Learning All About Writing Is Kids’ Stuff at These Seminars : Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators will hold three sessions for those who want to write for youngsters.

Part of the writing business is attending classes, seminars and conferences to help hone skills and develop contacts. Consider the following opportunities:

The Ventura/Santa Barbara Region of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators will host three seminars to help people who write, or want to write, books for children. Members will share their expertise on how to connect with other writers and form critique groups. Participants can bring manuscripts (up to 10 pages) to be critiqued in small group sessions.

The workshops will meet on Sundays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The first is scheduled Jan. 8 in the Simi Valley Library Community Room, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road; on Jan. 15 in the Faulkner Gallery of the Santa Barbara Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu St., and on Feb. 5 at Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura.

The sessions are free. Reservations are required. For further details, call Alexis O’Neill at 581-1906, or write to the group at 1001 Hillview Lane, Simi Valley, 93065.

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Katherine Ann Jones, writer/actress and teacher of advanced screenwriting at the USC Graduate Film School, will conduct an intensive weekend workshop on Writing the Screenplay from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Jan. 14-15, at the Ojai Art Center, 113 S. Montgomery St., Ojai. Aimed at both beginning and advanced writers, the workshop will focus on how to choose a good story, how to structure plot, develop characters, create dialogue and sell a screenplay.

The class, which is sponsored by the Ojai Film Society, is limited to 20 participants. Cost is $125 before Sunday and $150 afterward. Contact Steve Grumette at 649-4000 any Saturday through Monday, or call the Film Society office at 646-8946.

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The Friendly Book Discussion Group sponsored by Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library will discuss “Native Son” by Richard Wright. Ruth Smith will lead the group, which meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Goebel Senior Center, located next door to the library, 1401 E. Janss Road.

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Be it resolved that the good people who write press releases in 1995 will include information--like addresses. Please don’t assume that everybody knows the location of the library, mall, restaurant, community house or theater where your events take place. Y’all have a swell New Year.