Do you have a completed manuscript or portfolio that needs help with revision? If yes, then do not miss out on our new mentorship program. For a six-month period, writers and illustrators can work one-on-one with a published author to analyze and revise their manuscript or portfolio. Here’s how to apply!
Key information
Eligibility: This program is open to SCBWI members.
Tuition: $700.00 covers six months of one-on-one work with a published author. Two diversity scholarships will be awarded.
Deadline for Application: July 30, 2019
Program Timeline
Here is the tentative timeline for the year-long program:
May 2019 – July 30, 2019 – Application period
August 2019 – September 2019 – Applications review and selection
October 2019– Mentees announced and mentorship begins
May 2020 – Mentorship concludes, Mentorship Reception
Application Materials
If you would like to apply for a mentorship, please read the instructions below. Your application must be complete to be considered. All applications must include all the required materials listed below:
A. A cover letter with the following information (not exceeding 250 words): Your experience with critique groups, paid critiques, how long you’ve been working on this project, and any other relevant information that concerns your project.
B. Category Expectations: Indicate the genre of your project. Is it Middle grade or Young Adult? Is it non-fiction, a picture book, or a portfolio that needs finessing?
C. Your work. The work you submit depends on the category (above).
If it’s Middle Grade or YA: Include a one-page pitch or synopsis and 20 standard double-spaced manuscript pages of one completed, polished work of up to 50,000 words. For longer manuscripts, applicants can provide a synopsis of remaining chapters after the 50,000-word limit.
If it’s Nonfiction: If you intend to work on a new manuscript, include a bibliography plus either one full standard double-spaced manuscript of up to 1500 words you intend to work on. If it’s a manuscript that will be more than 1500 words, include the first two chapters plus an
overview and outline.
If your genre is Picture Book Text or Picture Book Text plus Illustration: Include up to two full standard double-spaced manuscripts of up to 1000 words or dummies.
If your project is an Illustration Portfolio: Include up to two illustration portfolios plus a one-page letter about your story and your vision for it.
D: Identifying information: Your name must NOT appear on any page of the manuscript, synopsis, or portfolio. Your name and contact information should only be located in your email. Please mention which category you are applying to.
E: Format: Send your application materials as a Word document or RTF document, or a PDF for dummies/illustrations.
G: Where to send the application: Applications should be sent via email to wwa@scbwi.org with Mentorship Application in the subject line.
H: Scholarship information: If you’d like to apply for one of two inclusivity scholarships, please see the information below.
I: Costs: There is no cost to apply. If you are selected to be part of this mentorship program, you are expected to pay a tuition of $700. If you are awarded a scholarship, this scholarship will cover your $700 tuition.
I: Deadline: Remember, the application deadline is July 30, 2019.
Inclusivity Scholarship Information
One of the missions of our program is to make the mentorship opportunity as accessible as possible. We believe that encouraging deserving writers of all backgrounds can be powerful and life-changing. Please review our scholarship guidelines below and send us the required materials along with your application.
We are pleased to offer two scholarship opportunities this year. Two successful applicants will receive a full scholarship for the mentorship program, valued at $700.00.
Who qualifies for our inclusivity scholarship? Our chapter recognizes all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIAP+, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities.
How to apply for the scholarship: To be considered for the inclusivity scholarship, please state on your application the intention that you’re applying for a diversity scholarship. Also submit an additional one-page artist statement with your application describing:
a) Within what areas of diversity do you identify?
b) How does your work identify as diverse?
c) Where do you see yourself after completing the mentorship program?
d) Tell us about some of the ways your love of diverse kids’ books is part of your everyday life.
Questions for applicants to the SCBWA-WWA Mentorship Diversity Scholarship.
The inclusivity scholarships, if awarded, will be based on a combination of the work submitted and the artist statement. If the scholarship recipients are selected, the winners will be announced in September 2019, and they will receive a full scholarship for the mentorship program, valued at $700.00 Eligibility Criteria: Eligibility is subject to review by the SCBWI WWA Mentorship Program Committee.
Applicant must identify as coming from a diverse background as one or more of the following:
a) LGBTQIAP+
b) person of color
c) person with a disability
d) ethnic, cultural, or religious minority in the United States.Applicant must be a member of SCBWI to apply for the scholarship.
Criteria for applicants for SCBWI-WWA Mentorship Inclusivity Scholarship
Mentors and Their Genres
This year, the mentorship is proud to present an awesome lineup of mentors. These writers and illustrators not only are masters of their craft but are also wonderful teachers. For more information, please see the separate article in this blog that includes their bios and photos. A list of their names and genres is below:
Lois Brandt — Genre: Picture Book Text
Peggy King Anderson — Genre: Picture Book Text
Rae McDonald — Genre: Picture Book Text
Rebecca Van Slyke — Genre: Picture Book Text
Brianna Caplan Sayres — Genre: Picture Book Text
Terri Cohlene — Genre: Picture Book Text
Kevan Atteberry — Genre: Illustration Portfolio
Amy Hevron — Genre: Illustration Portfolio
Jing Jing Tsong — Genre: Illustration Portfolio
Wendy Wahman — Genre: Illustration Portfolio
Jo Gershman — Genre: Illustration Portfolio
Suzanne Kaufman — Genre: Illustration Portfolio
Curtis Manley — Genre: Nonfiction
Mary Boone — Genre: Nonfiction
Ailynn Collins — Genre: Middle Grade
Sundee Frazier — Genre: Middle Grade
Suzanne Selfors — Genre: Middle Grade
Kim Baker — Genre: Middle Grade
Kirby Larson — Genre: Middle Grade
Kristin Halbrook — Genre: Middle Grade
Mark Maciejewski — Genre: Middle Grade
Dan Gemeinhart — Genre: Middle Grade
Kevin Emerson — Genre: Young Adult
Kelly Jones — Genre: Young Adult
J Anderson Coates — Genre: Young Adult
Michele Bacon — Genre: Young Adult
Jeanne Ryan — Genre: Young Adult