Get Mentored or become a Mentor!
Many SCBWI regions offer mentorship programs that match established members with up-and-coming authors and illustrators. Some of these programs are open to just members in a particular region, others are open to any SCBWI member. You will find details and contact information for each program below. If you are a professional interested in becoming a mentor please see those guidelines below.
GUIDELINES FOR MENTEES
ALABAMA, GEORGIA, FLORIDA PANHANDLE
Description and/or Focus
For illustrators: annually in conjunction with Illustrator’s Day, professional illustrators are mentors and act as art directors to the first 12 people to sign up for the mentorship program in conjunction with Illustrators’ Day.
Guidelines for Entry
Must be SCBWI member, must be one of first 12 to register for Illustrator’s Day.
Fee
Depends, none to $50
Contact Person
Prescott Hill (hill_design@mac.com)
AUSTIN, TX
Description and/or Focus
Annual program, all writers, called the Cynthia Leitich Smith Writing Mentor Award.
Guidelines for Entry
Must sign up for paid critique at the annual conference, each critiquer chooses favorite and those finalists are announced at the conference; year’s mentor chooses winner and works with winner for a year.
Fee
None except for critique fee
Contact Person
Samantha Clark, RA (austin@scbwi.org)
CALIFORNIA: SAN DIEGO
Description and/or Focus
Focus and timing changes depending upon needs and interests of the region (could be picture book, MG, YA, NF, illustration)
Guidelines for Entry
Must be a member of the region to participate, must meet with mentor three times/year
Fee
Ranges depending upon focus of mentorship, from $200 up
Contact Person
Janice Yuwiler, co-RA (jyuwiler@gmail.com)
CAROLINAS, NORTH AND SOUTH
Description and/or Focus
SCBWI Carolinas REVISION QUEST
https://carolinas.scbwi.org/mentor-program/
- Picture book mentors will offer guidance on 2-4 manuscripts over a four-month period. Through editorial feedback and craft development “homework,” mentees will end with more refined manuscripts and a deeper understanding of the genre, writing process, and their own authorial perspective.
- For novel writers, mentors will read a large section of the student’s manuscript each month. They’ll review the manuscript for both big picture and finer issues, and write a detailed editorial letter. Students will submit both new pages and revised pages in each packet. So much more than a simple critique, this process allows students and mentors to immerse themselves in the world of the manuscript. The student, with the mentor’s guidance, can hone it to be the best it can be.
For more information go to https://carolinas.scbwi.org/mentor-program/program_information/
Guidelines for Entry
Open to all SCBWI members
Go to https://carolinas.scbwi.org/mentor-program/the-application-process/ for information on the enrollment process
Fee
Tuition of $650 covers four months of one on one work with a published writers analyzing every aspect of your manuscript.
Contact Person
For more information, questions or concerns, write to Stephanie Greene mentorscbwic@gmail.com. Please be patient if you request information, as this is a lightly monitored account.
COLORADO/WYOMING
Description and/or Focus
The Michelle Begley Mentor Program – Annual program
Guidelines for Entry
Must be member of the region, submit application and written work or portfolio.
Fee
$400
Contact Person
Jennifer Simms (MentorProgram.rmc.scbwi@gmail.com)
ILLINOIS
Description and/or Focus
The Laura Crawford Memorial Mentorship is a 6-month intensive program on an 18-month rotation. Established in 2015 in memory of picture book author Laura Crawford, Laura made it her mission to help other writers on their publishing journeys. The focus shifts between genres to reflect our dynamic region.
Guidelines for Entry
Application open to Illinois members who have not been traditionally published in genre or format of session focus. Schedule, details and application form are here: https://illinois.scbwi.org/
Fee
None
Contact Person
Sara Shacter, ARA-Illinois illinois-ara@scbwi.org
IOWA
Description and/or Focus
The frequency and focus changes depending upon a mentor’s availability.
Guidelines for Entry
Must be an SCBWI member, but do not need to be a member of the Iowa region. The application process varies, but it is always tied to a Iowa SCBWI conference.
