Equity & Inclusion Initiatives

— SCBWI members who identify as diverse / from underrepresented communities who live in Illinois and are at least 18 years of age. Published and pre-published authors, illustrators, and translators may apply. Membership must be good through March 2025. Renew your membership today.

—Definition of diverse/ from underrepresented communities for the purpose of this prize: BIPOC, people with disabilities, neurodiverse, LGBTQIA+ people, and people who identify as members of a religious or cultural minority.

—If this is an application by a duo, both applicants must satisfy all requirements.

—If you are not yet a member, you may become a member before submitting your application.

—There is no application fee. This prize is fully supported by the donation of a generous SCBWI Member. If you would like to contribute to future prizes, please email illinois-ra2@scbwi.org

—Applications accepted between February 1 and March 1 (by 11:59 PM CST): No applications will be accepted outside this date range.

—The winner will be announced by May 1, 2025.

—Winning applicant(s) will receive a written critique and a 30-minute Zoom about the submitted work-in-progress or portfolio from the agent.

— The judge is selected by the SCBWI-IL Equity & Inclusion Team.

— The judge will make the final, winning selection.

 Submission:

1. COVER PAGE including the following info:

—Full name

—Mailing Address

—E-mail address

—Phone number

—Diversity/underrepresented community with which the applicant identifies.

—If you are published (SCBWI PAL, Full or Indie), please list up to 5 most recent book(s) / publisher(s) / date(s) or article(s) / magazine(s) /date(s)

—SCBWI Membership expiration date: To find this date log into your SCBWI webpage, go to MEMBER HOME at the upper right. This will take you to your MEMBER HOME page. In the box at left, click on MY PROFILE. On the MY PROFILE page, find SCBWI MEMBER box at right. Click on MEMBERSHIP DETAILS to find your membership expiration date. Membership must be good through March 2025. 

—Format of Sample / Portfolio: Formats include Picture Book, Early Reader, Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Non-Fiction & Poetry

—50 words or less explaining how your work will bring forward an underrepresented voice

2. WRITING and/or ILLUSTRATION SAMPLE:

—Your name should NOT appear on any pages of your sample.

FOR WRITERS:

—Submit a sample from a manuscript, no more than 5 pages in length. (Novels may include an additional one-page synopsis). Double-spaced, Times 12-point font, one-inch margins, no headers.

—Poetry submissions (this includes rhyming picture books, picture books in verse, and stand-alone collections) should conform to the guidelines above. However, they may be single-spaced, with a double space between the stanzas, per industry standards. Stand-alone collections (i.e. a group of poems intended to be published as one book) must have a page break at the end of each poem.

—Graphic Novel submissions: IF YOU ARE BOTH THE WRITER AND ILLUSTRATOR, your submission will contain up to 7 pages maximum: 5 script pages, a 1-page synopsis and 1 page of finished art from the accompanying script. Do not sign artwork or put any identifying marks on illustrations. If you have already signed a piece, please block the signature before scanning. Art should be in full color or rendered in black & white, finished and ready for publication.

FOR ILLUSTRATORS:

—Submit 4-6 pieces appropriate for and targeted to children or teens.

—Do not sign artwork or put any identifying marks on illustrations. If you have already signed a piece, please block the signature before scanning.

—Art should be in full color or rendered in black & white, finished and ready for publication.

FOR WRITER / ILLUSTRATORS:

—Submit a sample from a manuscript, no more than 5 pages in length (Novels may include an additional one-page synopsis) Double-spaced, Times 12-point font, one-inch margins, no headers.

—Submit a pdf sample of 1 finished illustration from accompanying mss.

—Do not sign artwork or put any identifying marks on illustrations. If you have already signed a piece, please block the signature before scanning.

—Art should be in full color or rendered in black & white, finished and ready for publication.

Submission Fee:

There is no fee. This mentorship is supported by an anonymous, generous SCBWI-IL member. Thank you.

Submission Period:

— How to name your submission: Think of a brief descriptive title for the first illustration in your series or use your story title as the title for your saved pdf file. (For example: Girl with a Pearl Earring.) Do not mention your name in the title.

—The submission window opens at noon on February 1.

—The submission window closes at 11:59 pm on March 1.

—CLICK TO EMAIL your submission by March 1, 11:59 pm

— SUBMISSION QUESTIONS: Email Alina Celeste Hevia, 2025 SCBWI-IL Many Voices Prize Coordinator, a member of the Equity & Inclusion Team

Judging:

— The judge is selected by the SCBWI-IL Equity & Inclusion Team.

— The judge will make the final, winning selection.

—SCBWI-Illinois will announce the winner in May.

FAQs:

—Why can’t I sign my artwork or manuscript? Judging is anonymous. The judge does not know who the contestants are.

—Why do I need to submit as one multi-page pdf? It’s easier for the prize coordinator to keep track of unsigned submissions if the submissions are grouped into one file per applicant.

—How do I make a pdf file? Acrobat Writer, Corel Draw, Illustrator, Photoshop and other programs save files as multi-page pdfs. FedEx, Office Max/Office Depot will scan four illustrations and save them as single pdf for $8.

—Is it okay to post submission on ANY social media platform? No. Judging is anonymous. Promoting the contest on social media is great, but please do not mention that YOU have entered NOR post images of your entry. Doing so will result in your disqualification.

QUESTIONS?: 2025 SCBWI-IL Many Voices Prize Coordinator, Alina Celeste Hevia, a member of the Equity & Inclusion Team

This prize is awarded annually. SCBWI-IL reserves the right to not award the prize in a given year.

PAST RECIPIENTS & JUDGES:

2024 Antigone D. Blackwell / Judge: Wendi Lulu Gu, Sanford J. Greenberger Associates/Greenberger Kids

2023 Remi Kathawa / Judge: Adria Goetz, PS Literary Agency

2022 Karen Su/ Judge: Charlotte Wenger, Prospect Agency

2021 Gauri Dalvi Pandya / Judge: Samantha Fabien, Root Literary

2020 Alina Celeste Hevia / Judge: Penny Moore, Aevitas Creative Management

2019 Soton Roswano / Judge:Tanusri Prasanna, Foundry Literary & Media

2018 Traci Dant,/Judge: Linda Camacho, Agent Gault & Zacker Literary Agency

2017 Lily Frusciante/Judge: Marietta Zacker, Agent Agent Nancy Gault Agency

2016 Katie Otey/Judge: Adriana Dominguez, Agent Agent Full Circle Literary

Many thanks to the generous SCBWI-IL Member who supports this prize.

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