12 Wednesday Nov 2025
Posted in Los Angeles, Tri-Regional News, Writers Retreat
Tags
Adam Blackman, Analía Cabello, craft, Events, Jennifer Rofé, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, working writers retreat, writing
by Judy Y Faulkner
It was Halloween. Many of us came in costume. We all bared our souls. We tendered—and tended—our words. Ate, played, and laughed together. This year’s SCBWI-Los Angeles Working Writers Retreat took place from October 31–November 2, and it was a sweet treat.
09 Wednesday Jul 2025
Dive into visual storytelling for the modern picture book market with agent Kait Feldmann!
Kait Feldmann is an agent with KT Literary and was previously an editor with HarperCollins and Scholastic, overseeing an award-winning editorial list. Join us as she brings more than decade of experience and her unique perspective on kidlit art to SCBWI-L.A.’s Illustrators Day at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, CA, on July 13, 2025, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Continue reading26 Wednesday Feb 2025
by Jessica Cooper
Calling all Los Angeles-area artists and writers! Come join the fun!
15 Wednesday Jan 2025
Posted in Ask an Editor, Tips and Tools
Tags
#AskanEditor, author, authors, books, business, Christine Van Zandt, craft, editor, indie-publishing, publishing, self-publishing, websites, writing
“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered quarterly as part of our Kite Tales blog.
Hi Christine – I’ve been trying to land an agent for four years, but have had no success. Should I self-publish my book?
– Hana, Culver City
Hello Hana – It typically takes 3–5 years from when a manuscript is polished and querying begins until an author lands an agent or publisher, and there is no guarantee a manuscript will get picked up. I understand that’s a long time to wait on a chance.
Continue reading10 Friday Jan 2025
Posted in Central Coast, Illustrator's Perspective, Tips and Tools
by Jaime Zollars
Happy New Year!
I hope you all ended up on the nice list and took some time to rest and reflect before diving into goals for a new year. Have you made a list of resolutions?
I’ve always been quite a fan of lists. They hold so much promise. To-do lists, goal lists, recipe lists, gift lists, idea lists, bucket lists, reading lists—the list goes on. While I must admit that I’ve been known to transfer the unchecked items off any given list to its next incarnation (sometimes indefinitely), the simple practice of writing them can spark growth and creativity.
In the spirit of new ideas for the new year, here are four fun list-making exercises that may jump-start your creative streak in 2025:
Continue reading27 Friday Dec 2024
Tags
#AskanEditor, Alexis O'Neill, Andy Greene, April Halprin Wayland, authors, Cara J. Stevens, Christine Van Zandt, craft, illustrators, inspiration, Jaime Zollars, Joy Peskin, Julia Edwards, Kelly Pellico, Kim Wildman, Liz Garton Scanlon, Nell Cross Beckerman, Paige Vinten Taylor, Philana Marie Boles, publishing, publishing tips, quotes, Roya Asgari, SCBWI community, writing tips
It’s been a roller coaster of a year. But that means there’ve been ups as well as downs. Joy, growth, progress, breakthroughs, satisfaction. So, take a moment to peruse our traditional year-end inspirational quotes column, which this year includes a baker’s dozen. We need ’em! And we have them, thanks to all of you who have been kind enough to share your time, expertise, images, thoughts, words—and reasons for huzzahs—with all of us through Kite Tales. Now, let’s hop in the time machine together and take a look back at some of the highlights.
Continue reading30 Wednesday Oct 2024
Posted in Ask an Editor, Tips and Tools
“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered quarterly as part of our Kite Tales blog.
Hi Christine – Should I post all or part of my manuscript on my website? I’m pre-published and seeking an agent.
—Stan, Los Angeles
Hello Stan – I realize it seems simpler to have your work on your website and have others come there to view it, but that goes against the expectations of our industry and increases your chances that your ideas or content may be used in ways that do not benefit you.
Continue reading07 Wednesday Aug 2024
Posted in Ask an Editor, Tips and Tools
Tags
#AskanEditor, 12x12, author-illustrators, authors, business, children's book insider, Christine Van Zandt, craft, editor, illustrators, publishing, Storystorm, The Lyrical Language Lab, The Writers' Loft
“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered quarterly as part of our Kite Tales blog.
Hi Christine – What’s the best way to research nonfiction picture book topics?
—Bria, Los Angeles
Hello Bria – While everyone has their own styles and preferences, I’ll share some techniques I’ve used for the nonfiction picture books I’ve had published.
Continue reading15 Wednesday May 2024
Posted in Ask an Editor, Tips and Tools
Tags
#AskanEditor, 12x12, author-illustrators, authors, business, children's book insider, Christine Van Zandt, craft, editor, illustrators, publishing, Storystorm, The Lyrical Language Lab, The Writers' Loft
“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered quarterly as part of our Kite Tales blog.
Hi Christine – I’m pre-published and wonder if I should have a website or be on social media.
—Deneice, Northridge
Hi Deneice – When I started on this journey writing children’s books about seven years ago, I was unagented and unpublished. Now I’m represented by the fabulous Liza Fleissig and am the proud author of two nonfiction picture books, Milkweed for Monarchs (Beaming Books, 2024) and A Brief History of Underpants (becker&mayer! kids, 2021). If I can do it, so can you!
Continue reading08 Wednesday May 2024
Posted in Central Coast, LitMingles!, Tri-Regional News
by Ann Rousseau Smith
The SCBWI Central-Coastal California Region offers free meet-ups known as Mingles, where writers and illustrators share knowledge, good news, fellowship, and improve their craft. Four of the Mingles are geared toward our writers, one for each of our four counties—Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. We also have a Mingle for our illustrators, hosted by Jaime Zollars, CenCal’s Illustrator Coordinator.
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