This KidLit Events listing focuses on webinars, courses, and conferences that are accessible for a majority of people. Most are online, but I have included larger in-person events. I update this list continually, so please let me know if I am missing or incorrect information.
JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT CATEGORIES
Webinar: a single session class online
* Cities noted refer to location of in-person events.
Online Course: multiple-session class online
Online Program: longer-term or ongoing programs
Conference: multiple courses within a single event
Contest: submission opportunity where winner(s) are selected
Pitch Event: opportunity to pitch projects to editors/agents
Challenge: timed event set to accomplish a certain project(s).
MAY 2023
(1-30) MERMAY CONTEST
Contest: https://www.mermay.com/contest
(31) CRASH COURSE IN CHILDREN’S BOOK PUBLISHING: ILLUSTRATOR’S EDITION
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(31) SCBWI GRAPHIC NOVEL AWARD DEADLINE
www.scbwi.org
(31) SCBWI NOVEL-IN-VERSE AWARD DEADLINE
www.scbwi.org
(31) PICTURE BOOKS with Kaitlyn Sanchez
Online Course: https://app.inkedvoices.com
(31) FULL STEAM AHEAD: A CONVERSATION ABOUT NF PICTURE BOOKS
Webinar: https://oregon.scbwi.org
JUNE 2023
(1) #JOYPIT
Pitch Party: https://joypitch.wordpress.com
(1) #KIDLITPIT
Pitch Party: https://twitter.com/kidlitpit
(1) DISABILITY DISPATCH: DISABLED AUTHORS SPEAK THEIR TRUTHS
Webinar: www.scbwi.org
(1-25) MIDDLE GRADE FIRST PAGES with Alyssa Henkin
Online Course: https://app.inkedvoices.com
(1-30) THE WALTER GRANTS SUBMISSION WINDOW
Grant Award: https://diversebooks.org
(2) CONVERSATION WITH DEEBA ZARGARPUR
Webinar: https://app.inkedvoices.com
(2-5) WRITING THE RAINBOW FOR PICTURE BOOK STORYTELLERS
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(3) WORK FOR HIRE: A TEACHER’S JOURNEY AS A FREELANCE WRITER
Webinar: https://arizona.scbwi.org
(3) WHERE LESS IS MORE
Webinar: https://mddewv.scbwi.org
(3) CREATE A PLOT POINTS ROADMAP
Webinar: https://thewritingbarn.com
(4) BALANCING ARTISTIC LICENSE AND SCIENTIFIC REPRESENTATION IN KIDLIT
Webinar: https://thewritingbarn.com
(4) PICTURE BOOK POWER HOUR
Webinar: https://jamierodarte.com
(4-7) AN INTERSECTIONAL LENS: AWARENESS & ACTION IN KIDS’ BOOKS
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(5-9) KIDLIT SUMMER CAMP
Online Event: https://solutionsforwriters.com
(6) POWERFUL PORTFOLIOS
Webinar: https://epa.scbwi.org
(6) CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITING
Online Course: https://wp.writingclasses.com
(6-8) FROM PENCIL OR PAINT TO PIXEL
Online Workshop: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(7) CRAFTING THE CHAPTER BOOK
Online Course: https://thewritingbarn.com
(7) YA FICTION FIRST PAGES with Jemiscoe Chambers-Black
Online Course: https://app.inkedvoices.com
(7) PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT BEYOND PICTURE BOOKS
Webinar: https://westcentny.scbwi.org
(7-11) RETREAT FOR EXPERIENCED WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(8) REIMAGINING YOUR NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK with Kirsten Larson
Online Course: https://thewritingbarn.com
(8) YOUR BOOK IN THE WORLD with Megan E Freeman
Webinar: https://rmc.scbwi.org
(8) BEING A BEGINNING AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR
Webinar: www.scbwi.org
(10) RHYTHMS AND TRUTH: WRITING RHYMING NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS
Webinar: https://thewritingbarn.com
(10) 5-MINUTE AGENT/EDITOR PITCH SESSION
Webinar: https://wwa.scbwi.org
(10) DIGGING DEEPER: DEMYSTIFYING THE ACQUISITIONS PROCESS
Webinar: https://canadaeast.scbwi.org
(11) CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITING
Online Course: https://wp.writingclasses.com
(12) CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITING
Online Course: https://wp.writingclasses.com
(12) MIDDLE GRADE SUMMER WORKSHOP
Online Course: https://app.inkedvoices.com
(12-14) PICTURE BOOK BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(13) THE BUSINESS OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Webinar: https://midatlantic.scbwi.org
