The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators

The professional organization for writers and illustrators of children’s books.

The SCBWI is an international organization for sharing ideas and information between professionals in this field. SCBWI was formed in 1971 by a handful of Los Angeles based writers for children. Currently, there are more than 19,000 members worldwide, in over 70 regions, making it the largest children’s writing organization in the world. It offers a variety of services to people who write, illustrate, or share a vital interest in children’s literature.

SCBWI acts as a network for the exchange of knowledge between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers and others involved with literature for young people. Membership is open to published and non-published individuals. Numerous SCBWI conferences each year provide a wealth of knowledge to writers and illustrators at all levels in their careers. I highly recommend involvement with SCBWI as your first step toward a career in children’s literature.

The Southern Breeze region of the SCBWI includes Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. This is the region that I have belonged to since its foundation in 1992. I currently serve as a Co-Regional Advisor for the region.

For more information on the international SCBWI, visit their website at www.scbwi.org. Another Website you might find interesting is the New Jersey SCBWI region page. It describes in some detail what the SCBWI is and what it is not.