'Lockdown is not conducive to creativity, and I know many of our fellow writers, illustrators and other creative colleagues are struggling with their mental health at this time. I am too. I’ve suffered from chronic depression and anxiety all my life, and this situation we are all in isn’t helping, what with the financial uncertainty, the news bombarding us with scary information every ten minutes, and all the other worries about our livelihoods and our futures too. So here are ten coping tips I use regularly.' Keep reading...

If you are in need of financial support do look at our Emergency Authors' Fund and our other grants. You can also apply to the Arts Council England, Wales, Creative Scotland or Northern Ireland if you need support.

CWIG Reading for Pleasure Award

Loved a recent school visit? We are now taking your 2020/21 commendations!

Any CWIG member can give up to three awards each year to any UK or international educational establishment (for under 18s) that shows excellence. Members must have visited (either physically or online) over the eligibility period September 2020-July 2021. There is no limitation on the number of awards one school can receive.

The deadline is 13 August 2021 (but there is an additional extension of four months for those authors whose appointments fall in the summer term).

There is no financial award – schools will receive a signed certificate from SoA President Philip Pullman (English and Welsh where applicable), window transfers, and a letter of commendation.

Pictured left: School pupils and librarian with author Kevin Brooke on a school visit.

Check out our awards archive here. And remember, if a school is working hard to encourage reading for pleasure – whether nursery, primary, secondary, public, special or international – reward them!

 Read more here

We have a lively CWIG Facebook Discussion Group which, as it is a private group, you have to apply to join via it's Facebook page.

Please remember that you are not simply expressing opinions to friends on social media – you are publishing (whether original posts or retweeting others) to a wide audience. What you may see as activism could be deemed to be harassment. Your posts libellous or defamatory.

As an organisation we celebrate the right of freedom of expression and are against censorship. There will be times when members disagree and we urge that views ought to be debated with respect. On all SoA platforms individuals (whether members or not) are expected to abide by these rules. As such we co-wrote and are signatory to the Professional Behaviour in Bookselling and Publishing alongside the PA, BA and AAA and we have our own Dignity and Respect Guidelines that we expect our members to adhere to when attending SoA meetings, socials and events or posting on our social media platforms.

Society of Authors staff are your professional representatives. We cannot intervene in disputes of opinion between authors, but will always endeavour to give an unbiased view of any professional business matter.

The following resources are available if you are currently affected by any matter or would appreciate further guidance: Libel and defamation – we have a Quick Guide available for free to members. Please email the office for a copy; Keren David’s blog of the CWIG conference 2019 ‘So You’ve been Shamed’ event and publicist Fritha Lindqvist’s take-homes; lawyer David Hooper on Handling the Trolls.

Want to get the bi-monthly CWIG newsletter?

February's issue is here and features: Dawn Finch on our new terms and conditions for school visits; Jill Coleman on Booktrust; and Lionel Bender on working with children's book packagers.

May's issue is here and features: Dawn Finch on the All Party Writers Group and their report on supporting writers through Covid; Miranda McKearney on Empathy Day; and Joyce Dunbar on touring Holland. 

The next newsletter will go out in July - contact Jo McCrum if you would like to subscribe or would like to share your news.

Events with Jamila Gavin, SF Said, Alex Wheatle and Samantha Williams will be held this July and we return in September with a celebration week (20-24 September) featuring Steve Antony, A M Dassu, Juno Dawson, Dawn Finch,  Liz Kessler, Alex Wheatle, Dame Jacqueline Wilson and many more! 

Please contact Jo McCrum if you would like to offer an event for 2021/2 or have any ideas/topics that you would like the Children's Writers and Illustrators Group (CWIG) to address.

All scheduled events are listed on the events page - search with the 'CWIG' tag to identify them.

Please be aware that we only send email flyers for our group events – do remember to let us know if your email address changes. 

2020 AGM 

The 2020 AGM was postponed and held on 6 February 2021. Read the 2020 AGM report.

CWIG committee.

Applications for the 2022 CWIG committee vacancies should be sent to Jo McCrum by 1 June 2021. Nominations should include a high quality colour head-shot, a 150-word biography, a short statement of intent and the written support of three CWIG members.

Feel free to get in touch if you have any queries – we are happy to discuss the role and responsibilities before you apply.