Contests & Awards
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| © Jena Benton |
Submitting your work to contests and awards is a great way to get your work noticed. Here's a list of submission opportunities for children's writing and illustrating. We normally only list contests that do not require an entry fee.
Also, check out these other compilations of contests:
- Sub It Club's monthly lists of contests (see their contest roundup calendar)
- Funds for Writers
- Lee & Low's roundup of Awards & Grants for Authors of Color
- Institute for Children's Literature runs contests (for fee)
- Poet & Writer's Database of Writing Contests (includes fee contests)
Before entering a contest, pay attention to warning signs:
James Cross Giblin Scholarship for Highlights Foundations courses
What I Gained from Contests (Besides my Agent)
Draw This!
- What: monthly illustration challenge with a prompt, due 20th of each month
- Who: SCBWI members
- Prize: winning pieces featured in SCBWI's monthly newsletter
ONGONG
- What: apply for emergency funds during the pandemic
- Who: people of color in the children's publishing industry (agents, editors, authors, illustrators) who've been furloughed or lost their jobs
- Award: emergency funds
MARCH
SCBWI grants with end of March deadlines:
Don Freeman Grant - two $1,000 grants to assist an illustrator with completion of a book dummy or portfolio
Work-in-Progress Grant - to assist in the completion of a manuscript not under contract
Karen Cushman Late Bloomer Award - $500 and free conference tuition for unpublished writer over age 50
MAY
SCBWI awards with end of May deadlines:
Ann Whitford Paul and Writer's Digest Most Promising Picture Book Manuscript Award - two $500 stipends (one fiction, one nonfiction) to help sell your work (submission advice, counseling, editing, querying)
Crystal Kite Member Choice Award recognition from SCBWI peers
A. Orr Fantasy Grant tuition to summer SCBWI conference plus $600 for MG and YA fantasy/ sci-fi authors
JUNE
June 1- June 30 Volemos Award
- What/who: award for writers of Hispanic/Latinx/Ibero-American heritage early in their career (1-3 traditionally published books) or not yet traditionally published
- Award: $500, 1 yr-SCBWI membership, coaching
- What: $5000 grant for help with a WIP
- Who: children's or YA authors who have been traditionally published, whose work has been warmly received by literary critics, but have not generated significant sales
- Prize: $5000 grant
June 1 - June 30 Ezra Jack Keats Showcase Prize
- What: apply for cash award to advance professional artistic development and growth
- Who: BIPOC creator who has not been traditionally published
- Award: $3500
June 30 Lee & Low New Visions Award
- What: submit your MG or YA manuscript (novel or GN). Manuscript should address the needs of children and teens of color or Indigenous children and teens by providing stories with which they can identify and relate, and which promote a greater understanding of one another.
- Who: writers who identify as African/African American/Black, Asian/Asian American/AAPI, Indigenous & First Nations/Native American, Latinx/Latino/Hispanic, or Middle
- Award: a standard publishing contract of advances + royalties worth $15,000 + mentorship
April 1- June 30 (2027) Lee & Low New Voices Award
- What: award given biennially to an unpublished writer of color or Native/Indigenous writer for a picture book manuscript (fiction, nonfiction, poetry)
- Award: monetary award and potential publication
- Timing: next New Voices Award will take place in 2027
AUGUST
now - Aug. 20 SunWriteFun 2026
- What: write a nonfictional or informational fiction kid lit story up to 200 words
- Prizes: critiques, books, and other giveways
Aug 1- Aug 31 SCBWI Emerging Voices Award
- Who: Any writer or writer/illustrator from a marginalized identity that is traditionally under-represented in children’s literature in America. (Including but not limited to race or ethnic background: American Indian, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic, Native, Pacific Islander; LGBTQ+, disabled, and neurodiverse creators)
- Award: SCBWI recognition, platform for agents & editors and full tuition to virtual SCBWI conference of choice
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 1 Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award
- What: recognizes unpublished manuscripts of Jewish fiction for readers 8-13 years old
- Who: writer with no previously published fiction books for young readers
- Award: $1,000
Sept. 10-13 Kid Lit Chuckle Challenge
- What: write a funny up to 200-word story based on prompt given in the challenge (choose one character and one object from list)
- Prizes: writing workshops, AMAs, critiques from agents and authors and more
Sept. 1-Sept. 30 Jane Yolen Midlist Author Grant
- Who: SCBWI premium members who have published at least one PAL-listed book
- Award: $1500, free tuition to New York conference, and publicity
OCTOBER
Oct. 3- 7 KidlitGN Pitch Event
- What: upload your graphic novel pitch for agents/editors to peruse in a password protected platform. Pitch event is Oct 7 to Oct 31 but submission window for pitches is Oct 3-7. See FAQs for more details
- Award: editors or agents can comment on your pitch asking you to submit the project to them for consideration
Oct. 1- Oct. 31 SCBWI Narrative Art Award
- What: submit a short illustrated story following a theme prompt and an assignment
- Who: SCBWI member
- Award: all-expenses paid trip to NY SCBWI conference plus inclusion in the NY portfolio showcase