SCBWI offers several awards and grants for members. I know this because in 2013, I won a Work of Outstanding Promise (WOOP) grant that allowed me to research a new manuscript. [stay tuned for more news on this project]
Work-In-Progress (WIP) Awards assist children’s book writers and illustrators in the publication of a specific project currently not under contract.
The Work-in-Progress Awards for writers showcase outstanding manuscripts from SCBWI members. Selected works will receive a special platform to be showcased to the most prestigious publishing houses in the field. They choose one winner in each of the following 6 categories.
Categories:
-Picture Book Text
-Chapter Books/Early Readers
-Middle Grade
-Young Adult Fiction
-Nonfiction
-Multicultural Fiction or Nonfiction
Award:
The works submitted by winners and honorable mention recipients will be made available on a secure webpage and presented to a hand-selected group of editors for their consideration. Although this is not a guarantee of publication, the opportunity to have your work presented to acquiring editors, along with an SCBWI endorsement, is a unique opportunity.
Deadline: March 1- March 31, 2016
Eligibility:
You must be a current SCBWI member when your work is submitted and when the award is announced in September.
You may not submit a work that is under contract. If the work becomes under contract before the award is announced, you will become ineligible.
Each member may submit only one manuscript to the WIP awards each year. (The Cushman grant is an exception, you can apply for this grant in addition to the primary WIP)
The grant is open to authors with a current work-in-progress.
Illustrators can apply for one of the Don Freeman Grants
Guidelines:
PLEASE FOLLOW THE BELOW INSTRUCTIONS COMPLETELY.
1. You must submit your application electronically in the form of ONE PDF.
YOUR PDF APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE:
1. A first page that contains:
Your name
Manuscript Title
Grant Category
A double-spaced synopsis, max 250 words
2. The first 10 pages of your completed manuscript.
Your manuscript must be double-spaced and cannot exceed 10 pages. Please use an 11 or 12 point standard font.
3. Title the PDF with your name (first_last.pdf)
Your application can be no longer than 11 pages total.
TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION:
Put the category you are applying to in the subject line of the e-mail.
Put your full name and the name of your manuscript in the body of the e-mail.
Send the PDF as an attachment to your e-mail
E-mail your completed application to: [email protected]
View 2015 Work-in-Progress Award Winners
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions? [email protected]