Fee
None — valued at up to $1200 based on critiquers’ fees for normal (non-mentorship) critiques.
Contact Person
Eileen Boggess, RA Iowa-ra@scbwi.org
MICHIGAN
Description and/or Focus
Annual program, focus rotates each year (PB, MG, YA, illustration)
Guidelines for Entry
Must be a member of the region, must be pre-published in that category, must submit a written work/portfolio and application, is a competitive process.
Fee
Varies
Contact Person
Catherine Bieberich, Mentorship Coordinator (bieberichwoman@yahoo.com)
MINNESOTA
Description and/or Focus
Annual program for writers and for illustrators
Guidelines for Entry
Must be SCBWI member
Fee
Annual conference fee waived and one year free membership.
Contact Person
Quinette Cook, RA (studio@quinettecook.com)
MISSOURI
Description and/or Focus
Annual program (PB, MG, YA, NF), 2015 is PB fiction or nonfiction called the Ellen Dolan Mentorship for Writers.
Guidelines for Entry
For 2015, must be unpublished in picture books, must be a member of the region, must submit application and written work, is a competitive process, winner receives free registration to regional conference.
Fee
None
Contact Person
Kim Piddington, RA (missouri@scbwi.org)
NEVADA
Description and/or Focus
6 month mentorship, every other year (PB, MG, YA, NF, Illustration), blind application process
Guidelines for Entry
Must be SCBWI member, but does not need to be a member of the region, can be a member worldwide, must submit an application and/or portfolio
Fee
$1350 includes two full weekend retreats with mentors and guest editors/agents, plus the 6 months of mentorship with one full manuscript/portfolio revision.
Contact Person
Cynthia Mun (nevada-ra@scbwi.org)
WISCONSIN
Description and/or Focus
Annual program, focus rotates each year (PB, MG, YA, NF, Illustration)
Guidelines for Entry
Must be a member of the region, must submit application and written work or portfolio
Fee
None
Contact Person
Julie Shaull (shaull@danenet.org)
ALABAMA, GEORGIA, FLORIDA PANHANDLE
Description and/or Focus
For illustrators: annually in conjunction with Illustrator’s Day, professional illustrators are mentors and act as art directors to the first 12 people to sign up for the mentorship program in conjunction with Illustrators’ Day.
Guidelines for Entry
For illustrators: Must be PAL or must be a working art director in the children’s publishing industry, may be recommended, at Illustrator Coordinator’s discretion.
Compensation
Monetary compensation and Illustrator’s Day conference fees waived for current year and following year.
Contact Person
Prescott Hill (hill_design@mac.com)
AUSTIN, TX
Description and/or Focus
Annual program, all writers, called the Cynthia Leitich Smith Writing Mentor Award.
Guidelines for Entry
Must be published and willing to mentor winning writer for a year, including but not limited to 1 full manuscript critique and questions answered via email throughout the year in accordance with mentor’s schedule
Compensation
Free year’s membership and promotion of books at annual conference and links to website from our award information page
Contact Person
Samantha Clark, RA (austin@scbwi.org)
CALIFORNIA (NORTHERN AND CENTRAL)
Description and/or Focus
Two annual programs, one for PB and one for MG/YA.
Guidelines for Entry
Must be a published member, may be recommended.
Compensation
Monetary compensation depending on the genre.
Contact Information
scbwicanorthcentral@gmail.com, newmanbooks@live.com
CALIFORNIA: SAN DIEGO
Description and/or Focus
Focus and timing changes depending upon needs and interests of the region (could be picture book, MG, YA, NF, illustration)
Guidelines for Entry
Must be publsihed member and live in mentee’s region, may be recommended.
Compensation
Ranges, full fee paid by mentee.
Contact Person
Janice Yuwiler, co-RA (jyuwiler@gmail.com)
CAROLINAS, NORTH AND SOUTH
Description and/or Focus
SCBWI Carolinas REVISION QUEST
https://carolinas.scbwi.org/mentor-program/
- Picture book mentors will offer guidance on 2-4 manuscripts over a four-month period. Through editorial feedback and craft development “homework,” mentees will end with more refined manuscripts and a deeper understanding of the genre, writing process, and their own authorial perspective.
