Austin SCBWI believes that diverse worlds in books benefits readers, stories and our real world. To encourage writers and illustrators create diverse worlds, we launched our annual Austin SCBWI Scholarship for Creators of Diverse Worlds in 2015 and have been thrilled to watch it grow.
The scholarship was inspired by our February 2015 monthly meeting, during which author Cynthia Leitich Smith gave an amazing seminar on the need for diverse books and diverse worlds within books. She encouraged all writers and illustrators to think diversely when creating the worlds of their stories, while also being respectful of writing outside of their our experiences.
Kidlit and teenlit writers and illustrators of all genres whose work in progress has characters (main or supporting) that are diverse in race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disabilities, etc., may enter.
Submissions are anonymous and judged on the use of diverse worlds as well as the creator’s skill with his or her craft. If the story is own voices, reflecting the experience of the creator, please feel free to include that in your submission