FINAL FEATURE Farewell from the editorial team
It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Words & Pictures — not just an online magazine, but a cherished part of our lives. Over the years, this publication has been powered entirely by volunteers, each of whom gave their time, creativity, and dedication to create a vibrant and inspiring resource for our community.
My personal journey with W&P began around Christmas 2021, when I had the honour of taking over the Editor-in-Chief baton from Claire Watts. With a full-time job and two young children, some might have questioned whether I truly had the time to run a weekly magazine. But W&P never felt like a chore or an obligation. It became my sanctuary — a space for creativity, connection, and self-discovery. In many ways, it helped me reconnect with my voice, and yes — in the cheesiest but truest sense — with my soul.
I cannot recommend volunteering and doing what you love enough. It’s not always easy to make time for unpaid work when bills must be paid and life is pulling in all directions. But if you can, do it. Not for your CV. Not to tick a box. Do it for you. For the joy, the growth, the purpose it brings.
Thank you to everyone who read, supported, contributed to, and believed in Words & Pictures. It’s been an incredible ride.
Goodbye — and onwards with love.
Gulfem Wormald
A Note from the SCBWI British Isles Co-RAs (Co-Chairs)
Natascha remembers when the idea of a newsletter was just an idea and Valerie Wilding, one of the three founding members of SCBWI British Isles, won a year’s free membership in the competition to name the newsletter 'Words and Pictures' – not a bad return for three words!
At that time, our region was led by RA, Gloria Hatrick (founder in 1995) and ARA, E. Wein. A handful of members met in London to swap ideas. From, this, the newsletter grew from a photocopied booklet that was posted to members each month. In 2002, a new enthusiastic editor Leila Bouri, transformed the black and white A5 newsletter into a dynamic, thriving quarterly A4 format magazine, with a slick, new look. She too had a vision:
“...to add departments and in-depth interviews in the style of a magazine and, most importantly, to reach out to SCBWI BI members and so create an active community.”
Fast-forward a few years, and many other talented editors continued to grow the vision and reach of the magazine, including Jan Carr, the first editor of the online blog magazine format, suggested by Candy Gourlay and now familiar to today’s readers, followed by Claire Watts and Gulfem Wormald.
With the occurrence of two events: the current editorial leadership team stepping down and the division of the SCBWI British Isles into smaller regions, each with their own individual teams and goals, continuing the magazine is untenable. Therefore, sadly, this will be our final issue.
We are enormously grateful to our friends and colleagues, all the volunteers in big and small roles. We are happy to have had the opportunity to collaborate with you. Thank you also to all our readers around the world – we wish you all the best on your creative journeys and hope you’ll keep in touch!
Co-RAs (Co-Chairs) SCBWI British Isles Region
Natascha Biebow
In 2014, I pitched a blog entitled ‘Ask a Picture Book Editor’, and I asked Ellie Farmer, then Senior Commissioning Editor at Little Tiger, to write it with me. We collaborated for three years, sharing tips about picture book craft and the marketplace. In 2017, I continue on with a quarterly post entitled ‘The Picture Book Storyshaper’.
It has been a lot of fun to dive deeply into picture books, looking at them critically and demystifying the publishing process. Most of all, I’ve enjoyed the accountability of a regular writing commitment (and deadline), which is a discipline in and of itself.
Surprisingly, I never ran out of topics and the insights I gained helped me to be a better editor, coach and mentor and a stronger writer. I hope they’ve inspired other authors and illustrators as well. It’s been a priviledge to be a regular contributor to this amazing magazine and to collaborate as a part of a fantastic team, through which I’ve made many new contacts and friends. Thank you for all the years of fun and camaraderie! I’ve collected all the blog posts here. Keep in touch at hello@bluelephantstoryshaping.com
Claire Watts
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed transforming W&P from a regular blog to a bona fide online weekly magazine first with Ellie Brough and then Az Dassu. Together we built a team of fabulous staff and regular contributors, covering all the multiplicity of SCBWI-BI interests and events. There were definitely moments when it seemed like unrelenting toil, but it was always brilliant and satisfying and it was one of those things that’s very hard to let go of when the time came!
