February 2025

Finding Productivity

Words from your Houston SCBWI Illustrator Coordinator

Frantic in February?


Feeling frantic this frigid February? Fear not my FABULOUS Friends ...your favorite people of SCBWI are here to support you!


I love alliteration as much as I love a good to do list, one I can cross off and feel the success of completing a task!! Do you begin the new year with goals and to-do lists and then somewhere around February you start to think...I gotta get busy?? Hopefully my chickens will inspire you to take action so you don't get caught in the crossfire of chaos!!


This year I got a new critique partner. After meeting at the All Y'all conference and totally hitting it off, we agreed to make a commitment to meet online every two weeks and in person whenever SCBWI has events that allow us to do that. This allows us both ample time for work and life - in addition to the responsibilities we both have as chapter IC. I can honestly say that she keeps me focused and in line. Just knowing I have a scheduled meeting pushes me to make sure I have made progress on some part of that "to-do" list and completed something that contributes to my personal long term goals. Kind of like scheduling a time to go to the gym or going to study hall! We meet, refocus and laugh a bit. Just knowing you are not alone in the climb, it is very comforting! We decide and discuss both short and long term, personal and career goals. Having someone to keep you accountable and on track is game changing. The best part is, when we are finished, I am motivated to sit down to my wonderfully messy, full of supplies and ideas workspace and JUST DO IT!


Keep taking daily steps toward your goals,

Jennie Smith


P.S. Check out my new Illustrator Corner in this month's newsletter!


HOUSTON CHAPTER EVENTS

Critique Groups

About Us

Houston Events

We encourage you to register for all events via our website.

Upcoming Meetings


February's Chapter Meeting

If you would like to learn more about Vicky, read Margaret's blog interview!

Register for February's chapter meeting
Let us know you're coming

Houston Chapter Critique Group


Where: online only

When: February 3, 2025

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM CST

 

What: An informal critique group to meet before most of our chapter meetings.


Details: All written and illustrated works-in-progress intended for the children’s market are welcome.

Please view the group's guidelines prior to attending. Free to all.

Register here for March's meeting!

Fuel Your Craft

Sign up for our region's many activities below!

Want to learn more about Houston Lift-Off?

Join us on Feb 11th online and hear about the details. If you are entering the art contest (mentioned below), enter your art submission with this form no later than 11:59pm CT, Thursday, Feb. 15th, 2025.

Register today!
Click here to register

Register online and we'll see you on Zoom at 6:00 pm!

Let us know you're coming!

Enter your art submission with this form no later than 11:59pm CT, Thursday, Feb. 15th, 2025.

A stronger Community- Together on Discord

Ever wish you could reach out to your SCBWI community? Isn’t that supposed to be one of the biggest benefits of being part of an organization with like-minded creatives? Houston SCBWI has heard the need for a stronger, more active community, and we’re answering with a dedicated server where we can share our joys, frustrations, ideas, and creativity—all in one place.


Have a question? Find the right #channel and let the community help.


Have a piece you are especially proud of and your spouse doesn’t want to hear about it for the hundredth time? We do! Post it in #pitch-me, or #finished-it! We’d love to celebrate with you


Stuck in a plot hole? Jump into one of the genre-specific channels and brainstorm your way out.


Forgot the link to the next chapter meeting? Look at my scribbled red circle. That’s where our chapter events are; jump in and grab the link.


Want to connect one-on-one? Check out the voice channels at the bottom of the list (with video and sharing capabilities like Zoom). Whether it’s for a critique session or just a chat, they’re available for all members to use—except for the Chapter Critique Group channel, which is reserved for chapter events.


This only works if we come together as a communitychecking in, sharing ideas, lifting each other up and being lifted up. Please, join our server and check in and participate in whatever way fits your life: once a day, once a week, or even once a month.

We are Houston SCBWI, watch us Lift Off! 🚀

Space City Scribes Blog

Read the latest interviews here!

FOLK WISDOM & OTHER THOUGHTS


By Jim Smolski


"The smallest ray of sunshine can start a leaf to turn and look with hope. I want to be the sunshine that creates that moment for at least one leaf every day."


-Jim



To Carole

A Place


I'm going to that place,

where I hold you in my heart.

You have been there since we met.

Yes, from the very start.


I traveled and then settled down.

Many people helped me see.

There are so many others,

but you're the one for me.


Sure, ask me if there is a place.

It's not a country, state, or town.

I wanted you to know,

it's you.

So, I wrote it down.



Love,

Jim

Have News? Share It With Us For Our Members Corner Newsletter! (published the 10th of each month)

Submit author & illustrator news for the next newsletter by the 5th of each month via this form. Event submissions for member book launches and signings can be added to our regional calendar! Please be sure to include the date, time, and location.


The annual SCBWI winter virtual conference is coming up on February 21st! Read more about the winter conference and register HERE.


As always, you can find more webinars by checking out SCBWI's

 Regional Events page.

SCBWI Awards & Grants

Go to "Member Home" then click "My Awards" to find monthly opportunities!

Our Volunteers

Regional Team

Co-Regional Advisor:

Kaye Marc-Charles

Co-Regional Advisor:

Annie Roi Harmon

Asst. Regional Advisor:

Lynne Kelly

Illustrators Coordinator:

Jennie Smith

Regional Advisor Emeritus:

Vicki Sansum


Chapter Volunteers

General Webmaster

Sabina Grey

Newsletter Editor

OPEN!

Critique Group Coordinator: *NEW*

Jacob Reynolds

1 OPENING

Newsletter Column Writer: 

Jim Smolski

Kidlit Correspondents

Margaret Lea

1 Pending!

New Membership Coordinator

OPEN!

Programming Chair:

Cheryl McCosh

Local Event POD Coordinators: *NEW*

OPENINGS!

PAL Coordinator

Sydney Dunlap

Self-Pub Coordinator *NEW*

Tiffany Obeng

Social Media Crew *NEW*

Jennifer Barrera

1 OPENING 


OPEN Volunteer Positions

We want to create a chapter that is more involved, engaged, and active, and we need your help to do it!


Click here to apply.

Stay on top of the latest SCBWI News!

Join the conversation on dis! Sign up here! 


Newsletter Tip: Be aware of message clipping! To make sure you're getting the full newsletter, by looking for this message at the bottom of the email:

"[Message clipped]  View entire message"


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