Cen South Ohio SCBWI

We are the Central and Southern Ohio chapter of #SCBWI

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

SCBWI Texas Houston: Lure 'em in with Layers
June 16, 2026: Does your picture book story feel "slight"? Does it feel like it just isn't going anywhere? What you need is layers. Adding them to your manuscript will give it richness and depth- and most importantly "re-readability". The marketability of your story increases with every layer, and it becomes all the more enticing to your readers, agents and editors. In this webinar, award-winning author Wendi Silvano will discuss 4 must-have layers and 15 additional types of layers that might fit your story-giving it extra depth and delight.

https://t.co/AneYku8VHm

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

SCBWI San Francisco South: Self-Publishing 101 - Take Control of Your Books, Business, and Future
June 8, 2026: Self-Publishing 101 will cover what's happening in the world of self-publishing (it's come a long way in the past 2-5 years!); when it makes sense to pursue self-publishing versus traditional; benefits and challenges of self-publishing; what it takes to self-publish a high quality children's book; how to make money as an author-publisher (this is the hardest part!); and how to stay motivated when it feels like everyone is hugely successful and you "haven't made it" yet. Author Ariane Erickson will show examples of the process, successes, and failures (some of them quite funny) using her books and publishing experience.

https://t.co/inhZY3qzZB

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

Have questions about the submission process?
SCBWI HOUSTON has answers!
Take a guided journey through the six key steps every author needs to take to prepare their writing for submission to agents, editors and contests. Premium Members: $15; Preview Members: $30 https://t.co/skx6Dd6QhC

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

Have we (SCBWI OHCenSouth) got a webinar for you!
(If you want to purchase a critique, act quickly-only a few spots left!)

Sometimes, you have to make your own luck!

Join SCBWI summer portfolio showcase winner Merrill Rainey May 20th from 7-8:30pm for an evening conversation about his freelance illustration journey and his path to publication. Merrill will talk about the highs and lows in his career, the value of industry relationships, and the importance for advocating for yourself and your work. During his presentation, Merrill will also demonstrate an illustration technique he has been developing and discuss with participants the importance of creative play, as well as how important it is to observe and critique the world around you. This webinar will be recorded if you can’t attend live. To join the meeting, go to:
https://t.co/2nHikuYlif
Merrill has generously offered to do fifteen 15 minute Zoom critiques at half his normal rate. He will critique portfolios, dummies, or PB text-only projects. To purchase a 15 minute Virtual Critique, go to: https://t.co/mfSXsvkATi. Once you’ve registered, look for an e-mail with instructions on how to submit your materials and schedule your session.
You can purchase his latest book, ON THE AIR WITH DR. DOODLEBUG, using the QR Code in the graphic above or at this link: https://t.co/re0dOqX9WM (or wherever books are sold).

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

Today’s the day! I can hardly believe it! In less than three hours, we’ll know the names of the last class of mentees to join the PBRS family! So exciting!!!!!! #EndofanEra

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

There’s a new session of SCBWI U starting today! There’s still time to register! A new 3-part online course specifically for illustrators and author/illustrators who want to take their careers to the next level. The series focuses on using thumbnails to build your story, visual character development, and the secrets to building a winning portfolio. Tuition includes all three classes and access to video replays for 30-days after the final live session. (Classes may NOT be purchased individually). After registering, go to MEMBER HOME > MY EVENTS > MEETING INFO to access Zoom Links. https://t.co/keVJOHAvK2

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

Looking forward to this one!
SCBWI Maryland/Delaware/West Virginia: Bringing the Vision to Life - Board Book Creation Behind the Scenes
May 14, 2026: In this informative, eye opening, and interactive webinar, author and early childhood educator Katrina Moore will take audience through an in-depth look into creating board books for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. She will break down their format, key features, target audience, and elements that make them stand out in a crowded marketplace, as well as give a behind-the-scenes look at the making of her Big Jobs For Little Babies board book series, from crafting through production. A Q&A will follow her presentation. https://t.co/IrDzicMuMK


[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

SCBWI Nevada: The Intersection of Story, Product Design, Illustration and Branding
May 17, 2026: Let's talk about storytelling and building connections with the people who enjoy what we do. Every line we draw, every sentence we write, everything we make is an opportunity to build relationships with our audience. The things we get "wrong", the little imperfections, are a window into the only thing we have to offer in a crowded market: ourselves. Q&A will follow the presentation and interview. This event will be recorded. https://t.co/IdxMdNBSJo

[SCBWI Illinois @SCBWI_IL]

Join us as we learn how to jump into the rabbit hole to find golden nuggets to bring our stories to life for children and teens! Author Rebecca Siegel is an enthusiastic TikTok storyteller and real-life adventurer!

Look for the Zoom link on our website:
https://t.co/uYGGZCqxmo

[@kidlitagentalerts @JamieNovak]

#writingcommunity

[Camus @newstart_2024]

New UK screen time rules just dropped — and they’re stricter than most parents expected.