Alison Padley-Woods
As an aspiring children's writer, I volunteered in 2019 to be the Deputy Illustrations Assistant Editor on Words & Pictures. It opened up some wonderful opportunities and I interviewed and commissioned features from some of the most talented children's illustrators and writers in the industry, including Chris Riddell. Talking to him over Zoom and watching him draw was incredibly inspiring. The feature still gets lots of attention, as does a feature I wrote called 'Maps in Children's Fiction' where I interviewed Kiran Millwood Hargrave. Three years ago, I also took on the Social Media Editor role, sending out the weekly newsletter and scheduling posts on social media. This was a bit of a learning curve, finding ways to broaden the reach of our articles and support our members. Along the way, I met and worked with some fantastic professionals in the children's writing world, and of course, the wonderful team on Words & Pictures. It's been a real privilege.
Wendy Threader
'I found working as a sub-editor really interesting and great learning. It was so enjoyable to see the articles and be a part of getting them published though there were some odd typesetting challenges along the way. SCBWI has been a positive part of my life.'
Sub-editing gave me happiness;
With Words and Pictures it was bliss...
So as we move to regions new,
Fond farewells, heartfelt adieu!
Elaine Cline
When I lived in Warwickshire, Julie Fulton told me about SCBW-BI. I moved to Devon and attended an Arvon Writing for Children course in Totleigh Barton where I met Loretta Flockhart, who also mentioned SCBWI-BI. After joining, I went to write-ins, retreats, workshops, conferences, agents parties, crit groups etc. I entered Undiscovered Voices and the Slush Pile Challenge. All of these activities were organised by dedicated and hardworking volunteers. In September 2015, when Chitra Soundar announced she was looking for someone to take over the Slush Pile Challenge, I offered to do it as it was my way of giving to a community that had already helped me improve my craft. In the same month, I met Chitra at Bath Spa University in Corsham and took detailed notes as she explained the role and using Blogger for Words & Pictures. It is as a result of attending many SCBWI-BI events and contributing to Words & Pictures that I’ve found a supportive and inclusive community with the mission to support the creation of quality children’s books.
Nora Racz
I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of the W&P bunch! Being part of W&P meant that I was not only part of a magazine but also part of a community that was specifically for us kidlit people and those interested in all things kidlit. This magazine had always been a great place to share our journeys, ideas, and experiences freely, and to find answers or resources. I wish I could've met with all the fellow behind-the-scenes people whose love and care ensured this great little magazine always stayed afloat, bobbing along with smooth sails.
Cate Haynes
I’ve been a sub-editor for Words and Pictures for almost three years now and have learned so much about what it takes to produce a high quality publication like this. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of this team and would like to thank Tracy, Gulfem - the whole team actually - for being such a pleasure to work alongside. Groups like SCBWI-BI work solely because of the energy, enthusiasm and expertise of their members and I’m looking forward to stepping into a new future with all of you.
David Barker
Over the past few years, I have seen Words & Pictures through many different eyes.
First, simply as an interested reader, getting to read advice, publishing experiences and hear about free-to-enter competitions.
Next as a Slushpile challenge winner (yes, I'm never going to let people forget that!), followed by a lovely one-to-one with an agent.
Then as a sub-editor, learning some new skills and helping (in a small way) to ensure a smooth publication for each issue.
And finally as a contributor - I wrote three articles last year about trilogies in children's fiction, reflecting on my own experiences of writing trilogies as well as the popularity of a three-book series through the ages.
For all these reasons, Words & Pictures has a special place in my heart. Rather than being some remote, highly polished magazine for the very famous, it has always felt very personal and easy to connect with the articles and people featured.
Thank you to all the people over the ages who have contributed to this wonderful publication.
Antony Quinton
I want to thank everyone on the Words and Pictures team for their warm welcome and continued support during my time here, your help was invaluable. I am inspired by all the hard work everyone put into this amazing magazine and I hope our paths will cross again in the future.
I stumbled upon SCBWI early on in my writing journey – it was instrumental in me finding an online and local critique group and through those I made my very first writing friends, who I am still in touch with now.
