The Business of Publishing - An SCBWI University Offering

Explore the importance of building a personal brand identity and learn how storytellers can cultivate a recognizable signature and voice. Eddie will share tips and tricks for connecting with audiences and buyers (not necessarily the same group) so that book creators can cultivate an emotionally meaningful and potentially lucrative direct-to-consumer relationship.

What happens when your writing evolves but your publishing path doesn't follow? Whether you're moving from picture books to middle grade, shifting into YA, exploring adult markets, or reconsidering your agent relationship, these transitions can feel both exciting and uncertain. In this candid and strategic session, Serendipity Literary Agent CEO/ literary agent Regina Brooks breaks down how to navigate change with confidence. You’ll learn how genre shifts impact your positioning, submissions, and long-term career trajectory, what agents are really looking for when an author pivots, and how to evaluate whether your current representation still aligns with your goals. Regina will also share practical guidance on how to approach a potential agent change professionally and thoughtfully.

The world of IP work can seem distant or mysterious from the outside. Viana Siniscalchi gently pulls back the curtain on what IP packagers do, how projects move from idea to fully developed package, and where writers fit within that process. She'll discuss how collaboration works in this space, how people typically find their way in, and the qualities that help writers thrive.