From 27 March 2026, England says: zero solo screens for under-2s (except quick video calls with family), and max one hour a day for 2–5 year olds — no screens at meals or the hour before bed. Co-view everything, stick to slow-paced content, and ditch fast social-media clips and AI toys completely.

The science is sobering: toddlers’ brains process info up to 10 times slower than adults. Fast-paced screens push them into fight-or-flight mode — racing heart, surging energy — while they’re sitting still. Researchers at the University of East London say this mismatch can wire kids for more tantrums and emotional struggles later. Using screens to calm meltdowns? It often backfires long-term.

As a parent, it’s brutal — we all know that explosion the second you take the tablet away.

But this feels like evidence finally catching up with what our gut has been telling us.

How are you handling screens with little ones — strict limits, co-viewing, or mostly winging it?

[Columbus Library @columbuslibrary]

🚨Your Columbus Book Festival headliners are finally here! All 200+ authors are announced today:

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

In this session, we'll explore what separates a forgettable antagonist from one that lingers long after the last page. You'll learn how to ground your villain in believable motivation, build a backstory that earns reader empathy without excusing harmful behavior, and create confrontations that genuinely threaten your hero's success. We'll look at how the villain-hero relationship works across the kidlit spectrum — and why the best villains in children's literature don't just challenge the protagonist's strength, they challenge their beliefs.
Whether you're writing a picture book bully or a young adult mastermind, you'll leave with practical tools to make your villain as fully human as your hero — and twice as unforgettable. https://t.co/uCUZzqfNjt

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

#KidLit #SCBWI Free event! Join SCBWI CAROLINAS online for a casual coffee shop chat. Brew your favorite cuppa and get comfy while Jewel shares an overview of her time as Chair, including examples of how the criteria is used in practice, what makes titles rise to a level of distinction, and how committee discussions move from preference language to criteria-based evaluation.
This event is free to attend, but registration is required to receive access to the Zoom link and the recorded replay for 30 days following the event. This event is made possible by a grant from SCBWI and the Authors Coalition of America.

[SCBWI Houston @SCBWIHouston]

SCBWI-Houston is hosting Rules, Rebellion, and Picture Book Magic with agent Julie Romeis Sanders on April 23 — an online event about which picture book “rules” matter, when to break them, and what agents/editors are really looking for.

Plus: query opportunity. Register now.

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

Calling #SCBWI @CSOhioSCBWI, @SCBWI_ohionorth
Our next virtual illustration critique will be a joint session with the North Ohio SCBWI illustrators! You don’t need to have something to share to attend. Interested? E-mail OhioCenSouth Illustration Critique Moderator, Olga Smith, at [email protected]

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

Have an idea for a novel but don’t know where to start? Stuck in that messy middle and need a push to get you over the finish line?SCBWI Austin has you covered with a virtual boot camp!
Join the Austin SCBWI chapter online for 5 hours of education: How to Start (and Finish) that Novel! Join editors, agents, and authors to get help on plotting, pantsing, book bibles, young love, openings and endings, and making sure your character drives the plot. Writing a (good) novel takes a lot of work, let these top faculty make it a little smoother. For MG and YA novels.
Optional: query, pitches, critique options with agents/editors!
https://t.co/ZS3htAtR4B

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

SCBWI Maryland/Delaware/West Virginia offers:
Writing an Early/Easy Reader? Let’s Talk Craft
April 23, 2026: Learn the key components of an easy reader in recently published books in this webinar with Lola M. Schaefer. Bring two early readers that have been published in the past 3 years with you to the session to analyze. Learn to create a unique personality that is relevant and relatable for today's 4-7 year olds and find out what makes early readers sweet, sassy, quirky, or hilarious. https://t.co/fHWRVrBAAt

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

From SCBWI Houston:
Rules, Rebellion, and Picture Book Magic with agent Julie Romeis Sanders!
April 23, 2026: Every agent, editor, and writing teacher will share specific “rules” you must follow to sell your manuscript: don't rhyme, don't try to teach a lesson, and never, ever write a story about a kid who won't eat his vegetables. But why do we have these rules? And more importantly, when can you break them? This workshop will help writers better understand what agents and editors are looking for, and what they can do to improve both their storytelling and their chances at getting published. Plus, a little extra mindset support for when writers need some magic.
https://t.co/KLYgKbu7fX

[Carrie Logsdon McCullough @MNZOODDS]

Check out this webinar from SCBWI Oregon:
Level Up with Cindy Baldwin
April 23, 2026 (registration closes April 20): No Plot, Just Vibes - Are you the kind of writer who goes into a story with no idea of what's actually going to happen, but a strong grasp of the vibe you want to capture? Are you a reader who likes to save witchy reads for October and summery reads for July? Have you ever argued with someone about whether every scene in a book really needs to move the action forward, or how much plot a book actually needs? Then this is the class for you! Cindy Baldwin has made my career as a vibes-based writer who also learned to write a strong enough plot to get a book through the publishing gatekeepers. In this class, she'll teach you how to go from "vibe" to "real book."
https://t.co/CZkuNg7mXX