- For novel writers, mentors will read a large section of the student’s manuscript each month. They’ll review the manuscript for both big picture and finer issues, and write a detailed editorial letter. Students will submit both new pages and revised pages in each packet. So much more than a simple critique, this process allows students and mentors to immerse themselves in the world of the manuscript. The student, with the mentor’s guidance, can hone it to be the best it can be.
For more information go to https://carolinas.scbwi.org/mentor-program/program_information/
Guidelines for Entry
Open to all SCBWI members
Go to https://carolinas.scbwi.org/mentor-program/the-application-process/ for information on the enrollment process
Contact Person
For more information, questions or concerns, write to Stephanie Greene mentorscbwic@gmail.com. Please be patient if you request information, as this is a lightly monitored account.
COLORADO/WYOMING
Description and/or Focus
The Michelle Begley Mentor Program – Annual program
Guidelines for Entry
Must be published member in the Colorado/Wyoming region, may volunteer
Compensation
$400
Contact Person
Jennifer Simms (MentorProgram.rmc.scbwi@gmail.com)
IOWA
Description and/or Focus
Every other year, frequency and focus changes depending upon mentor availability (PB, MG, YA)
Guidelines for Entry
Must be a published member, may volunteer.
Compensation
Free entry into events and conferences.
Contact Person
Connie Heckert, RA (hecklit@aol.com)
ILLINOIS
Description and/or Focus
The two goals of the Laura Crawford Memorial Mentorship mentor are to (1) help the writer or writer/illustrator ready his/her manuscript for editorial submission and publication and (2) help the writer or writer/illustrator grow professionally. The focus shifts between genres to reflect our dynamic region.
Guidelines for Entry
Selected by the Regional Team, the mentor is a seasoned, SCBWI-Illinois member, PAL published and currently teaching in the chosen genre/format. The mentor is willing to choose a mentee from among qualified applicants and work with them for a 6-month period based on the defined schedule.
Compensation
The honorarium varies based on experience and genre and format of selected focus.
Contact Person
Sara Shacter, ARA-Illinois illinois-ara@scbwi.org
MICHIGAN
Description and/or Focus
Annual program, focus rotates each year (PB, MG, YA, illustration)
Guidelines for Entry
Must be a published member of the region, may volunteer or be recommended.
Compensation
Varies, full fee paid by mentee.
Contact Person
Catherine Bieberich, Mentorship Coordinator (bieberichwoman@yahoo.com)
MINNESOTA
Description and/or Focus
Annual program for writers and for illustrators
Guidelines for Entry
Must be a published member, may volunteer.
Compensation
Conference fees and membership fees waived.
Contact Person
Quinette Cook, RA (studio@quinettecook.com)
MISSOURI
Description and/or Focus
Annual program (PB, MG, YA, NF), 2015 is PB fiction or nonfiction called the Ellen Dolan Mentorship for Writers.
Guidelines for Entry
Must be published, must live in mentee’s region, may be recommended, may volunteer
Compensation
$100 and free conference registration
Contact Person
Kim Piddington, RA (missouri@scbwi.org)
NEVADA
Description and/or Focus
6 month mentorship, every other year on an 18 month cycle (PB, MG, YA, NF, Illustration), blind application process
Guidelines for Entry
Must be a published member, may be recommended, may volunteer, selected by RA
Compensation
Monetary compensation, travel expenses to retreats, lodging and meals for the retreat weekends, and honorarium that varies with the experience and expertise of the mentors
Contact Person
Cynthia Mun (nevada-ra@scbwi.org)
WISCONSIN
Description and/or Focus
Annual program, focus rotates each year (PB, MG, YA, NF, Illustration)
Guidelines for Entry
Must be a published member of the Wisconsin region, may volunteer
Compensation
Conference fees waived
Contact Person
Julie Shaull (shaull@danenet.org)