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 CLOSED. Check back again in the summer 2025 to apply.
Our 2025 Scholars Are…
Spring 2025 - Malar Ganapathiappan
Malar considers writing as a path for healing and connection to one’s deeper self. She is a body-centered writing mentor with a psychology degree and certifications in energy healing, NLP life coaching, and trauma support. Since 2008, she’s worked with writers in every step of the messy creative process. Following her first novel at age seventeen, she’s written in a variety of genres, including fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Based in the Bay Area, she is currently working on a novel.
Fall 2025 - Julia Maisen
Julia Maisen is a writer and illustrator who grew up in the Bay Area where she discovered a love for reading and storytelling at an early age. Following a desire to understand how the world works she got her undergraduate degree in Physics before deciding to turn her full attention to making stories, which led her to the Masters in Children’s Illustration program at the Cambridge School of Art. She works primarily in traditional media (though she has a tendency to experiment with other forms) and has a deep and abiding love for the unpredictable nature of watercolors. When crafting her stories she is always on the lookout for ways to incorporate humor, characters, emotional impact and a touch of the absurd. You can also find her on Instagram: @JuliaMaisen and Bluesky: @juliamaisen.bsky.social
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Previous Scholars-In-Residence:
2024/25 - Addie Woolridge, Danielle Sunshine
2022/23 - Anne-Marie Strohman, Charlotte Cheng
2021/22 – Cressida Hanson, Lindsay Lackey
2020/21 – Jackie Friedman Mighdoll, Joyce Masongsong-Ray