The Carmen Oliver On-the-Verge Annual Austin SCBWI Conference Scholarship is awarded each year to a children’s book writer who has the passion and desire to pursue a career in this industry. It is designed to give the winning writer a good foundation from which they can continue to learn and grow as a children’s book author.
In Carmen’s words:
As a former Austin SCBWI ARA, I saw and learned firsthand how important it is to be investing in people and how the opportunities to study craft strengthens you as a better writer and a better person. I’m a published author because of SCBWI and a large part of that apprenticeship was a direct result of attending Austin SCBWI conferences and my volunteer leadership roles in the chapter. I guess you could say I grew up and was raised by SCBWI. Along the way, I had many SCBWI members invest in me and coupled with my hard work and determination to get my stories right — I made it.
In my early years, my family and I struggled financially. I wasn’t allowed to work in the United States for over eleven years until my immigration papers were processed. It was a very difficult time in my life. I felt helpless. I cut back where I could to find the dollars to attend as many writing/publishing SCBWI conferences as possible but there were many times where I had to let go of opportunities because I couldn’t afford to go. We needed the money elsewhere. My hope is that this scholarship will encourage another writer who might be struggling a bit financially to apply and attend the conference. Everybody needs a little help. Everybody needs a friend. And my friends at SCBWI helped me along the way. They were a constant in my life when there were so many uncertainties. This is my chance to give back to the organization that gave me so much. And to help another who might be going through a similar situation or worse.
The recipient receives:
* Full scholarship to our annual conference to be held in person April 29-30, 2023 (does not include critiques, pitch/consultation, or travel expenses)
* Craft and publishing questions answered by Carmen Oliver (author of BEARS MAKE THE BEST BUDDIES series, THE TWILIGHT LIBRARY, BUILDING AN ORCHESTRA OF HOPE, and other titles and Booking Agent & Founder of The Booking Biz) as time permits during 2023.
Please note: This scholarship does not include critiques because we don’t want to put pressure on the winner to perform at a certain level. Our aim is to encourage, lift and guide the writer, so they can have a step in the right direction.
Eligibility
Members and non-members in Texas are eligible. Pre-published, unagented writers only.
Submission Instructions
SUBMISSIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED
Please submit via form when they reopen. If you have any questions or have issues with the submission form, please email ascbwi-diversity @ outlook.com (remove the spaces around the @).
You will be asked to answer a few questions about your interest in writing and upload a writing sample of children’s literature (fiction or nonfiction, picture book or novel) up to three (3) pages. These should be first pages of a manuscript formatted with standard formatting rules. Name the file with a keyword(s) from the title of your work (e.g.: CubaPocket). Please do NOT include your name or other identifying information in the body of the manuscript. We will match the names of the winning manuscripts with the person who submitted it.
Application deadline is February 15, 2023.
Scholarship winners may not be announced before conference registration opens. If you want a critique at the conference, you should register early. If you don’t win and can’t pay for the conference on your own, you will be given a full refund.