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Events, Opportunities, and Resources happening now and coming soon for the
Tri-Regions and beyond

Burst into creative bloom this Saturday at Bud to Blossom. How to Grow Stories and Nurture Creative Inspiration, the in-person SCBWI-Los Angeles 2024 Writers Day conference being held at the Skirball Cultural Center on March 9, 2024. An all-star faculty—including speakers Deborah Halverson, Henry Lien, Ariel Richardson, Liz Garton Scanlon, and Karol Ruth Silverstein—will nourish your creative spirit and encourage your stories to sprout and grow. Enjoy keynotes, breakouts, an afternoon book signing, and a patio lunch by the famous lily pond. Event schedule and faculty profiles here. Online registration is now closed. Walk-ins welcome (cash or check only).

March 9 is the date for the 2024 SCBWI-Los Angeles Writers Day.

Four more days! All L.A. and CenCal region illustrators and author-illustrators, here’s your reminder that only a few days remain to apply for the SCBWI-Los Angeles 2024 Mentorship Contest. If you would like to have access to your very own mentor, this contest is for you. The prize is a six-month mentorship for illustrators (or author-illustrators) with author-illustrator Jaime Zollars. The mentorship is open to members in good standing of the SCBWI-L.A. or CenCal regions. Read more about Jaime and apply here. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) on March 10, 2024. 

Attention picture book writers, illustrators, and graphic novelists: on March 16, come join SCBWI SoCal’s Art Day conference to improve your craft and get inspired by published children’s book professionals. Morning speakers and breakout faculty include: Susie Ghahremani, Kim Dwinell, Susi Schaefer, and Chuck Grieb. In the afternoon, enjoy a prompt-swap activity or free creative time. You can find more information here.

Get inspired by industry professionals at this one-day conference in Laguna Beach.

March is a big month for SCBWI award competitions. Apply now through March 31 at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) for these awards and grants: the Ann Whitford Paul Writer’s Digest Manuscript Award, an annual award of $1,000 given to the writer of a Most Promising Picture Book manuscript; the Don Freeman Grant, which assists illustrators in the completion of a book dummy or portfolio; and the SCBWI Work-In-Progress (WIP) Award to assist children’s book authors in the publication of a specific project currently not under contract. Qualified WIP Award entrants may also apply for the Karen Cushman Late Bloomer Award, an award for a work-in-progress from an unpublished author over age 50, and in the Underrepresented Fiction or Nonfiction Category. The SCBWI awards portal appears on your Member Profile in the AWARDS section with links to further information and to apply.

Comic Orange takes place on April 13, 2024, at the Tustin Library. Comic Orange is a celebration of libraries, graphic novels, cosplay, animation, and more! SCBWI SoCal authors and illustrators will have a table at this event, so be sure to stop by!

Save the date to “find your spark at the 2024 L.A. Times Festival of Books, April 20–21 on the University of Southern California campus. General admission is free, and the festival will also feature exclusive paid events with authors and celebrities.” Plan now to attend—and visit with authors and illustrators from the Los Angeles and SoCal regions who are signing and selling their books at the always-welcoming SCBWI booth.

PAL members (l–r): Caroline L. Perry, Molly Ruttan, and RS Melette (and special guests) at last year’s festival booth.

For more fantastic content, community, events, and other professional development opportunities, become a member today! Not sure if there is a chapter in your area? Check here.

Images provided by their respective regions, except corgi photo courtesy of Caroline L. Perry. “Bud to Blossom” logo by Frans Vischer. Art Day logo by Carolyn Lê.