Tag Archives: Sue Alexander

The Sue Alexander Grant Is Open for Submissions!

12 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by in Author's Perspective, Contests & Grants, SAG, Writers' Retreat

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by Christine Van Zandt

The 2023 Sue Alexander Grant contest opens tomorrow, April 13, offering one SCBWI-L.A. writer a guaranteed spot and free tuition to the Working Writers Retreat (to be held at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, September 29 to October 1, 2023). This will be the first time this popular event has been held in person since 2019!

We asked last year’s Sue Alexander Grant recipient, Christine Van Zandt, to talk about her winning manuscript:

Christine Van Zandt, 2022 Sue Alexander Grant recipient, with western monarch.

The idea for Butterfly Dreams began in May 2020, when my daughter and I bought our first milkweed plant unaware that a mother monarch had sent us home with a surprise—actually 26 surprises! Soon, our plant was covered in adorable caterpillars. We excitedly watched them grow … until something came along one night and ate every last one.

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The Sue Alexander Grant is Open. Why Should You Submit Your Writing?

25 Wednesday Apr 2018

Posted by in Contests & Grants, SAG, Writers' Retreat

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By Karol Ruth Silverstein, SCBWI-L.A. Contest Coordinator

It’s time once again to polish up those manuscripts and submit to the Sue Alexander Grant, the winner of which receives a guaranteed spot and free tuition to the SCBWI-L.A. September 2018 Working Writers Retreat.

The WWR is an intense critiquing weekend with critique sessions, revision time, and parties ­­— including karaoke! The retreat culminates in a first-pages pitch session with four acquiring editors and agents.

I recently caught up with last year’s Sue Alexander Grant winner, Andrea Custer, for her insight on the retreat, how it influenced her writing, and why you should apply for this grant to attend.

KAROL RUTH SILVERSTEIN: Did you put in a lot of work on your manuscript before submitting it to the Sue Alexander Grant or did you have a polished manuscript ready to go?

ANDREA CUSTER: I workshopped it with my critique group as I was writing the first draft. They are an amazing group, quite astute, and so I had the benefit of their comments early on and had already revised the first half of the manuscript based on their feedback. Submitting it for consideration for SAG was actually a bit of an impulse! I saw the reminder on Facebook that the submission deadline was coming up, and thought why not go for it? I had about a week to re-read, polish, and get it ready. I found out I’d won on my birthday! It was the best gift I’ve ever gotten.

KRS: What was your favorite part of the retreat? What was most valuable? Continue reading →

Judges Award Sue Alexander Grant, SCBWI-L.A.’s Top Writing Prize

14 Friday Jul 2017

Posted by in Contests & Grants, Writers' Retreat

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By Marcelle Greene, SCBWI-L.A. Contest Coordinator

Our anonymous judges were unanimous in their opinion that awarding this year’s Sue Alexander Grant was one tough decision. But after three rounds of whittling more than one hundred entries, there emerged this clear winner:

I do my best thinking in my underwear. Mamma always understood that about me.

 “We Rockfort women are at our best when we’re wearing the least,” she’d say. But Lord in Heaven, I don’t think she had in mind that I’d be wearing a man’s jockey shorts, standard Army issue, second-hand no less. And I’ll say it plain, as much time as men have spent getting into my drawers, I can’t quite get right with walking around in theirs.

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SCBWI’s Working Writers’ Retreat: Kes Trester Interview (Sue Alexander Award Winner); and Insider View from Writer Sara Bayles

18 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by in Contests & Grants, SAG, Writers' Retreat

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Kes TresterOn September 11-13, 2015, writers from all around the globe attended SCBWI’sAnnual Working Writers’ Retreat; this year in a secluded Encino, California, location. As usual, tickets for this event sold out quickly.

I met up with the 2015 Sue Alexander Award winner, Kes Trester, on that Friday. Most retreat attendees share simple rooms with another writer. Kes and I sat together outside her room. In the still-humid LA evening, Kes imparted insight about writing, the retreat, and how writers can apply for this coveted SCBWI award.

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Sue Alexander Service and Encouragement Award 2015

06 Wednesday May 2015

Posted by in Contests & Grants, SASE Award

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And the winner is…. Claudia Harrington!

Claudia

The Sue Alexander Service and Encouragement Award is given to a deserving member of SCBWI that honor his/her service to SCBWI. This award is a great honor as it embodies to spirit of Sue Alexander who was dedicated to giving back to SCBWI.

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And the Winner Is … Sue Alexander Grant for the Working Writer’s Retreat Contest Draws Magnificent Multitudes

04 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Contests & Grants, SAG

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Judges had a tough decision in selecting this year’s Sue Alexander Grant winner, which attracted more than 90 entries vying for a free coveted slot at the fall Working Writer’s Retreat.

The winner is a young adult novel by Kes Trester, an associate member (as yet unpublished). But with the promising manuscript Collision, we expect to welcome Kes to the ranks of PAL (published) members soon!

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