SCBWI-MI Conference Scholarships By Anita Fitch Pazner

Applying for grants and scholarships was never my thing. I didn’t think I qualified. I assumed there were too many other people applying. Besides, I never win anything!

I had a boatload of excuses.

Last Fall, my boatload ran ashore, and I took a chance and applied to SCBWI’s Regional Advisor Marketing Grant (RAM). I waited until the last possible minute the night the application was due, nearly missing the deadline. I had off the synopsis for my upcoming book, WORDS MATTER: The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl and the White Rose Resistance.
And I created a marketing plan.

Then I hit send. 

Anita being recognized
as the RAM grant winner
at the NYC Conference

And I waited long enough to have forgotten I had applied. Because—duh! I’m never awarded anything. I replayed the mantra in my head. “I’m not qualified, too many other people applied, and I never win A-N-Y T-H-I-N-G!”

Yes, I completely disregarded the fact that I never win because I never apply.

Then the congratulatory emails and texts popped up on my phone.

To my surprise, I was awarded the 2025 grant to cover the cost of my upcoming book launch.

If I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone and applied, I wouldn’t be here encouraging members to take the chance and apply to all the scholarships and grants available to them. In fact, I’m writing this blog post because we have two scholarships available for Michigan’s 2025 Spring Conference right now.

If you are thinking about attending Michigan’s Spring Conference and you’ve never been to a conference before. Guess what? You qualify for The First Timer Scholarship.

The only requirement is that you’ve never attended an SCBWI-Michigan in-person conference before. Yup. That’s correct. You don’t need a finished manuscript or portfolio. You don’t need to eat green eggs and ham. In fact, the only prerequisite is a desire to be with your fellow creatives and be exposed to industry professionals such as an agent, a couple of editors and an art director. Oh, my!

The scholarship is open to a current Michigan resident and covers the $160 early bird tuition for the conference. As with all our scholarships--One winner will be chosen randomly. 

But wait, there’s more.

To affirm the need for increased representation in the children’s and YA book industry, SCBWI-Michigan is also offering a full conference scholarship to a member of our BIPOC community.

Unclear if you qualify?

BIPOC stands for black, indigenous and people of color. If you identify as Black, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern or Latinx please apply.

The application window for both scholarships open March 1, 2025, and ends March 16th, 2025.

 

Here are the links to the scholarship forms but wait until March 1. The links won’t be live until then. 

First Timer Scholarship Link

BIPOC Scholarship Link

 

Awardees will be notified on or before March 16th by email. Early bird registration for the conference opens March19th.

Questions should be directed to SCBWI-MI's co-regional advisors, Jodi McKay (michigan-ra@scbwi.org) or Anita Fitch Pazner (michigan-ra2@scbwi.org)

Best of luck!

Anita Pazner, Co-RA, has been an active member of SCBWI for over two decades. She earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and a Master Gardening degree from Michigan State University. Her debut picture book, The Topsy-Turvy Bus, released in March of 2023 and introduces kids to alternative energy sources like used veggie oil. Her middle grade novel in verse Words Matter: The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, will be published September 3, 2025. Anita has presented at The Michigan Reading Association, The Association of Writers & Writing Programs, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and local SCBWI-MI Area Shop Talks. In a publishing world full of constant rejections, Anita is a testament to never giving up.