Words from your Houston SCBWI Assistant Regional Advisor | | Eloise & Abigail can't read, but they're celebrating you | | |
Happy end of summer, everyone! Maybe your schedule remains the same as the seasons change, or you're counting down the days until kids return to school, or you're looking at a busier schedule for yourself with the start of a new school year. In any case, I hope you'll carve out some time to focus on your creative work. On my busiest days, I might aim to write at least a sentence or set a timer for a five-minute free write. Even when I'm at home all day, I do some of my best work when I write without stopping for a timed session. That keeps a couple of things out of the way: the internal editor and the temptation to scroll social media. When you're away from home, can you keep your characters with you (like in the passenger seat during your commute), jot down some ideas in a notebook, or scribble a quick illustration?
Read on to find out what events we have coming up, like Monday's Zoom meeting with the stellar author Wendelin van Draanen, book cover webinar with Kaz Windness, socials, online writing & illustration sessions, and more. Our Austin friends have some wonderful events too, both in person and online.
Happy creating!
Lynne Kelly
ARA, SCBWI Houston
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Houston Chapter Critique Group
Where: Online
When: August 4, 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.
Authors and Illustrators are welcome to come to the critique session!
| | | | September's Chapter Meeting | |
Fuel Your Craft
Sign up for our region's many activities below!
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How does Illustrator Sketch Night work on ZOOM? We enjoy a quick visit and share for the first 10-15 minutes and then it is independent work time. I provide an optional drawing prompt in addition to the SCBWI #DrawThis option if you didn't come with a project of your own. When the timer stops, we share our progress! Just think, all the advantages of a group of creatives doing what creatives do, but without the drive in Houston traffic! | | | |
Anyone interested in joining in on a figure drawing session on a Sunday afternoon?
Email me for more information: houston-ic@scbwi.org (low cost and limit of 10 people)
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Houston Liftoff!
With the power of community, we are creating stories and illustrations in just 30 minutes! Join us on August 12th for the next community session. Remember, after the 30 minutes, we open the mics to share.
And maybe one of these stories or illustrations will be added to a Houston Lift-Off anthology.
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Designing & Illustrating Book Covers with Kaz Windess
Interested in creating book covers? Join us for our webinar with award-winning author-illustrator Kaz Windness on September 25th. Member price is only $20, and critiques are available too! Learn the process, nuts and bolts, pitfalls to avoid, how to stand out, and enjoy the process. Whether you're a published or pre-published illustrator, and interested in picture books, early readers, or even middle grade covers, this class is for you.
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The Austin chapter is having a 1-day in-person conference on September 27th.
Some in-person faculty you will see there:
- Mallory Grigg (art director, Macmillan)
- Tracy Shaw (art director, Little Brown)
- Claire Tattersfield (editor, Viking)
- Monica Rodriguez (Agent)
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and plenty of talented local folks
*Many online faculty are listed on the website to provide pitches, critiques, and portfolio reviews: *
Read more and register on Austin SCBWI's page
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The Austin chapter also has an online graphic novel bootcamp coming up on August 9th:
- Crack the Code: Reverse Engineering Graphic Novel with Natascha Morris (Agent Tobias Agency) (Query opportunity available for registrants)
- Getting Graphic: How to choose novel or graphic novel for your manuscript (Includes talk on non-fiction) with Lily Williams (Illustrator)
- The Graphic Novel Creative & Production Process: How It’s Different with Janna Morishima (Agent, Author) (Query opportunity available for registrants)
- The Graphic Novel Marathon: How to Enjoy the Journey, Not Just the Destination. Chrissie Krebs (Author/Illustrator)
Read more and register here for the Graphic Novel Bootcamp
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North Houston Social
The next North Houston social will be on August 23rd at First Cup Coffee. Show up at 9:30am if you'd like to participate in some critique time, or 10am to just hang out and chat with other writers & illustrators
| | | | Keep an eye on our social media for announcements about area socials! | |
A stronger community-together on Discord
This only works if we come together as a community—checking in, sharing ideas, lifting each other up and being lifted up.
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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.
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Make Your SCBWI Experience More Local:
Set Your Home Region
The SCBWI has introduced a new "Home Regions" feature that makes it easier than ever to stay connected to your local community.
Why choose a home region?
– Get updates on local events and opportunities
– Connect with your regional volunteers and help them better serve your area
– Strengthen your connection to the SCBWI community
Follow these simple steps to select your home region and follow others that interest you:
Log in and go to Member Home > My Profile > Edit My Profile. Scroll down the settings and click the arrow beside “Set your home region, and add others you’re interested in.”
| Go to "Member Home" then click "My Awards" to find monthly opportunities! | | Remember to check out webinars hosted by SCBWI regions! See the Regional Virtual Events page to see what's coming up for novelists, picture book writers, illustrators, and more. | | From left to right: Jacob Reynolds, Margaret Lea, Tiffany Obeng, Jennie Smith (above), Sabina Grey was webmaster, now retired (below), Annie Harmon (above) Lynne Kelly (below) Kaye Marc-Charles, and Jim Smolski. Missing: Cheryl McCosh, Sydney Dunlap, Sanyu Ntanda, and Sam Kelty. | |
Stay on top of the latest SCBWI News!
Join the conversation in Discord! 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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News and other information may be passed on without attribution; original artwork and writing are the property of their creators and may be reproduced only with written permission.
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