(13) JEWISH HUMOR: PICTURE BOOKS & MIDDLE GRADE
Webinar: https://israel.scbwi.org/
(14) UNTIE THE TROPES: WRITE IN-DEPTH YA PROTAGONISTS
Online Course: https://writers.com
(14) NONFICTION MASTERCLASS with Sarah Albee
Webinar: www.thewritersloft.org
(15) A WHOLE NOVEL HISTORICAL for Historical Novelists
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(15) LITTLE BROWN EMERGING ARTIST AWARD Deadline
Contest: www.lbartistaward.com
(15) PORTFOLIO REVIEW with Ethan and Heather Long
Webinar: https://nebraska.scbwi.org
(15) FIRST PAGES AND HOW TO MAKE THEM SHINE
Webinar: www.scbwi.org
(15) #PBPITCH
Twitter Pitch Party: http://pbpitch.weebly.com
(17) FINDING THE STORY BENEATH THE STORY: MEMOIR & CREATIVE NONFICTION
Austin, TX: https://thewritingbarn.com
(17) CRAFT READING FOR WRITERS
Webinar: https://thewritingbarn.com
(19) ADVANCED PICTURE BOOKS with Feather FLores
Online Course: https://app.inkedvoices.com
(20) MY PROCESS SHOP TALKS with Polly Alice McCann (Work-For-Hire)
Webinar: https://ksmo.scbwi.org
(20) PICTURE BOOKS: EMOTIONAL NONFICTION
Webinar: https://easternny.scbwi.org/
(21) CRAFTING THE POETRY NOVEL FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Online Course: https://writers.com
(21-25) WRITING FOR THE EDUCATIONAL MARKET
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(22) SPANISH LANGUAGE WEBINAR (TITLE TBD)
Webinar: www.scbwi.org
(24) KIDLIT 101
Webinar: https://thewritingbarn.com
(24) MASTER SKILLS WORKSHOP with Patti Gauch and Gary Schmidt
Online Course: www.whalerockworkshops.com
(25) SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ANTHOLOGIST?
Webinar: https://thewritingbarn.com
(29) WRITING THROUGH TOUGH TOPICS
Webinar: www.scbwi.org
(30) WRITE NOW! VIRTUAL RETREAT
Online Retreat: www.whalerockworkshops.com
(30) SCBWI EMERGING VOICES AWARD DEADLINE
www.scbwi.org
JULY 2023
(2) PICTURE BOOK POWER HOUR
Webinar: https://jamierodarte.com
(7-8) CAROLINAS WRITING WORKSHOP
Online Conference: https://carolinawritingworkshops.com/
(7-11) SUMMER CAMP IN FICTION
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(10) DEADLINE FOR AAAS/SUBARU PRIZE FOR SCIENCE BOOKS
Award Deadline: www.sbfprize.org
(12-15) SUMMER CAMP IN ILLUSTRATION
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(15-16) NONFICTION CONFAB
Online Event: https://thewritingbarn.com/
(16-20) SUMMER CAMP IN NONFICTION
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(17) MAKING THE JUMP FROM AUTHOR TO ILLUSTRATING
Online Course: https://thewritingbarn.com/
(18) TRUE STORY: TEEN CREATIVE NONFICTION
Online Class: www.writingclasses.com
(18) WRITING NARRATIVELY ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD with Candace Fleming
Online Course: https://thewritingbarn.com
(18-20) PICTURE BOOK ESSENTIALS
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(19) PICTURE BOOK INTENSIVE
Webinar: https://thewritingbarn.com/
(19) WRITE YOUR PICTURE BOOK
Online Course: https://writers.com
(23) A HISTORICAL LOOK AT PBS THAT SMASHES GENDER STEREOTYPES
Webinar: https://thewritingbarn.com/
(27) YA FICTION FIRST PAGES with Stephanie Stein
Online Course: https://app.inkedvoices.com
(31) SCBWI BIPOC ILLUSTRATOR AWARD DEADLINE
www.scbwi.org
AUGUST 2023
(1) UNBOUND: TEEN CREATIVE WRITING
Online Class: www.writingclasses.com
(1-31) PICTURE BOOKS with Adria Goetz
Online Course: https://app.inkedvoices.com
(3-27) MG FICTION FIRST PAGES with Alison Weiss
Online Course: https://app.inkedvoices.com
(4-6) SCBWI VIRTUAL SUMMER CONFERENCE
Online Event: www.scbwi.org
(6) PICTURE BOOK POWER HOUR
Webinar: https://jamierodarte.com
(6) CANVA FOR AUTHORS
Webinar: https://thewritingbarn.com
(6-13) AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGAGING KIDS WITH PODCASTS
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(7) PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHIES with Rob Sanders
Online Course: https://thewritingbarn.com
(12) THE ECONOMICS OF REVISION
Webinar: https://thewritingbarn.com
(12-16) WRITING & ILLUSTRATING SCIENCE & NATURE FOR KIDS & TEENS
