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2004-2005 SCBWI-Michigan Mentorship Program This year's program is offered to writers of picture book
text. Deadline: April 28, 2004. Fiction Picture-Book Author Competition
Information "Unpublished" is defined as "never having received monetary compensation for," "not self-published," and "not under contract" for a children's book. Note: if a publisher offers you a contract on a manuscript after you have entered the competition, but before the mentorship recipient is announced on June 5, 2004, contact the program coordinator to withdraw. Prizes. The grand prize is a one-year mentorship with Rhonda Gowler Greene, author of nine published picture books including Barnyard Song, and two forthcoming ones. The mentorship program includes written critiques by the mentor on a bimonthly basis. The first runner-up will receive a full scholarship to the SCBWI-MI Fall Conference, October 15-17, 2004 at Gull Lake near Kalamazoo. Other runners-up will receive certificates. Submission rules and procedure. One entry per person. There is a $15 fee to enter. Entry must be a complete fiction picture book manuscript of no more than 1500 words; text should be double-spaced, on one-sided pages. Because the mentorship program is for fiction picture book writing, works such as nonfiction, magazine articles, wordless books, early chapter books, etc. are not eligible for consideration. Manuscript format. Manuscript must follow normal SCBWI submission standards (typed, double-spaced, etc.) Use 8.5" x 11" white paper with good quality black type, in 12 point font. Consult "From Typewriter to Printed Page" in the SCBWI Guide to Publications, or access "From Keyboard to Printed Page" under "publications" at www.scbwi.org, if necessary. Proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling are required. Do not put your name on any part of your manuscript. For manuscripts longer than one page, include a header line with the manuscript title in the upper left corner and the page number in the upper right corner. Do not send illustrations or layout dummy. Retain copies of your work. Manuscripts will not be returned. Submission Format. Your manuscript must be accompanied by the following which is not considered part of the 1500 word total:
Your entry packet should be as follows: entry form, goal statement, and four copies of your manuscript. Paper clip the entry form and goal statement together. Paper clip each copy of your manuscript. Anonymity. In order to ensure an unbiased selection process, it is essential that no identifying marks or signatures appear on your manuscript. Failure to comply with submission procedures will result in disqualification. Deadlines. Send by regular or priority mail or other delivery service that does not require a signature. The first 25 manuscripts to be submitted in the correct format will be considered for the competition. Mailing instructions. Send your completed entry form
(a copy is fine, but your signature must be original) along with
your submission (as outlined above), to: Selection process. In selecting the five finalists and determining the winning entry, judges will consider appropriateness of style and language, including usage, for the intended audience and genre; interpretation and development of the theme or concept; development of plot and characters; illustratable text (providing action, mood and/or story content which allows a potential illustrator to enhance/enrich the story through illustrations); and overall impression/originality, including suitability for picture books. Judges will also make brief comments they feel will be helpful to the entrant in strengthening the manuscript. The mentor will make the final selection. Winners will be announced at the Spring Conference on June 5. You do not need to sign up for the conference in order to enter/receive an award. Download the rules and the entry form in PDF format suitable for printing.
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