Thursday, October 3, 2024

Open Call for a Paid Writing Opportunity: Apply to be a Guest Blogger for SCBWI: The Blog in 2025

Hi Community!

In 2025 we're going to continue with a guest blogger every month! For all of us who create work for children and teens (authors, illustrators, translators), it's a great way to share what YOU want to share with our community.

graphic with dancers that reads, "hey, SCBWI Community, It's an open call for you! Guest Bloggers" with the new SCBWI Logo


As a reminder, posts can be about craft, business, inspiration, helpful tips, advice, interviews... and you can use video, audio, text, images... the sky's the limit, and generally posts should take about five minutes or less to consume.

This is a paid blogging opportunity - you'll receive $50 a post, so $200 for the four posts.

Here's how you apply:

If you'd like to be considered for a guest blogging spot (4 posts in one month), you're welcome to email me at leewind (at) roadrunner (dot) com these three things:

1) a few sentence bio of your involvement with kid lit and scbwi

2) one blog post example

3) a few additional topics you would want to address 

Our goal is to schedule the entire 2025 year by December 2024 - so I encourage you to apply now!

Thanks!

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee


Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Anti-Censorship PSAs with Student Advocates for Speech

Paying attention to and fighting book banning isn't just something to do during Banned Books Week -- this is an ongoing effort for young readers to have access to books that can be life-saving and life-changing.

Watch the video where teens tell us in their own words how important some of these challenged books have been for them

From the press release:

In the face of escalating challenges to our freedom to read, student voices are both crucial and often unheard. That’s why the SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund (SCBWI ILF) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) have joined forces to create this powerful new resource in our shared fight against book banning.

Facing this challenge to our intellectual freedom has never been more important. So we couldn’t be more excited to present this 11-minute PSA featuring thoughtful, well-informed testimonials from high school students across the country. These students share how banned books like The Color Purple, Maus, This Book is Gay, All Boys Aren’t Blue, and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret have impacted their lives—and inspired them to use their voices to fight for the freedom to read. Their stories underscore why the right to read diverse literature is vital for a thriving democratic society.

This video is more than just a collection of testimonials—it's a tool for you to use in conversations, promotions, and educational settings to highlight the profound impact of banned books. SCBWI hopes you use it to champion the intellectual rights of young readers in your own communities.

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee