Mentorship Program-New for 2011-2012!

Requirements

  • SCBWI member
  • Completed manuscript
  • Able to meet three times with mentor, willing to learn, and able to meet deadlines
  • Graphic Novel manuscripts must be in script format (see info on page 2)
  • Picture Books must be in manuscript format (see info on page 2)
  • Illustrations must be copies, not originals
  • Initial Cost: $75 application fee (to be returned if not matched to a Mentor)
  • Total Cost:  $200 for picture books; $200 for first 50 comic pages of graphic novel plus $1
  • per comic page over 50 pages

Final payment due Feb. 5, 2012. Use payment option 2/2.

  • Mentorship Application

Timeline

Nov, 12, 2011 –   Applications postmarked and sent to SCBWI San Diego, P.O. Box 22300, San Diego, CA 92192-2300 or turned in at Nov. 12 chapter meeting.
mid-Dec. 2011 – Applicants notified by email if matched or not matched with a Mentor

Click here for an application

Dec. 31 2012 –     Last date for Round Three meeting with Mentor

Structure of Mentorship
1) Projects submitted for matching with Mentor. Matches will be made based on fit between strengths of Mentor and needs of project submitted

2) If matched, there will be three rounds of critique
Round 1: Critique of submitted material, review next steps, set timeline and meeting site
Mentee: revise complete manuscript/illustration samples, complete any assignments given by mentor and submit complete manuscript/illustrations and assignments for critique
Round 2: Critique of full manuscript/illustrations and assignments, identify next steps,
Mentee Task: revise based on feedback, complete any assignments given by mentor and submit for critique
Round 3: Critique of submitted material and assignments, review next steps and end mentorship

3) Evaluation: Provide feedback and how we can improve mentorship program

Summary
Graphic Novelists – If accepted into the program, you will receive feedback on your manuscript with a focus on clear panel-to-panel storytelling and pacing.

Picture Book Authors - If accepted into the program you will receive feedback on your manuscript, help with development and feedback on a rough storyboard, and critiques/comments on two revisions of your picture book

Picture Book Illustrators – If accepted into the program you will receive feedback on your illustrations and guidance with telling a story, depicting characters, and pacing through illustration.

Application Process

Complete Mentorship Application and Submit with the Following Materials
to SCBWI – San Diego, P.O. Box 22300, San Diego, CA 92192-2300 postmarked by Nov 12, or turn in at the Nov 12 chapter meeting.

Graphic Novels

  • If the story is less than or equal to 10 comic pages please submit 1 copy of:
    Full manuscript in script format organized by panels which describe the setting, action and dialogue, with each new comic page beginning on a new sheet of paper. Please see http://homepage.mac.com/dmcduffie/site/Scripts.html for sample formatting.

  • For stories longer than 10 comic pages, please submit 1 copy of the following:
  • A one-page, single-spaced synopsis with the plot line of the story and total number comic book pages of the complete manuscript
  • As many manuscript pages in script format as are necessary for the first 10 comic pages, organized by panels which describe the setting, action and dialogue with each new comic page beginning on a new sheet of paper. Please see http://homepage.mac.com/dmcduffie/site/Scripts.html for sample formatting. 
  • Art samples may be included but are not required unless a sketch is necessary to understand something in the script, i.e., an unusual page layout

 

Picture Books

  • Submit 3 copies of picture book manuscript in manuscript format – double-spaced text with paragraphs indented, 1” margins top, bottom and sides, black ink in 12 pt font, name, address contact info and word count on top of first page. Please see http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/Just-Getting-Started and click on From Keyboard to Printed Page for sample formatting. (If you are an illustrator working with a retold story, send 1 copy of the text of the story in manuscript format. Next to the title add “Retold Story”)
  • Illustrators and Author/Illustrators please also submit:
    1 copy each of 6 sample illustrations that demonstrate your ability to tell a story, depict a character, convey a story element, or show personality

Review Mentor Bios click here
You will be asked to rank your first three choices of Mentor, or to let us distribute your application to Mentors we think will be a good fit. Note: All graphic novel applications will be sent to Eric Shanower.  All illustrators will be sent to Joy Chu. We will follow the preferences of picture book authors and author/illustrators.

Payment

  • Include a check for $75 made out to San Diego SCBWI, or pay via PayPal

(Checks will be shredded if you are not matched unless you request we return the check.
 PayPal payments will be refunded.)

  • If you are matched with a Mentor, the remainder of the fee will be due prior to the first meeting with your Mentor. If you need to split the payment into two equal portions please contact Janice at ra-sd@sandieog-scbwi.org

Application Packets with Mentorship Application, manuscript/illustrations and payment can be sent to SCBWI – San Diego, P.O. Box 22300, San Diego, CA 92192-2300 postmarked by Nov 12, or turned in at the Nov 12 chapter meeting.