decide to go for it, we may not be getting the most out of our investment. That can change! Industry expert Lionel Bender offers insight and wisdom from his years in publishing to show how these events can benefit YOU, and how to make the most of them. There will be a 20-30 minute presentation, a conversation with someone who has tried implementing Lionel's strategies in real life, and a time for Q&A. Join us on the 30th March, or watch on catch up for 30 days after. scbwi.org/events/why-boo…

SCBWI Arizona: Publishing 101 - Understanding the Basics of KidLit Publishing Options March 28, 2026: Creators love to create, but it's hard to understand the other side: the publishing industry. It's dizzying delving into the many avenues and many options! AZ IC Michael Hale will cover all the ways creators can turn manuscripts into books, what options are available in 2026, and the associated costs and potential returns for each method. scbwi.org/events/scbwi-a…

SCBWI Oregon: Level Up with Mark Fearing March 25, 2026: THE NOVELTY OF GRAPHIC NOVELS will take a brief look at the history and current expectations of graphic novels, then pop-the-hood on workflows and techniques. Using many examples, we will look at the why/how they work in practice by examining pacing, art style, and the larger issues of telling stories across panels. We’ll present a historically grounded approach to the format from a technical and artistic POV, plus look at how other artists and writers have approached this rapidly evolving format. You’ll come away inspired to push your creativity in this format with an expanded understanding of the fundamentals. scbwi.org/events/oregon-…

SCBWI Germany/Austria: From Sketch to Ink with Joe Latham March 25, 2026: In this illustration-focused workshop, participants will learn Joe's process of taking a sketch to an inked drawing. Participants are encouraged to have their own work ready to follow and test the process in realtime and with their own sketches. Please have pencils or paint and paper ready (digital tools are also fine). Joe will share examples of his work and demonstrate his techniques. There will be a Q&A period following the workshop. A recording of this session will be available for 30 days after the session. Premium Members: USD 23.50 (ca. €20) - General Admission: USD 30 (ca. €25). scbwi.org/events/from-sk…

From our neighbors to the east-SCBWI Pennsylvania East: Not a Yes, Not a No - How to Handle an R&R with editor Sally Morgridge March 24, 2026 (registration closes March 23): What is a "revise & resubmit" request, and what do you do when you get one from an agent or editor? This path to publication is more common than you might think, but it doesn't always look the same. This webinar will take creators through the ins and outs of R&Rs from all angles—why an author might do one, what risks might occur, how an editor thinks about them, and what the ultimate outcome might look like. You'll be prepared for any scenario involving an R&R! scbwi.org/events/eastern…

#PB #KidLit #SCBWI Have you applied to join the coolest family in KidLit? This is the last year for this amazing experience! Last day to apply is Friday the 13th! pbrisingstars.com PB Rising Stars pairs up-and-coming picture book creators (text-only authors, illustrators, and author-illustrators) with experienced mentors to provide help and guidance along the turbulent publishing ladder. They are accepting both unagented and agented creators without agent-repped traditional picture book deals. The program runs for four months and is completely FREE.  How To Apply:  1. Read the eligibility requirements and FAQs on the PB Rising Stars Website  2. See what mentors are looking for on their mentor pages HERE 3. Click on a mentor's profile 4. Scroll down and click on the apply button at the bottom of the page 5. Fill out the linked Google form and submit 6. Check your email and spam folder after submitting for an email confirmation **And don't forget, you can apply to as many mentors as you'd like as long as you are eligible** Applications are open NOW through March 13th. They close on March 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time SHARP. Please check your time zone and plan ahead for technical difficulties!  Finally, be sure to subscribe to the PB Rising Stars newsletter. They will send out reminders and details throughout the application window, so you’ll never miss an opportunity. Remember, 2026 is the FINAL year of PB Rising Stars, so make sure to take the opportunity to apply now! Mentees have gone on to secure agents, book deals, and more!

