For Picture Books through Young Adult Books
the Big Sur Children's Writers Workshop
Since 1997, Andrea Brown has been running the Big Sur Children's Writers Workshop on the Central California coast every winter, with occasional offshoot conference locations. She has brought in outstanding editors from the top publishing houses, both large and small, and successful authors to make up an experienced and giving faculty. This workshop has an excellent faculty-to-attendee ratio and is a weekend that provides ample opportunities for faculty/attendee interactions, both formal and informal. It has been the source of many successful author/agent relationships and many publishing deals, including one for more than half a million dollars.
These workshops are designed for serious writers of children's books, from Picture Books through Young Adult, whose works are nearly ready for publication. Therefore, to be accepted for a workshop, writers are required to submit a sample of their writing. Hands-on editorial work is the focus of these workshops, and there are breakout sessions on various important aspects of the publishing industry. Faculty and attendees take all meals together and socialize in an intimate and inspirational setting. Important alliances have come out of these workshops—many successful publishing deals, lasting writer/agent relationships, ongoing critique groups, and industry friendships and connections.
The Big Sur Children's Writers Workshop is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference without a refund at the discretion of the conference organizers. Click here for our full anti-harassment policy.
2026 Monterey Workshop Information
February 20-22, 2026
FACULTY EDITORS:
Courtney Code, Senior Editor, Abrams
Summer Dawn Laurie, Editor-at-Large, Blue Dot Press
Meriam Metoui, Associate Editor, PRH/Viking
Sylvie Frank, Senior Executive Editor, PRH/Flamingo Books
FACULTY AUTHORS:
Eric J. Adams
Jody Carr
Eric Elfman
Deborah Halverson
Isabella Kung
Kirsten W. Larson
Stephanie Lucianovic
Tim McCanna
Mitali Perkins
Dev Petty
Victoria Piontek
Mae Respicio
Lisa Riddiough
Tamara Ireland Stone
Aiden Thomas
FACULTY AGENTS:
Andrea Brown
Analía Cabello
Jemiscoe Chambers-Black
Saritza Hernández
Sally Kim
Jennifer Laughran
Kathleen Rushall
Jennifer March Soloway
Kelly Sonnack
Paige Terlip
Caryn Wiseman
Scholarship submissions open Sept 12-Oct 31, 2025
You can also find our agents at these writing workshops:
Additionally, we present at many SCBWI regional conferences and events and guest lecture at various writing programs at colleges and universities.
Asilomar
Backspace Writers Conference
Book Passage Children's Book Writing Conference
California State University Summer Arts Festival
Cuesta College Writer's Conference
Hilton Head Writers' Conference
Jack London Writers' Conference
Maui Writers Conference
Pacific Northwest Writer's Conference
Palm Springs Writers Conference
Pikes Peak Writers Conference
San Diego State University Writers' Conference
San Francisco Writers' Conference
SCBWI Conferences (National, International & Regional)
Southwest Writers Conference
Southwest Writers' Conference in Tucson, AZ
Singapore Children's Book Conference
Surrey International Writers Conference
Texas Writer's League
The Virginia Festival of the Book
UCLA
Willamette Writers Conference