About the Award

One writer of children’s literature will be selected by a panel of judges as the recipient of the Kate Dopirak Craft and Community Award, which includes the following:

 

Please Note: Award includes conference tuition only. Award does not include travel, meals, accommodations, or optional conference intensives or critiques. The recipient will be responsible for all travel, meals, accommodations, and/or expenses associated with attending the conference.

New for the 2023 award: the honoree (runner-up) will also receive a 20-minute phone consultation with literary agent Molly O’Neill of Root Literary.

 

Application Guidelines for the 2023 Award Year

  • Open to SCBWI members with a completed, unpublished middle-grade or young-adult manuscript.
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
  • A panel of judges will select the winner with the most promising manuscript.
  • Submissions will be accepted between 8 a.m. central time Saturday, January 14th and 8 p.m. central time Saturday, February 18th, 2023.

Visit our How to Apply page for more information and a link to the submission form.