SCBWI

Society of
Children's Book Writers
and Illustrators

  • Welcome! We’re so glad you’ve joined us. We hope this guide will help you navigate the many resources and opportunities available to members at both a regional and international level. We hope to meet you (virtually or in person) soon!   RESOURCES TO EXPLORE   Read The Book: The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children. This must-read resource kicks off your publication journey and is regularly updated to provide you the latest news, a survey of the current children’s book market, publishers and agency directories, and more. Access the latest edition here. (To access The Book, log in to scbwi.org and click on the stripes at the top right of the page to find Publications. The Book is there for download. It is a fantastic perk of membership that’s not to be missed.)   Get the FAQs. If you’re new to the world of children’s literature and publishing, you probably have a LOT of questions about how it all works. SCBWI has you covered with this excellent FAQs page.   Visit our regional website. Visit SCBWI-WI’s home on the web for event listings and other regional opportunities, member news, and lots of great educational resources.   Visit the international (headquarters) website. Visit scbwi.org for industry news, exclusive member opportunities, grants/scholarships, and tons of ways to connect with members around the globe. A great place to start is the “Membership Benefits” page.    Sign up for the SCBWI-WI listserv. Receive emails about ongoing events, regional updates, and member news. To join the listserv, look for our list of regional volunteers on the left side of the page. Click the link to contact our current Listserv Coordinator via email, and ask to be added to the list.   Join a critique group. SCBWI-WI can connect you with other kidlit creators in Wisconsin by helping you join a critique group. This is by far the best way to get feedback on your work! To get started, look for our list of regional volunteers on the left side of the Wisconsin chapter's page. Click the link to contact our current Critique Group Coordinator. In your message, be sure to indicate the format and genre you work in (author or illustrator, picture books, YA, traditional art, digital art, etc). If you’re interested in joining a critique group, we also recommend reading this helpful handout.    Attend a FREE digital workshop. During the pandemic, SCBWI Headquarters has offered—and continues to offer—several excellent series of digital workshops, which are free to members (but require advance registration). Find information on these events by going to https://www.scbwi.org and exploring the subpages under the “SCBWI Digital” tab. (Recordings of past workshops are only available for a limited time, so be sure to keep an eye on those dates!)   Find a regional virtual event that strikes your fancy. SCBWI chapters around the world have opened up their regional virtual events to all members. Search for a virtual event that interests you here. Keep in mind that space is limited, since members of the host region are often given first priority during registration.   Attend a statewide event or a local get-together. We offer several high-interest state-wide events a year, and our area reps offer many smaller, oftentimes free, meet-ups in the four quadrants of the state. During the pandemic, we’re only hosting virtual events. View all upcoming Wisconsin events here.   Dive into our blog and newsletter. The SCBWI-WI blog features many interviews with kidlit professionals as well as other great information and advice. Check out the blog here. Creative Tap is our regional newsletter, which features essays by SCBWI-WI members, event information, and more. Access every issue of Creative Tap here.     Join us on social media. Catch event listings, member news, and other chapter announcements by following us on social media: Twitter @SCBWIWisconsin Facebook: SCBWIWisconsin Instagram: SCBWIWisconsin   Review our Equity & Inclusion Resources. Don’t miss our Equity and Inclusion Resources page. This page includes educational resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as a collection of events, contests, book lists, and awards.   Win an award! SCBWI has many grants and awards for writers and illustrators across several categories and genres. Most are awarded annually, so review the list and find out how and when to apply here.  
  • Congrats to the SCBWI-Wisconsin members who are releasing these fantastic books in spring of 2023! Click HERE for a downloadable and highly shareable PDF: Spring 2023 Releases Or view the image below on your device. Enjoy!
  • Congrats on these beautiful new book releases in March of 2023! Click the image to open a larger version. And please feel free to share in your network and on social media.
  • Do you have a book coming out this fall? Let our publications promotions team know all the details so they can include it in upcoming SCBWI-WI announcements! To make sure your book is included, contact Joyce at jpuglow@gmail.com or Nicole at salterbraun@gmail.com by May 1, 2023. Make sure to include all of the following information about your book: -Title -Author/illustrator -Target audience/format -Publisher -Release date -ISBN -Brief description -Cover image    

Region About

SCBWI is the society for writers and illustrators of children’s literature. It’s also an easy place to find speakers for your bookstore, school, or library. Find Wisconsin creators here and learn more about SCBWI by watching this video. Please settle in and get to know us. 🙂

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