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!

SAVE THE DATE—OCTOBER 16–18
The SCBWI-Los Angeles Working Writers Retreat is October 16-18, 2026, at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino. More to come soon!

RSVP NOW FOR AUGUST 16
Join SCBWI-Los Angeles on Sunday, August 16, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m., at the Valley Relics Museum for our 3rd Sketch Crawl of the year! Get inspired by the vivid and extensive collection of historical artifacts of the San Fernando Valley. Bring your sketchbook, favorite drawing materials, and a friend! Non-members are welcome. $15 museum entry fee paid at the door. Please email any questions to lauraburris@scbwi.org. We hope to see you there! NOTE: All SCBWI events are age 18+ only.

OPEN NOW—REGISTER BY AUGUST 20
Be part of the annual SCBWI-LA Critique Day on August 23, 2026! This is a FREE event for SCBWI Premium members, but you must register to obtain the Zoom link. PLEASE NOTE: You are not registered until you press the green BOOK A SEAT button at the bottom of the registration page. You may need to scroll to the bottom or reduce the size of your screen if you haven’t found it.” Open to PB, MG, YA/NA writers and illustrators! REGISTRATION CLOSES August 20, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.

OPEN NOW
Register today for your spot at 2026 SCBWI SoCal Fall Harvest Writers and Illustrators Day! “Writers and illustrators are invited to a full day of speaker presentations, critiques, pitches and mingling with fellow creatives! We’ll have agents, an editor, an art director, published authors and an illustrator. This hybrid event is both in-person and via zoom. Attendees will have access to the videos for 30 days following the event and receive submission guidelines from all our faculty.” This annual hybrid event will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We hope to see you there!

OPEN NOW
Get ready for a day of Craft, Creativity, & Community at SCBWI CenCal’s 2026 Writers & Illustrators Day! Join us for a day to connect with your fellow writers and illustrators, all while enjoying morning coffee, catered lunch, prizes, contests, and more! “In addition, we will be having a Pitchfest on Saturday, October 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. In addition, all conference attendees are invited to a pre-conference webinar on Wednesday, October 21, at 5:30 p.m., featuring Bookstr’s Scott Richmond’s Stress-Free Guide to Social Media and Press…PLUS ONE live Pitch at the Pitchfest online on Saturday, 10/31/26. Critiques and pitches offered while supply lasts.” See you all in October!

AUGUST 10
Submit your application for one of five SCBWI SoCal Fall Harvest Equity and Inclusion Scholarships by August 10, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. PST. This opportunity is available for “writers and/or illustrators whose finances prevent them from attending our conference AND they’re from underserved communities, including but not limited to BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities.” You must live in one of the SCBWI SoCal regional areas (Long Beach, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County), as as well as follow the SCBWI SoCal region on the SCBWI website. Click here to learn more.

AUGUST 23
Grab your free ticket today for the 4th Annual Los Angeles Kids Book Festival on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at West Hollywood Park! As “LA’s largest event celebrating early education, bilingualism, and multiculturalism,” there will be lots of opportunities to meet fans, sign books, and do giveaways in a lively, family-friendly setting! For folks who are interested in registering as a vendor, click the link here to learn more about pricing and logistics. The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

AUGUST 31
Submissions for the SCBWI Emerging Voices Award will reopen on August 1, 2026! “The SCBWI established the On-The-Verge Emerging Voices Award in 2012 with funding from Martin and Sue Schmitt of the 455 Foundation. The grant was created to foster the emergence of diverse voices in children’s books. SCBWI reserves the right not to confer this award in any given year. Submissions reopen August 1 through August 31, 2026.” Click here to learn more.

SEPTEMBER 26
Save the date for a fun day of bilingual storytelling at the Los Angeles Libros Festival! This free event will take place on September 26, 2026, at the Los Angeles Public Library Central Library and will feature a multitude of “Spanish-language and bilingual storytelling, musical performances, authors, workshops, books, and community” for the whole family.

SEPTEMBER 30
Get your portfolio pieces ready for the SCBWI Bologna Illustrator Scholarship! “Each year, a panel of judges will review submissions to this grant online. One winner will each receive a ticket to the Bologna Book Fair, travel fare, and a stipend for accommodations. The winner will have an opportunity to show their portfolios to publishing professionals, display their portfolio at our industry party in Bologna, and attend the prestigious fair.” Submissions will be open from September 1, 2026, through September 30, 2026.

SEPTEMBER 30
In honor of renowned and highly prolific children’s book author Jane Yolen, the SCBWI Jane Yolen Mid-List Grant “is awarded to a mid-career traditionally published author. The winner will receive $1500, plus free tuition to the In-Person New York Winter Conference, where they will be presented with their award by Yolen’s daughter, Heidi Stemple.” Submissions will be open from September 1, 2026, through September 30, 2026.

OCTOBER 3–4
“Rare Books LA returns to Los Angeles Union Station on October 3–4, 2026, with a stunning selection of antiquarian books, maps, fine prints, book arts, and more that you sink your teeth into. This year’s fair is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Anne Rice’s iconic novel Interview with the Vampire. A special 50th anniversary edition of the book published by Alfred A. Knopf will be available at the book fair bundled with a fundraiser ticket benefiting the Library Foundation of Los Angeles.”

CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES!

Want to learn more about how to create comics and graphic novels for kids? Check out this free blog by Kids Comics Unite, where you’ll have access to video interviews by established creators in the field, tips and tracks to query agents, and more!

Are you interested in writing poetry for kids, but want to do a little more research beforehand? Take a look at the extensive selection of poems curated by poets.org! “Poems are curated around specific themes and are appropriate for young readers.” Click the link here if you are looking more on how to write Poetry for Teens.

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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