25. Join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Membership in the SCBWI is open to anyone with an active interest in children’s literature from picture books to young adult novels. We welcome aspiring and published writers and illustrators, librarians, educators, artists, students, dramatists, musicians, filmmakers, and others. A passion for children’s literature is our #1 criterion.
Promotional Opportunities
Increase your sales and readership. Participate in our many marketing and outreach programs, win grants and awards, and boost your visibility.
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Awards and Grants
Apply for our 52 awards and grants, available for authors, illustrators, pre-published members, and students. Exclusive to SCBWI members.
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Regional Chapters
Connect with your local SCBWI community. Attend events such as conferences, retreats, meet-ups, and industry talks.
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Information Resources
Learn the essentials of publishing children’s books, improve your craft, and stay current with industry practices.
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Dear Ursula:
Thank you for being the conscience of writers everywhere. The one who stood up to the powers, who never turned her gaze away from the eclipse. Thank you for writing the stories that became iconic paths for the rest of us to tread…
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Submissions Open for Happy Book Birthday Program
Submissions are now open for the March 2018 edition of the Happy Book Birthday program. This new SCBWI program invites members to celebrate and promote their newly published work…
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Information & Support
The Internet is flooded with information about publishing, much of it inaccurate or linked to predatory publishing companies. We bring you trusted, current information about the field in our online publication The Book, through our quarterly Bulletin and through our monthly digital newsletter, Insight. In addition, the SCBWI serves an advisory function for its members. We gladly provide advice, information, and counsel via phone or e-mail. The SCBWI prides itself in taking a personal interest in the careers of its professional membership. As a member, you will find support both from headquarters and your local chapter.
When you join you have instant access to The Book: The Essential Guide to Publishing For Children. We update The Book weekly throughout the year so that you always have access to the most up-to-date information in the field. The Book is filled with up-to-the-minute market surveys, information on maximizing social media, creating book trailers, enhancing your career though school visits, best practices in independent publishing, grassroots promotion and much more. Members can also order a hard copy of The Book for the cost of printing and shipping.
The SCBWI Bulletin is a quarterly publication containing comprehensive and current information in the field of children’s literature. In addition to features each month, regular departments include the latest market reports, information on school visits, book reviews, art tips, information on contests and awards, information on the illustration market, news of SCBWI members, and information about ongoing SCBWI activities throughout the world. Two hundred and fifty issues of SCBWI’s Bulletin, representing forty-two years of articles and advice, are now archived and easily searchable.
The SCBWI presents several annual awards to recognize works by SCBWI members that exhibit excellence in writing or illustration, and genuinely appeal to the interests and concerns of children. In addition, the SCBWI provides grants and scholarships to encourage continuing excellence in the creation of children’s literature. Grants are awarded throughout the year and provide financial assistance to members to finish works-in-progress, polish portfolios, attend conferences, market published books and more.
The SCBWI INSIGHT is monthly, digital publication featuring current children’s book news, hot topics, helpful hints, exclusive interviews and monthly contests. Members receive the SCBWI INSIGHT in their inbox the first of every month as a supplement to our quarterly Bulletin.
SCBWI is in production on regular thirty to forty-five minute podcasts, with interviews from leaders in our field—from editors and art directors to authors and illustrators. The podcasts are available for free download to SCBWI members.
Networking
Being a writer or illustrator can often be a lonely profession. With the SCBWI you instantly have colleagues around the world to support your career, whatever the stage.
Award-winning authors, esteemed illustrators, editors, agents, and publishers present lectures, conduct workshops, and give individual manuscript and art consultations at SCBWI conferences around the world. These conferences are excellent networking opportunities for those already established in children’s literature, as well as for those new to the fantastic, demanding world of children’s book writing and illustrating.
When you join SCBWI you automatically become a member of your local Regional Chapter. We have over is 80 regions within the United States and throughout the world. Through your local chapter you can meet other writers, attend events and get local support.
Online Community
SCBWI Members can connect with other authors and illustrators though our Illustrator Gallery, Speaker’s Bureau, Bookstore and Discussion Boards.
Volunteer Opportunities
Members of SCBWI can give back to their community though various volunteer opportunities. Whether it is mentoring other writers and illustrators, helping put on a conference or reading your books to kids at a local school. If you are interested in volunteering please see the Volunteer Guidelines and contact your Regional Advisor for current opportunities.
Exposure
The key to success is “discoverability.” When you are just starting out you want editors, art directors and agents to see your work, once published you want people to find your book so that you can create a fan base. The SCBWI helps you increase your visibility in the market.
Inclusion in the SCBWI Online Bookstore
SCBWI members with a published book (both traditionally and independently published) can list their book in our online bookstore. For members who are independently published and have sought alternative means of selling books, the online bookstore will meet your needs. For those who are traditionally published and distributed, it will provide one more place where both your in-print and out-of-print work can be discovered.
Feature your blog on our homepage
All members, whether published or pre-published, are eligible to list their blog in our blog roll. Those seeking to reach blogs about children’s books will have a centralized table of contents where they can find your blog. In addition, each month we will select from this listing ten member blogs to feature on our homepage. It’s a huge opportunity to drive traffic to your blog.
All illustrator members can display their portfolios in our online gallery, which is visited by art directors and others looking to hire illustrators. Each month we select an illustrator member to feature. Your art will appear on our homepage and be featured all month on the illustrator gallery page.
Illustrator members are invited to submit spot art to our Bulletin to be featured each issue. The Bulletin is seen by our 22,000 members including top industry professionals.
Published members (both traditionally and independently) can be included in the Speaker’s Bureau, a searchable collection of authors and illustrators available for school visits. The Speaker’s Bureau is used by teachers and librarians around the world.
Discounts
In addition to discounts at SCBWI events and conferences, members of SCBWI also receive discounts at Book Expo America and services such as Nielsen BookScan, Scrivener and Scapple software licenses, Publishers Weekly subscriptions, and Squarespace website design and hosting.
Discounts and coupon codes for members only (You must be logged in to view)