I loved reading and learning through the articles posted on Words & Pictures and I found the Slushpile Challenge hugely motivating – it was a rare and free opportunity to get my work in front of an agent - thank you Elaine!
When my debut picture book published in 2021, four years
after I started writing seriously, it was SCBWI’s brilliant ‘Bootcamp’ course I
turned to for advice. Finally, I was also awarded a scholarship to attend SCBWI’s
picture book writing retreat at Holland House – an opportunity I couldn’t
afford to pay for which led to an unforgettable weekend, full of joy and inspiration.
Realising I wanted to give something back to the SCBWI community, I looked into volunteering. I was initially daunted but over the moon when I was offered the role of Production Editor, alongside the new editor, Gulfem, and deputy editor, Fran Price. I had experience with Blogger from writing my own book review blog, but I had to get to grips with a lot of new skills. Thankfully, the team were amazing to work with and my skillset grew – from writing articles, to taking over the monthly ‘Celebrations’ feature to finally stepping up to Deputy Editor. I gained so much from working with other volunteers, reading the articles every week and keeping my finger on the pulse of the publishing industry.
Sadly, after starting a full-time job in March 2025 as a
secondary school librarian, whilst also juggling my family commitments and
writing, I was beginning to wonder whether my time at Words & Pictures was
drawing to a close. However, although I came to the decision that I would probably
step away by the end of the year, I am truly sad to see Words & Pictures
come to a close. I will miss the magazine being an integral part of my week and
I hope the SCBWI community will find a way to keep in touch.
Tita Berredo
I joined SCBWI as soon as I finished my Children’s Illustration MA in 2018. I had recently moved to the UK and found a place to keep my energy up and creativity running. Amongst talented, like-minded people, I found a new family, friends, and idols.
I’ve spent the last seven years as a passionate and devoted volunteer — gaining deep knowledge and building lasting connections. I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to give back what was once given to me as a member and volunteer: support, kindness, and friendship. I grew from Glasgow group hostess and W&P Illustration Feature Editor to Illustrator Coordinator of the British Isles and W&P Art Director. I became a part of SCBWI as much as SCBWI has become a part of me.
It’s funny how things work around us. We often think that if we stop working hard for a moment, our lives will grind to a halt and we’ll begin to sink. But the world keeps spinning and bringing us different opportunities. Over the last year, my career suddenly took off, making me increasingly busy — and torn about continuing as a volunteer. Stepping away felt like the wisest choice, but also like giving away part of myself. Now, with W&P coming to an end and my role as IC being dissolved, I feel strangely relieved that the decision was made for me — I don’t think I could’ve made it myself.
I must thank many people for my journey in SCBWI. Maisie Chan, who welcomed me into the Glasgow group; Sarah Broadley, who sparked my volunteering mindset; Claire Watts, who brought me into W&P; and Natascha Biebow, who invited me to take on the Illustrator Coordinator role. And the friends who kept me going along the way… so many, but let’s cheer for Paul Morton and Mike Brownlow, my fellow squires in Conferences, the Picture Book Retreat, and life; and Ell Rose, who has become my best friend. I know Ell wouldn’t say it out loud, but they have been a huge force behind the scenes of this magazine. I’m proud that they started as my protégé and carved out their own space in volunteering, honouring their unique talents.
It’s been an incredible journey that’s taken me to unimaginable places alongside invaluable people. As I take time to focus on my career, I’ll stay deeply connected to everyone who made SCBWI our “Scoobie”. I’m sure new collaborations and opportunities will bring us together again.
And now, for a nerdy farewell, I’ll paraphrase Sigourney Weaver as Lieutenant Ellen Ripley in Alien: “This is Tita, last survivor of Words & Pictures, signing off.”
*Header Image: Tita Berredo
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Sad, sad news to report the end of this era. But what an achievement! What a legacy, and what a wonderful collaboration between dedicated individuals that has made our group the shining light that it has become. I'm going to miss this magazine, this hot spot of creativity and want to thank everyone involved over the years. Take a bow you wonderful people and know that every word was appreciated. I've made friends for life through this children's book family, and thank you Tita Berredo for the name check, together we organised some brilliant events and we will prevail.
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