To help you get the most out of your SCBWI membership, we have provided the following information about how to get involved in our chapter while taking advantage of our numerous member offerings.
Meet the team!
The Nebraska chapter is led by a team of dedicated volunteers:
Alison Pearce Stevens – Regional Advisor (RA)
Sheli Petersen and Dianna Carda – Co-Illustrator Coordinators (IC)
We also have many other wonderful volunteers who help keep our chapter running, listed on our Volunteer page.
Benefits of Membership in SCBWI Nebraska
SCBWI has many benefits for writers and illustrators from the newest beginner to the published veteran. Below is a quick overview of what the Nebraska chapter offers local members:
Kidlit Tips and Tidbits
New to the Kidlit scene? Finished a manuscript and wondering what to do next? Stop by Kidlit Tips and Tidbits to check out member-exclusive videos to help navigate the next steps. We discuss a variety of topics, from Kidlit basics to Self-Promotion 101.
Shop Talk
These are small, informal gatherings that take place via Zoom on the first Wednesday of the month. Shop Talk allows for the exploration of creative expression, deep discussion, and interaction between members. Topics are focused on improving your craft, the journey of writing and illustrating, learning about the world of kidlit, and honing your individual skills. Shop Talk is open and free of charge to SCBWI members. Check out the calendar and menu on our main page or our Shop Talk page to see what’s coming up.
Regional Meetings
These meetings are an opportunity to interact with the Regional Team and take place via Zoom on the second Sunday of the month. Here you will learn more about SCBWI, upcoming events, news, and opportunities. Regional Meetings are a great way to connect and stay informed. Like Shop Talk, they are open and free of charge to SCBWI members. Check out the calendar on our main page or our Regional Meetings page for more information.
Facebook page and Private Facebook group
SCBWI Nebraska has a Facebook page, and we hope you will follow us! Our chapter also hosts a private Facebook group for members only. Here you can connect with other members, share good news, and keep up-to-date on chapter and industry happenings. To join, visit the Group Page and request to be added. If your Facebook name is different than your membership name (i.e. membership is “Robert” but you use “Bob” for Facebook) please contact our Social Media Coordinator, Tim Hantula, to let him know.
Twitter
Connect with us to stay informed on local and regional gatherings, educational opportunities, member promotional opportunities, and other SCBWI news and events. Follow @SCBWINebraska and send us a message letting us know you are a new member and we’ll follow back. Tag us @SCBWINebraska in your writing or illustration posts and we will share eligible tweets with our followers!
Prairie Song bi-monthly newsletter
Enjoy our online newsletter filled with messages from the regional team, interviews with industry professionals, and so much more. This is a great way to stay informed about goings-on in our region!
PAL benefits
SCBWI recognizes two paths to publication: PAL means “published and listed,” and members can gain PAL status when they publish with one of the traditional publishers listed by SCBWI. PAL status automatically goes into effect when you add your book or magazine story to your SCBWI profile publications list. Self-published authors similarly achieve Full membership status when they add their self- or hybrid-published book to their profiles. Our Published Author & Illustrator Liason, Shelly Nosbisch, works tirelessly to provide outreach, support and opportunities to connect with readers, bookstores, and the reading community. You can connect with her on the Volunteers page.
Events
Our region offers webinars on a variety of topics throughout the year. We also have in-person writers workshops and illustrators intensives to help you hone your craft. SCBWI members enjoy discounted rates on all these events–including those offered by other regions!
Critique Groups
Would you like to improve your craft while spending time with like-minded people? Join a critique group! You can contact Judith Snyder (listed on the Volunteers page) and she will help you find the perfect home.
The Book
Have a draft of a story and don’t know what to do next? Check out The Book (first item under Publications when you log into your SCBWI account) for tons of information for writers and illustrators at all stages of their careers.
E-News
Help us stay connected! Keep an eye out for emails and newsletters. We communicate with our members largely through an email service that pulls from the most up-to-date member information. As long as your membership is active and you haven’t opted out, you should receive these emails. That said, follow the guidelines below to ensure our emails don’t get lost somewhere in cyber-space:
* Make sure the email address listed in your scbwi.org profile is the address you wish to receive our correspondence from, and one that you check regularly. This way you’ll receive updates on events and chapter happenings on a timely basis. Our events can fill up fast, and it’s a bummer to miss out on registration because you missed an email.
* Set your inbox filters to receive email from nebraska@scbwi.org. Otherwise, our emails could go directly to spam or get deleted altogether.
* Keep your membership up-to-date! Your membership is good for a year, but if it lapses you will automatically stop receiving communication from us. Never fear, SCBWI headquarters has made it easy to renew. Visit scbwi.org for more information on renewing.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need any assistance. We’re so happy to have you here, and we look forward to joining you on your writing and/or illustrating path!