SCBWI-CA: NORTH/CENTRAL 2017-2018 SCHOLARSHIPS
General Spring Spirit Conference Scholarship
and
Own Voices Spring Spirit Conference Scholarship
UPDATE:
The winners for the 2017 Scholarships–to attend the 2018 Spring Spirit Conference–are Landon Spencer [General] and Kelley York [Own Voices]. Their manuscripts showed promise and their applications were impressive.
Congratulations, Landon and Kelley!
Although the guidelines below were for 2017 applications, we are leaving it here, as is, as it may provide future applicants with some insight into how the program works. Please note that the 2018 guidelines and prizes may be modified from 2017!! The guidelines below are for you reference only. We will be announcing the 2018-19 program details in April 2018 at the Spring Spirit conference. This webpage will be updated with specifics after that announcement has been made.
THE FOLLOWING 2017-18 CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED/OVER:
The California: North/Central region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is excited to unveil two new scholarship opportunities for our 2018 annual Spring Spirit Conference. One is a General Scholarship open to all members of our region. The other is an Own Voices Scholarship open to all writers and illustrators, age 18 or older, who meet one of the criteria for diversity as defined by We Need Diverse Books. Both published and pre-published writers and illustrators are eligible for both scholarships (valued at over $600 each).
Winners will be chosen based on their personal statement, overall merit/potential as determined by the quality of the work sample submitted, and for the Own Voices Scholarship, how well the work promotes and contributes to diversity in children’s literature.
What does the scholarship include?
Each scholarship, valued at over $600, includes:
– Tuition and lunch for the 2018 Spring Spirit Conference (April or May date TBD)
– Either a conference manuscript OR portfolio critique
– One night’s accommodations at the conference hotel
– $100 grant to use for travel, childcare, or other expenses to make your conference participation
possible
– $50 credit at the conference bookstore
– Exclusive post-conference dinner with faculty and conference volunteers
– One year membership to SCBWI
Which scholarship should I apply for?
· Only members of the SCBWI-CA: North/Central region may apply for the General Scholarship.
· Only members of underrepresented groups who have work featuring characters from the same underrepresented group are eligible for the Own Voices Scholarship. (see below)
· You may only apply for one category.
For the Own Voices Scholarship, what is meant by “diverse/underrepresented groups?”
Writers and illustrators must identify as one or more of the following, AND the main character of the story must also identify as one or more of the following:
-Person of color
-Native American
-LGBTQIA
-Person with a disability
-Marginalized religious or cultural minority in the USA
Please note: the goal is to promote work by authors and/or illustrators representing their own underrepresented group. Both members and non-members are welcome to apply.
If the work does not include a main character, the subject matter must pertain substantially to diverse experiences and content.
You do not have to be a member of SCBWI to apply for this scholarship.
Any Own Voices Scholarship submission that does not meet these requirements will not be read.
How do I apply?
To apply, applicants should provide the following information via email to canorthcentral-ara@scbwi.org and include in the subject line “General Scholarship Application” or “Own Voices Scholarship Application” according to the scholarship being applied for. You may only apply for one.
Submissions will be accepted beginning at 12:01am PST on May 1, 2017 through 11:59pm PST on July 31, 2017. Early/late submissions will not be considered. Submissions that do not follow the directions below will not be considered.
Eligible entrants must complete the following three steps:
1. In the body of your email include the following:
-Full Name (If you are a member, your name should appear as it does on your
membership.)
-Address
-Email Address
-Phone Number
-Whether you are an author, illustrator, or author/illustrator
– Which scholarship you are applying for
–For the Own Voices Scholarship only: diversity with which you identify (this will not be shared with anyone)
2. Personal Statement as a Word Document or PDF attachment:
Name the file with your phone number, and Personal Statement.
Example: 5301234567 Personal Statement
Include the following:
Writers and Illustrators: A personal statement, up to 350-words, double-spaced, about:
· your submitted work
· how the conference will help you reach your publishing goals
· how the grant money will help you attend the conference
· Do not put your name on your personal statement. Include your telephone number in the top left corner—this is your anonymous judging code.
3. One Page Writing/Art Sample as a Word Document, PDF or JPEG attachment:
Name the file with your phone number, and Work Sample
Example: 5301234567 Work Sample
Include the following:
Writers: Submit a ONE PAGE writing sample (approximately the first 300 words) of an unpublished work for children (self-published work is considered published), double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font. Begin the text of your sample near the top of the page and include the title and genre.
Do not put your name on this page. Include your telephone number in the top left corner—this is your anonymous judging code.
Illustrators: Submit a one page promotional or marketing sheet that you might email to an art director– one image or several images on a page that is no larger than 8.5” x 11”. Do not put your name on this page. Include your telephone number in the top left corner—this is your anonymous judging code.
Writer/Illustrators: Include a one-page sample with both your writing and illustration, such as a dummy page or two, that fits on ONE PAGE no larger than 8.5” x 11”. Writer/Illustrators may also choose to submit as a writer only, or as an illustrator only. Do not put your name on this page. Include your telephone number in the top left corner—this is your anonymous judging code.
Don’t forget to send your entry email to canorthcentral-ara@scbwi.org and include in the subject line “General Scholarship Application” or “Own Voices Scholarship Application” according to the scholarship being applied for.
Submission Details and “Fine Print”:
1. You may only apply for one category.
2. Your telephone number links your entry email to the art/manuscript and personal statement sections of your submission. DO NOT put your name on your attachments.
3. Submissions not in exact compliance with the stated rules will be disqualified. No exceptions.
4. Winners will be notified by email no later than November 17, 2017, and will be announced publicly soon after via our regional email blast and social media.
5. Judging will be done by industry professionals, and their decisions are final.
6. Scholarships will be awarded at the discretion of the Regional Team. California North/Central reserves the right not to award a scholarship.
7. Anyone that meets the stated criteria can apply for the Own Voices Spring Spirit Conference Scholarship. You do not have to be an SCBWI member.
8. Only SCBWI-CA: North/Central regional members (not members of other regions) can apply for the General Spring Spirit Conference Scholarship.
9. Scholarships are nontransferable and are for the winning authors/illustrators only.
10. All Scholarship monies and benefits MUST BE USED IN 2018 for Spring Spirit 2018. They may not be applied to 2019, but under special pre-approval by the Regional Team conditions, the winner may apply the scholarship to one other 2018 regional event, as applicable. Any awarded scholarships not used in 2018 will be forfeited.
11. Winners are not obligated to use the entire scholarship amount (for example, they are not obligated to stay at the hotel).
12. Hotel credit is not applicable to any other night at any other hotel–either the Friday or Saturday of Spring Spirit 2018 only.
13. Bookstore credit is a use-or-lose amount. Any total dollar amount under $50 not used will be forfeited (no cash will be refunded). Any bookstore total dollar amount over $50 will be the responsibility of the Scholarship winner.
DEADLINES:
Submissions will be accepted beginning at 12:01am PST on May 1, 2017.
The submission deadline is 11:59pm PST on July 31, 2017.
Winners will be notified by email no later than November 17, 2017.