Become a member

Membership in the SCBWI is open to anyone with an active interest in children’s literature or media. We welcome aspiring and published writers and illustrators, librarians, educators, artists, students, dramatists, musicians, filmmakers, and others. A passion for children’s literature is our #1 criterion.


P.A.L. Membership
P.A.L. stands for "Published and Listed. This level of membership is open to those whose books, articles, poems, stories, illustrations, photographs, films, television or electronic media for children have been commercially published by one of the organizations listed in the SCBWI Market Surveys. P.A.L. members may have a speaker's listing in the "Find A Speaker" area of the site. They are also able to sell books at certain regional events where such sales are organized and sponsored by the regional chapter.

Full Membership

Open to those whose books, articles, poems, stories, illustrations, photographs, films, television or electronic media for children have been published or produced.

Associate Membership
Open to unpublished writers and illustrators of children’s literature or media, and those with a general enthusiasm for the field. Writers or illustrators who have been published in markets other than children's literature (but not in children's literature), as well as journalists, bloggers, educators, teachers and librarians would be considered Associate Members.