EVENTS What's On 2021

From goal-setting workshops to Undiscovered Voices masterclasses, there’s something for everyone in SCBWI-BI’s 2021 events line-up.

Events Editor Fran Price takes a look at key dates for your diary over the coming months.

Starting with an event that has already happened (!): Annaliese Avery’s fabulous Goal Setting Workshop on 16th January had rave reviews (that you may have seen on Facebook) — but don’t worry if you missed it, there’s still time to purchase the recording of the event.

Here are the original live event details:

'Let’s push some positivity into 2021! Join Annaliese Avery for a New Year goal-setting session on Zoom. This is a great opportunity to pull something from the mayhem and make this year count. Annaliese will talk you through how she uses a method of big goal setting and planning, mixed with OPTs (Objectives, Projects and Tasks) and a huge chunk of realism.'

Sections included:

Your vision

Developing a vision board

Making time: daily/weekly/monthly

Creating lists

Bring your coloured pens, paper/bullet journal, big thinking and realistic outlook. We’ve so got this covered, 2021. Watch out!

For more info email Debbie Edwards at centraleast@britishscbwi.org or go here. You have access to the recording for one month after buying. 

Annaliese Avery. (Picture credit: Jason Avery.)

At the end of February there’s a treat for middle grade writers:

OH MG! A weekend of Middle Grade, 27-28th Feb, 10am-3:30pm

Two whole days of ‘writerly shenanigans’, with agents, editors, poets and authors including Cressida Cowell, Jasbinder Bilan and Peter Bunzl. And if you can’t attend live? Don’t worry – the recording will be available for two weeks after the event.

For more info, go here.

Peter Bunzl. (Picture credit: peterbunzl.com)

Then on March 5-6th, there’s the SCBWI Industry Insiders’ 1-1 Festival.

If you’re looking for the opportunity to meet UK agents or editors and have them critique your work, then this festival is for you. All online, there will be a live panel discussion with UK agents and editors at 8pm on Friday evening where you will have the chance to ask questions. You’ll also get the opportunity to have a 15 minute 1-1 session with an agent or editor of your choice via Skype, to discuss a sample of your work submitted in advance. 

Davinia Andrew Lynch. (Picture credit: andlyn.co.uk)

To close the festival there’s a Zoom social on Saturday evening, 8-9pm, where you can chat to other writers in small groups. Groups will be mixed up up every 15 minutes, to maximise mingling! Agents and editors confirmed for the 1-1s include Davinia Andrew-Lynch, Lindsey Fraser, Kesia Lupo, Tom Bonnick, Anne Clark, Sallyanne Sweeney, Helen Boyle, Clare Wallace, Christabel McKinley, Josephine Hayes, Bella Pearson, Catherine Pellegrino and Hannah Sheppard.

Paid tickets of £35 include the live panel discussion, a 1-1 session and the social. They are available to SCBWI members only.

Paid bookings will be on a first come, first served basis and will open at 8pm on Wednesday 3rd February, GMT. For more info, go here.

Other events:

Undiscovered Voices 2022 - the biannual anthology competition that has launched many an author’s and illustrator’s career.

* UV has their kick-off event on April 22 

* Masterclasses are running UV submission prep sessions on May 8, 15, 22. 

* Masterclasses are also running a revision workshop on June 19...

* ...and another follow up session on July 24

* YA and Picture Book focus weekends

* Online Agents’ Party for authors and illustrators

* Portfolio Reviews

* Art Directors’ Intensives 

Ashley Taylor, ARA Events, says, 'There will be more added to this list as we get more confirmations, especially later in the year.'

So… keep an eye on the SCBWI-BI website for more info.

*Header image credit: Waldemar Brandt, Unsplash

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If you have a SCBWI event you'd like to publicise, contact Fran Price: events@britishscbwi.org.