It’s PBParty’s 12th year! The PBParty Dream Team of Judges can’t wait to read your submissions and celebrate your successes. The annual PBParty contest is for unagented writers and author/illustrators with finished and polished picture book manuscripts. You submit an entry (query and first 60 – 70 words) and we pick a wide variety of genres for the agents/editors to read and hopefully request in an online showcase. We’re using Google forms again. There will be ONE long submission window on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 EST to make it easier for people around the world to send in their entry. Submit one contest entry on Tuesday, March 17 from midnight to 8pm EST via the correct Google form link (author, author/illustrator, or illustrator.) Mindy will share before March 17, but the form will ONLY be open during the submission window. For more information, go to: mindyalyseweiss.com/2026-pbparty-c…

100 Years of Ohio Authors: 1975 - Virginia Hamilton and Jaime Adoff Ohioana Library is excited to present "100 Years of Ohio Authors" — an event series celebrating a century of Ohio literature! On March 12 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom, we’re celebrating historic Ohio author Virginia Hamilton and her Newbery Medal-winning book, M.C. Higgins the Great, on the anniversary of her 92nd birthday! Hamilton’s son, Jaime Adoff, will discuss this classic work, his forthcoming book Violet and the Frost King written in collaboration with his late mother, and Hamilton’s life with Julie Rubini, author of Virginia Hamilton: America’s Storyteller. This virtual event is FREE to attend! For more details and registration, visit: eventbrite.com/e/100-years-of… Questions? Email: ohioana@ohioana.org #KidLit #WritingCommunity #SCBWI

The SCBWI Work-In-Progress (WIP) Award assists children’s book writers and illustrators in the publication of a specific project currently not under contract. One winner per category will be selected. SCBWI reserves the right not to confer this award in any given year. Submissions open March 1--March 31, 2026. Apply through the MY AWARDS tab in your MEMBER HOME WIP Award The Work-in-Progress Award showcases outstanding manuscripts from the members of the SCBWI. One winner in each of the following five categories will be selected. Picture Book Text Chapter Books/Early Readers/Middle Grade Young Adult Fiction Nonfiction (Anna Cross Giblin Nonfiction Award) Underrepresented Fiction or Nonfiction (previously called Multicultural). Note: Members may apply to this category in addition to one of the above. Karen Cushman Late Bloomer Award. Note: Members may apply to this category in addition to one of the above. The works submitted by winners will be made available on a secure webpage and presented to a hand-selected group of editors for their consideration. Although this is not a guarantee of publication, the opportunity to have your work presented to acquiring editors, along with an SCBWI endorsement, is a unique opportunity. To learn more and submit your work for consideration, go to: scbwi.org/awards-and-gra… #KidLit #WritingCommunity #SCBWI

Tomorrow’s the day! Get those applications filled out! pbrisingstars.com

SCBWI San Diego: Craft a Compelling First Chapter and Insightful Synopsis February 28, 2026: Agent Hillary Fazzari will be sharing hands-on editing strategies to polish First Chapters that hook agents, editors and readers, using examples of projects she personally represented and First Page submissions from attendees. You will also get an agents overview of the parameters and importance of a well-written synopsis when submitting novels – which more agent and editor submission guidelines are now requesting. scbwi.org/events/author-…

SCBWI Kansas/Missouri: Style - An Illustrator's Tool with Charlie Mylie February 28, 2026: "Stick to one style!" "Only show one style in your portfolio, otherwise art directors and editors won't know what they're going to get." Like many illustrators, you may have heard this advice ad verbatim. But is it really true? In this talk, which will take place in-person and on Zoom, children's book illustrator Charlie Mylie will dive deep into visual "style". Mylie will share a theory of how style is created, what it means, and what we can do with it as artists. Also, he will pop the hood on some of his books to show in practical detail how style is functioning as a tool for meaning making. Mylie believes that we define style; style does not define us. Bio: Charlie Mylie is an author and illustrator of several children's books. He makes his art in many styles from his singular home in Kansas City, KS. Charlie's wife and son are his first critics and biggest advocates. This event will take place on Saturday, February 28, 2026 from 1-2 pm. It will be in-person at Park University in Parkville, MO and also be broadcasted on Zoom. A recording will be made available for viewing for 30 days after the event. scbwi.org/events/style-a…

SCBWI San Francisco South: Early Chapter Book Series - Uncover the Text & Art Supports Readers Need to Succeed February 28, 2026: Through looking at Scholastic’s Branches early chapter book line, Editor Katie Carella will reveal how to craft quality, page-turning series for newly independent readers! Early chapter book readers are just starting to read longer page-count, more text-heavy books. Readers need certain supports in place to invite them into this format. We’ll explore key features of Branches books and do brief writing exercises together. Also, while this category generally targets children ages 5–8, it is especially important to create high/low books for today’s marketplace—now that more older children than ever before are significantly behind in their reading journeys. scbwi.org/events/scbwi-c…

