Work-in-Progress Awards
Work-in-Progress Awards support children’s book writers and illustrators through manuscript recognition and exposure to acquiring editors, helping them move projects toward completion and publication.
This grant was recently updated
Winners for the associated Cushman Award will now be announced in November 2026 instead of October 2026.
Funder: Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Due Dates: March 1, 2027 (Submissions open) | March 31, 2027 (Submission deadline)
Funding Amounts: WIP winners receive editorial exposure and SCBWI endorsement; the associated Cushman Award provides $500 and conference tuition
Summary: Supports children’s book manuscripts not under contract through recognition and presentation to acquiring editors.
Key Information: Premium membership must remain current through the award announcement; submissions are text-only manuscripts.
Description
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) runs the Work-in-Progress Awards to assist children’s book writers and illustrators with completing and publishing a specific project not under contract. The awards showcase outstanding written manuscripts for young readers, spanning picture book text, early readers, chapter books, middle grade, young adult fiction, nonfiction, and underrepresented fiction or nonfiction.
Winning submissions are made available on a secure webpage and presented to a hand-selected group of editors for consideration. This gives writers an opportunity to reach acquiring editors with SCBWI’s endorsement, but does not guarantee publication. Applicants may also request consideration for the Underrepresented category or, if eligible, the associated Karen Cushman Late Bloomer Award.