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(14) YA SUMMER/FALL WORKSHOP
Online Course: https://app.inkedvoices.com
(15) FROM IDEA & SKETCH TO DUMMY & SUBMISSION FOR AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATORS
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(15) STARTING WITH HEART
Webinar: https://midatlantic.scbwi.org
(16) PERFECTING THE PICTURE BOOK
Online Course: https://thewritingbarn.com
(17-22) WHOLE NOVEL WORKSHOP
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(24) SHAPE YOUR STORY: NOVEL INTENSIVE
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(27) LINE EDITING YOUR MG OR YA NOVEL
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(27-30) SUMMER CAMP FOR WRITERS & ILLUSTRATORS OF JEWISH PICTURE BOOKS
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
SEPTEMBER 2023
(1) WHALE ROCK FALL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
www.whalerockworkshops.com
(3) PICTURE BOOK POWER HOUR
Webinar: https://jamierodarte.com
(6) MIDDLE GRADE WORKSHOP
Online Course: https://app.inkedvoices.com
(9) WRITING BIOS AND OTHER TRUE STORIES FOR KIDS
Webinar: https://indiana.scbwi.org
(9) DRAFTING YOUR MIDDLE GRADE: 3 DECISIONS BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Webinar: https://thewritingbarn.com
(17) CRAFTING THE HISTORICAL VERSE NOVEL
Webinar: https://thewritingbarn.com
(20) JUST DO IT! COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT FOR FINISHING YOUR DRAFT
Online Program: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(23) WRITE. SUBMIT. SUPPORT. FOR NONFICTION
Online Course: https://thewritingbarn.com
(23) WRITE. SUBMIT. SUPPORT. FOR NOVELISTS
Online Course: https://thewritingbarn.com
(27) LINE EDITING YOUR MG OR YA NOVEL
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(27) HOW TO WRITE & PITCH A MG SERIES
Webinar: www.whalerockworkshops.com
(28-O1) NATIVE CREATIVES RETREAT
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(30) SCBWI NARRATIVE ART AWARD DEADLINE
www.scbwi.org
OCTOBER 2023
(1) PICTURE BOOK POWER HOUR
Webinar: https://jamierodarte.com
(1-4) MIDDLE GRADE WRITERS RETREAT
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(4) CRASH COURSE IN CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(4) REVISING YOUR NOVEL IN VERSE
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(4-7) WRITING FOR BEGINNING READERS (CHAPTER BOOKS & EARLY READERS)
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(5) PUZZLING OUT YOUR PICTURE BOOK
Webinar: https://kidlithive.com
(7) PICTURE BOOK SUMMIT
Online Event: https://picturebooksummit.com
(11) LINE EDITING YOUR MG OR YA NOVEL
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(12) FROM SCRIPTS TO PANELS: INTRO TO GRAPHIC NOVELS
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(14) PITCH LIKE A PRO
Webinar: https://indiana.scbwi.org
(19) FRACTURING FAIRY TALES (AND PUTTING THEM BACK TOGETHER)
Webinar: https://kidlithive.com
(23-26) MAKING MAGIC: WRITING AND REFINING FANTASTICAL AND OTHERWORLDLY STORIES
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(25) HOW TO WRITE A MG NONFICTION PROPOSAL
Webinar: www.whalerockworkshops.com
(26) BECOMING A NONFICTION WRITER (3-Part Series)
Online Course: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(28-N1) CRAFT & HEART OF WRITING POETRY FOR CHILDREN
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
NOVEMBER 2023
(1-30) NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH
Challenge: https://nanowrimo.org
(2-5) LATINX VOICES RETREAT
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(5) PICTURE BOOK POWER HOUR
Webinar: https://jamierodarte.com
(5-10) WHOLE NOVEL WORKSHOP RETREAT
Milanville, PA: www.highlightsfoundation.org
(11) AGENT/EDITOR SPECTACULAR
Webinar: https://indiana.scbwi.org
(16) DRAWING BOOK JACKETS WITH HAND DRAWN LETTERING
Webinar: https://kidlithive.com
(30) SCBWI NON-TRADITIONAL BOOK AWARD DEADLINE
www.scbwi.org
DECEMBER 2023
(3) PICTURE BOOK POWER HOUR
Webinar: https://jamierodarte.com
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CAROLYN BENNETT FRAISER 