Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is a professional organization specifically for individuals who write, illustrate, and translate for children and young adults.

The organization’s mission is to support the creation and availability of quality children’s books in every region of the world.

Through awards, events, and publications, SCBWI gives new and established writers, illustrators, and translators the tools and resources to publish their books and grow their careers.

SCBWI also serves as a consolidated voice for children’s writers.

Membership

• Membership to SCBWI is open to anyone with a passion for children’s literature, from picture books to young adult novels.
• Aspiring and published writers, illustrators, and translators are welcome, as are librarians, educators, artists, students, dramatists, musicians, filmmakers, and others.
• The first year of membership is US$95. The annual renewal fee is US$80.
• Full-time students may apply for Student Membership. Year one @ US$65.00,  then US$55.00 per year.
• Memberships run for 12 months from the date of joining.

Member Benefits

• Professional Development
  • Conferences and Events — From large international conferences to small, intimate retreats, and workshops around the world, events are a key benefit to SCBWI membership. These gatherings are excellent networking opportunities.
  • Networking and Community — Being a writer, illustrator, or translator can be a lonely profession. When you become an SCBWI member you automatically become part of one of eighty-two SCBWI regional chapters worldwide. Opportunities to network with other members and industry professionals exist at SCBWI regional and national events, or online through our discussion boards and social media platforms.
• Marketing and Promotion
  • SCBWI membership comes with new opportunities to market and promote your work. Whether you’re a published author, illustrator, or translator and need people to find your book so you can create a fan base, or you’re just starting out and need editors, art directors, and agents to see your work, SCBWI will help increase your visibility in the market.
  • Speaker’s Bureau — Traditionally or independently published authors, illustrators, and translators can advertise in our Speaker’s Bureau, an online database used by teachers and librarians to find speakers for school visits.
  • Illustrator Gallery — Illustrators can feature their online portfolios in our Illustrator Gallery, which is visited by art directors and others looking to hire illustrators. Each month we select an illustrator member to feature.
  • Art Spot — Illustrators can also submit their art to the quarterly Art Spot column of the SCBWI Bulletin. The Bulletin is seen by our 26,000 members, including top industry professionals.
  • Recommended Reading List — Traditionally published authors may opt to have their books listed on SCBWI’s Recommended Reading List, which is distributed to independent bookstores and libraries across the country, as well as conferences such as the American Library Association (ALA) and the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE) conferences.
  • SCBWI BookStop — Published authors, illustrators, and translators can promote their books at our online SCBWI BookStop event. Once a year from October through November, members are given the opportunity to create a special sales page on the SCBWI website for a newly published book. SCBWI BookStop pages are available online for six weeks. Visitors can browse, purchase, and enjoy learning about you and your book.
  • Happy Book Birthday — Celebrate and promote your new book the month it is released through our Happy Book Birthday program. On the first Monday of each month, we will display all the books released that month from both Published & Listed (PAL) and independently published members on our Happy Book Birthday page.
• Print and Online Resources
  • The Book — When you become an SCBWI member you have instant access to The Book: The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children. We update The Book throughout the year so that you always have access to the most up-to-date information in the field. The Book is filled with up-to-the-minute market surveys as well as information on maximizing social media, creating book trailers, enhancing your career through school visits, best practices in independent publishing, grassroots promotion, and much more. Members can also order a hard copy of The Book for the cost of printing and shipping.
  • The Bulletin — The SCBWI Bulletin is a quarterly publication containing comprehensive and current information in the field of children’s literature. In addition to features each month, regular departments include the latest market reports, information on school visits, book reviews, art tips, information on contests and awards, information on the illustration market, news of SCBWI members, and information about ongoing SCBWI activities throughout the world. Two hundred and fifty issues of SCBWI’s Bulletin, representing forty-two years of articles and advice, are now archived and easily searchable on the SCBWI website.
  • Insight — SCBWI’s INSIGHT is a monthly digital publication featuring current children’s book news, hot topics, helpful hints, exclusive interviews, and monthly contests. Members receive the SCBWI INSIGHT in their inbox on the first of every month as a supplement to our quarterly Bulletin.
  • Pro-Insider — The PRO-INSIDER is a digital publication for PAL members. This quarterly newsletter is filled with information on building and maintaining a successful career as a professional writer or illustrator. The PRO-INSIDER features articles about contracts, royalties, marketing, school visits, taxes, and everything a professional writer or illustrator might need to know.
  • Podcasts — SCBWI releases regular monthly thirty- to forty-five-minute podcasts, with interviews from leaders in the field of children’s literature—from editors and art directors to authors and illustrators. SCBWI members can download the podcasts for free.
• Resources for Independently Published Authors — SCBWI membership provides authors and author/illustrators access to member-only publications full of information on the business of independent publishing, up to date information on the technical tools used by authors who self-publish, guidebooks on how to self-publish a children’s book, awards & grants to offset the cost of publishing your book, and much more.
• Awards & Grants — SCBWI presents several annual awards to recognize works by SCBWI members that exhibit excellence in writing or illustration, and genuinely appeal to the interests and concerns of children. In addition, SCBWI provides grants and scholarships to encourage continuing excellence in the creation of children’s literature. Grants are awarded throughout the year and provide financial assistance to members to finish works-in-progress, polish portfolios, attend conferences, market published books, and more.
• Discounts — In addition to discounts at SCBWI events and conferences, members of SCBWI also receive discounts for services including Writer’s Digest, Scapple, and Scrivener software licenses, Squarespace, and Publisher’s Weekly subscriptions.