SCBWI New York Eastern Upstate: How the Heck Do You Talk About Yourself? with Helen Jonsen February 28, 2026: Be prepared for any opportunity. Helen Jonsen will help you captivate your audience, become a dynamic speaker, improve your messaging, and be confident in any settling so you can enjoy the process. This webinar will focus on crafting your author story for conversations, book tours, podcasts, and panels (as well as grant, residency, and scholarship applications.) scbwi.org/events/how-the…

SCBWI Nevada: Agent Meet and Pitch with Julie Romeis Sanders February 28, 2026: Meet literary agent Julie Romeis Sanders with SteelWorks Literary during this virtual event. After a brief introduction, Julie will critique participants' 2-sentence pitches during this webinar. General Q&A will be included at the end. After registering, you will be sent a link to a form where you can submit your pitch. We will try to accommodate as many pitches as possible, but please keep in mind that due to time limitations, your pitch may not be addressed. scbwi.org/events/agent-m…

Still time to sign up for this webinar! Three different Purim board books, released on the same day by the same publisher! Three authors will show how they created fresh approaches for the Purim holiday that worked for different ages of toddlers and how you can apply those principles to finding new approaches for other holiday books. Varda Livney, Barbara Kimmel, and Nancy Churnin will be joined by a moderator from PJ Library, who will talk about why they acquired these books and PJ Library's wish list going forward. Sunday, February 22, 12:00 PM EST / 19:00 Israel time. scbwi.org/events/one-hol…

SCBWI Nebraska: Creative Connections with Beth McMullen February 25, 2026: The Middle Grade Adventure Blueprint - Join us as Beth McMullen - Writers With Wrinkles podcaster, book coach, and author - explores a practical, writer-friendly framework built around five core pillars that help middle grade adventure, fantasy, and mystery stories gain momentum and emotional depth. Using simple questions and craft touchstones you can apply while drafting and revising, we’ll look at why scenes stall, how kid-sized stakes and agency keep readers engaged, and how emotional change drives a story forward. Offered by SCBWI Nebraska as part of their Creative Connections series. scbwi.org/events/creativ…

SCBWI New York Metro: A Colorful Tale - Storytelling with Color Theory February 26, 2026: Do you ever struggle with picking a palette or would you like to learn more about how color works? Color provides impact, mood, and is a way of focusing attention. Learn how to use color to emphasize storytelling. Add to your toolbox with this virtual workshop on color theory. Author, illustrator and teacher Jen Betton will talk about how to use color for maximum impact in your work, using examples from illustration and animation. Betton began her illustration career in kindergarten when she got into trouble for drawing outside the lines. She is an arts educator, the author-illustrator of HEDGEHOG NEEDS A HUG, published with Putnam (winner of Pennsylvania’s Keystone to Reading Book Award), and the illustrator of TWILIGHT CHANT, written by Holly Thompson published with Clarion (a NCTE Notable Book) and BARN AT NIGHT, written by Michelle Houts and published with Feeding Minds Press. You can find her work online at jenbetton.com scbwi.org/events/scbwi-n…

SCBWI Rocky Mountain: The Long Game: Why Great Stories Take Time (And That's Okay) February 26, 2026: If you've ever felt behind because your manuscript isn't finished or your illustrations aren't where you want them to be, this session is for you. Academy Award-winning animator, author, and illustrator Alan Barillaro (Bunns Rabbit, Piper) understands that pressure, despite his impressive resume. In this candid presentation, Alan shares what he's learned about creativity's glacial pace, why throwing away hundreds of drawings led to better work, and how to sustain your energy when a project spans years rather than months. Whether you're a writer, illustrator, or both, you'll leave with a deeper understanding of why your creative timeline is exactly what it needs to be. Join us to learn how time can become your greatest creative asset instead of your biggest source of pressure. scbwi.org/events/the-lon…

With 2026 fast approaching, it’s time to think about how we’re going to achieve our creative goals. Why not do it in community with other kidlit creatives! Join SCBWI Kansas-Missouri for a goal setting webinar with author Abbi Lee! In this interactive and motivational session, writers are empowered to turn creative ambition into actionable progress. Whether you're juggling family, work, or self-doubt, this workshop provides practical tools to help you define, pursue, and achieve your writing goals. Perfect for writers at any stage, this presentation blends mindset, strategy, and community to help authors build a writing life and career they love, one sustainable goal at a time. Participants will explore: •Why SMART goals matter for creative success •Tools and techniques for staying motivated •How to build consistency through rituals, accountability, and distraction-free writing •Strategies for overcoming common obstacles like burnout, perfectionism, and fear of failure