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

Check out more resources at the end of the post!

OPEN NOW
Register now for the annual SCBWI Los Angeles Working Writers Retreat 2025! This space-limited event will take place from Friday, October 31, 2025, to Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, CA. Throughout the weekend, there will be opportunities to learn from our faculty members: Editor Adam Blackman, Assistant Literary Agent Analía Cabello, Editor Matt Phipps, and Agent Moe Ferrara. Registration closes on October 12, 2025, at noon!

OCTOBER 4–5
Rare Books LA returns to the historic Ticket Concourse at Los Angeles’ Union Station on October 4, 2025, and October 5, 2025! This year celebrates the release of “Rare Books LA friend and patron Guillermo Del Toro’s new film Frankenstein on Netflix this November.” To see the full list of exhibitors and purchase your tickets, click the link here!

OCTOBER 11
“Step into a magical world of books” on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Enchanted Realms Book Festival! “Gather your fellow book lovers and whisk yourselves away to a realm filled with inspiring stories, magical places, and captivating characters” at the Autry Museum of the American West. “This is an outdoor, family-friendly festival that allows book lovers of all ages to join in on the magic!”

OCTOBER 31
Submissions for the SCBWI Amber Brown Grant are open through October 31, 2025. “The Amber Brown Grant was created to honor the late, beloved author Paula Danziger, whose Amber Brown series has inspired readers for decades.” This grant awards one school with “an in-person visit from a published children’s book author-illustrator” and “$250 worth of books donated to your school library.” Applications can be submitted through the SCBWI MY AWARDS tab on your MEMBER HOME or through the link here.

NOVEMBER 1
Applications for the SCBWI Russell Freedman Award will be accepted up until November 1, 2025. “The Russell Freedman Award for Nonfiction for a Better World [is] given to a work of nonfiction that contributes to our understanding of how to make our world and society better.” Any traditionally published nonfiction book for children or young adults, released in 2025, is eligible. “You do not have to be a member of SCBWI to submit.” For submission guidelines, click the link here.

NOVEMBER 15
Submissions for the Walter Awards are open through November 15, 2025! “The Walter Dean Myers Awards celebrates and honors diverse books by diverse creators.” One book is awarded for teen readers age 13–18 and one book is awarded for young readers age 9–13. Click the link here for more information about eligibility, submission guidelines, and shipping information.

NOVEMBER 15
The ILF Encouragement Fund will be accepting submissions up until November 15, 2025. “The Encouragement Fund offers three no-strings attached yearly grants of $2,000 each to three children’s book authors, artists or translators who have traditionally published at least one book.” This year, the fund will be focusing on humor books: chapter books, middle grade, and YA. “No picture books this time around.” Click here for more information.

DECEMBER 1
Submissions for the Charlotte and Wilbur Award for Compassion for Animals close on December 1, 2025. The award honors “one winning book and one honor book for their dedication to promoting compassion and respect for animals in their readers.” The winning book will receive a prize of $2,500. Click the link here for submission guidelines.

DECEMBER 13–14
Comic Arts LA comes to the Homenetmen Ararat North Campus on December 13–14, 2025! “Comic Arts LA (CALA) is a free, public event promoting the appreciation of comics, graphic novels, and sequential arts among the broader Los Angeles public.” Although applications to exhibit this year are closed, there will be a wide variety of vendors and comics to check out, so come support your local artists!

CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES!

The Highlights Foundation Blog & Podcast page offers a plethora of free, educational resources to help you on your journey to become published! From picture books to chapter books to even the business of publishing, their blog truly covers it all!

The Authors Guild Resource Library is a wonderful tool to “help you in every stage of your professional writing career, from comprehensive guides breaking down complex legal topics to event recordings exploring every area of the writing business.” Check it out at the link here.

SCBWI-LA wants YOU to join our fabulous team of volunteers! Please email losangeles@scbwi.org to ask about applying for any opportunities. Click the link here to learn more about the SCBWI-LA team and scroll to the bottom of the page to see what positions are currently open. You must be an SCBWI member residing within the Los Angeles Region to be an SCBWI-LA volunteer.

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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.