Mentorship FAQ Page

What is a picture book mentorship?

The picture book mentorship is for authors who are seeking support to improve their manuscript. 

Once selected, the mentor and mentee will work together to set up a schedule for sending materials back and forth four times, when they will meet, and determining the goals for the mentorship. As the mentee, you will get to be specific about what you want for feedback and your goals for the collaboration. 

The winner will receive a “golden ticket” to submit their mentorship project to an acquiring editor or agent. This respected professional will be hand-picked and approved by our executive team, so you know you will be paired with a reputable leader in the field.

What do I submit?

After you have registered, you will receive access to a Google form. As part of that form, you will submit a brief story pitch, followed by your manuscript, max. 800 words (illustration notes do not count against your word count). This will need to be in either a PDF or Word Doc format.

Is the 25MB file limit flexible?

No. This is a limitation with our Google account.

I’m not very tech savvy. How do I figure out how to create a PDF and ensure it is the right file size?

Please reach out to the Mentorship Coordinator, Jessica Zimmerman, at [email protected] if you need additional support. 

What is the cost to enter?  

$60 (non-refundable)

How do I pay the entry fee? 

You will be asked for credit/debit card information when you register.

Do I have to be a member of SCBWI? 

Yes. Proof of current membership may be requested. 

Not sure if your membership is up to date? Log in to scbwi.org, click on “My Profile” on the left side of the screen, then click on “My Membership” on the right side of the screen. This will tell you when your membership expires. If it already expired, you can renew right there.

Do I have to live in Michigan? 

Yes.

Can I apply if I only live in Michigan for part of the year? 

Sure. Proof of part-time residency may be requested.

Are there any exceptions to the “Won and Done” eligibility rule?

Yes. If you have won a novel or illustration mentorship, you are still eligible to enter for a picture book mentorship.

Will I be notified when my submission materials have been received and are being considered? 

Yes. You will receive an email confirmation of your submission.

How long do I have between registering for the mentorship and uploading my submission materials? 

All materials must be submitted by 11:59pm EST on January 26, 2027. Failure to send materials by the deadline (or failure to follow submission guidelines) will invalidate your registration without a refund.

What exactly do you mean by anonymous submissions? 

Don’t put your name on any submission materials unless specified in the submission guidelines, and don’t announce on social media that you are entering. 

What happens if I don’t win?

Winners will be announced by April 7th, 2027. If you aren’t one of the top three, you still get feedback! ALL applicants will receive a paragraph of feedback from each of the anonymous judges, specific to the judging criteria (which you can see at the bottom of the submission guidelines).

Can I enter if I have already been published, have a PAL book under contract, or have an agent? 

Yes. The mentorship is open to all Michigan members.

Where can I learn more about the mentorship program? 

On the Mentorship page, to the right of the block that says “Mentorship General Information,” click on See More.

I want to know more about previous mentorships. How do I find that?

At the bottom of the Mentorship page, click on Mentorship History to see previous awardees and mentors. 

What if I have a question that’s not on this list?

Contact Mentorship Coordinator, Jessica Zimmerman, at [email protected]