About the Program
The purpose of the program is to provide an opportunity and stipend for two of our members to delve deeper into the craft of writing or illustrating while completing a related project during the period of their residence. In turn, these Scholars will share with us their learnings and the results of their work through a presentation or workshop (can be in-person or online). One Scholar presents in the Spring and the other in the Fall. The Scholar-in-Residence presentations are free for all SCBWI members and a small fee for non-SCBWI members – which goes back to our region to support our programming.
Any current, active member of SCBWI San Francisco/South is eligible to apply. (Members must reside in one of these counties – San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, or San Benito). Our regional team reads every application and chooses who we collectively feel is best suited based on the strength of the research topic but ultimately, which presentation would provide the most benefit for our members. In addition, we look for one rising pre- or non-traditionally published member as well as one who may be published. Current members of the regional team are ineligible to apply.
SF/South is committed to supporting Scholars-in-Residence who would be able to make a significant contribution to the world of children’s literature.
2024/25 Application Process
Duration
The duration of the program is 6 months.
Stipend
A stipend of $750 will be granted to each Scholar. This is to be used however the Scholar sees fit to help complete their project. $500 will be paid at the beginning of the Scholar’s term and $250 will be paid following the completion of the Scholar’s presentation.
Due date
Applications typically open in May. The deadline for submitting applications will be August 31st, 2024. Two awards will be granted and announced at our Golden Gate Day Conference on September 28th. Scholars will be notified by email if they are not in attendance at the event.
Start date
Scholar 1 will initiate residency on October 15. Residency 1 will conclude on April 14.
Scholar 2 will initiate residency on April 15. Residency 2 will conclude on October 14.
Eligibility
Current active members of SCBWI San Francisco South are encouraged to apply.
Application materials
You will need to include:
• A maximum of 500 words describing your area of expertise, planned writing or illustration project for the residency, and specific proposed activities that would benefit from receiving the scholarship.
• A maximum of 300 words describing what your planned presentation topic will be. Your topic must be relevant to your residency project.
SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN. The application can be found here.
Our 2024 Scholars Are...
Spring 2024 - Addie Woolridge
Born and raised outside Seattle, Washington, Addie Woolridge is a classically trained opera singer with a degree in music from the University of Southern California, and she holds a master’s degree in public administration from Indiana University. Woolridge currently lives in Northern California.
Fall 2024 - Danielle Sunshine
Danielle is an author coach and editor at Angelella Editorial and an adjunct professor of writing and American Culture at Cañada College. She has a keen interest in developing writers of all levels and helping them hone their craft through collaboration, communication, and support. Danielle is also the former Regional Advisor of the San Francisco South chapter of SCBWI and the founder of Middle Grade Lunch Break, a book club for writers with an eye for craft. She holds a BA in English Literature from UC Berkeley, an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from VCFA, and a TESL Certificate from Cambridge University.
Scholar-in-Residence Online Event Presentation by Addie Woolridge
Don't Forget Grandma!: How to Include Grandparents and Elders in Your Work
Many young people live in intergenerational households and communities, which makes including grandparents and elders in your work a great way to help readers connect with your stories. In this presentation, Addie Woolridge will share stories from her own publishing journey, including how and why she writes flawed, funny, and fabulous grandparents. She'll also share research on how grandparents and elders are most frequently portrayed, how the elders she interviewed for this project see themselves, and how they feel about their portrayal across media. Finally, Addie will dive into tips and tricks that you can use to include grandparents and elders in your work.
Addie's presentation was held on Saturday, May 11th, 2024. Premium members may request access to the recording until June 13th, 2024. Email sfsouth@scbwi.org for more information.
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Previous Scholars-In-Residence:
2022/23 - Anne-Marie Strohman, Charlotte Cheng
2021/22 – Cressida Hanson, Lindsay Lackey
2020/21 – Jackie Friedman Mighdoll, Joyce Masongsong-Ray