SCBWI

Society of
Children's Book Writers
and Illustrators

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

  • Sandy Brehl has been our amazing, incredible and fabulous PAL Coordinator for several years. She will be stepping down this year and I want to thank her for everything she has done for our Region. She has been the glue that holds us together and has selflessly always shared her extensive knowledge in the publishing industry and without a doubt been an ambassador for SCBWI.  Sandy will be staying on through the year to train the next Coordinator. We have also decided to change the title of the position to Published Member Coordinator to include all members who are traditionally published and self-published.  The volunteer duties and benefits are: Published Member Coordinator ● Handle all communication with Published Members ● Coordinate events (at least 1 per year) that connect Published authors and/illustrators to the book buying community (teacher or librarian conventions, etc.) Wisconsin Book Festival, WSRA, etc. ● Help organize, collect info and work in tandem with our designer to create a Fall and Spring New Titles Flyer and Speaker Flyer ● Secure table top books and merchandise, signage that help represent our Published members Hours: 7 months of the year is approximately 12-15 hours/month; 5 months it’s about 4-5 hours/month.  This Coordinator Role Has Added Benefits:  ● Free SCBWI membership ● Free Wisconsin Webinar ● Discounted admission to Wisconsin Fall Conference* ● Thank you event (pre-conference social) with faculty ● Designated seat at faculty lunch table during one meal at conference  * ​Discount dependent on event budget. You must be in the position for 6 months to be eligible for this benefit. Excludes lodging or cost of add-ons, such as critiques.  To apply, contact Wisconsin RA Deb Buschman at wisconsin-ra@scbwi.org. A further note from Sandy Brehl: Covid has altered the in-person event requirement, so far. When it resumes the major event (Wisconsin State Reading Association) is always in downtown Milwaukee. Being a resident of the SE WI area is NOT a requirement, but might be an advantage, or you may have family or friends in that area who would “welcome” a 2-3 day visit from you in early February each year! Other events range from the Dells area (WEMTA- Wisconsin Educational media and technology Association- mainly school librarians, WI TITLE 1 convention) to rotating locations for the WI Library Association, and smaller regional conferences throughout the state. It is NOT required that you attend these others in person, but you would become the contact and coordinating person to arrange for volunteers to host the events, transport/mail various display materials, etc.  The two seasonal fliers can be managed entirely online, including distribution to public “subscribers” from various events.  During Covid we are attempting to host monthly ZOOM sessions to feature new book releases and their creators. For the fliers and Zoom sessions we have outstanding volunteers who handle the postings, designs, etc. so that is not expected of the coordinator. Originally and currently this is a one-person role, but it is desirable to have a co-coordinator. For at least one year I expect to share the role fully so that a volunteer will gain training and confidence in the role.
  • 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 authors and illustrators who are releasing these beautiful books in spring of 2022! Click HERE for a downloadable and highly shareable PDF. Or view the image below on your device. Enjoy!
RA Photo
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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