2020 SF Writers Conference Scholarships
The deadlines have passed for all 2020 Scholarships. Here are the winners:
Orna Glick and GW Brown each earned the KEVIN SMOKLER SCHOLARSHIP
Maria Ramos-Chertok earned the NINA AMIR SCHOLARSHIP for Nonfiction Writing
Samantha Mullett earned the ELI POTTER BITCOIN & BLOCKCHAIN SCHOLARSHIP
Rosie Sorenson earned the 2020 JOYCE TURLEY SCHOLARSHIP
Levi Jackson and America DeFleur earned the DIRECTOR’S SCHOLARSHIP for marginalized voices.
Terry Ratner earned the Dr. ELLEN TALIAFERRO SCHOLARSHIP
Thelma Swan Tucker earned the DIANE FRANK SCHOLARSHIP
Congratulations and thank you to all who donated toward these scholarships to the 2020 SFWC.
Below are the guidelines that you may find helpful if you plan to apply NEXT year.
THE DIRECTOR’S SCHOLARSHIP for the 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference
SFWC Director Laurie McLean is committed to giving diverse voices a chance to be heard. This scholarship pays for the full conference registration fee (not including travel or accommodations), plus breakfast with Laurie one day of the conference to discuss anything the winner chooses.
To enter, please write 500 words (or fewer) on why your writing, based on your personal experience as a member of a marginalized group, would be a great addition to the #ownvoices conversation. Examples of marginalized identities include racial minorities, LGBTQ+ people, religious minorities, and people with disabilities.
Laurie will make her selection based on the writing quality of the essay as well as the passion exhibited by the entrant.
It’s worth noting that Harry Louis Williams II, the winner of the 2019 Director’s Scholarship got an agent while at the conference!
Deadline for entries is December 31, 2019.
Please click here to upload your entry for the Director’s Scholarship before 5 p.m. Pacific time on 12/31/19.
Eli Potter Bitcoin & Blockchain Scholarship for the 2020 SFWC 
Welcome to the Second Bitcoin & Blockchain writing competition. This competition is unique and I hope you find it creative and inspiring. This year, we will focus on Bitcoin and PLOT writing.
One winner will be selected and awarded a full registration to the SFWC 2020 conference. The full scholarship covers the conference (classes, workshops, 3 breakfasts, awards luncheon, editorial consult, and social events.) It does not include travel, accommodations, optional paid master classes or incidentals.
DEADLINE: December 26, 2019.
CLICK HERE for details and submission.
Dr. ELLEN TALIAFERRO SFWC SCHOLARSHIP for 2020
The theme for the Dr. Ellen Taliaferro Scholarship is based on a Buddhist saying: Poison into Medicine. Dr. Taliaferro is looking for personal stories that embody the idea that healing can sometimes come through hardship. The scholarship will be awarded to ONE writer, but all entries will be considered for inclusion in Dr. Taliaferro’s upcoming book. This scholarship will pay for a full registration to the main 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference and includes all main conference sessions, Gala, event breakfasts and awards luncheon, keynotes, a free editorial consult, and social events. It does NOT include travel, accommodations, optional sessions/meals, Master Classes, paid consultations, and/or Speed Dating with Agents.
THEME: Healing through hardship
1. Write a 250-word explanation of why you want the scholarship to the San Francisco Writers Conference AND a single-page personal story that embodies the theme, Healing through hardship. While not required, you can include in your entry a short description of your own writing projects. “Ideally we would like the recipient to have a work in progress themselves and attend the SFWC as a way to get their book published,” says Dr. Taliaferro. Please include your contact information, including name, phone number and an email address, on the first page of the entry.
2. Click here to submit using this ONLINE ENTRY FORM. The entire uploaded entry must be in a SINGLE file. The applicant’s name must be in the file name. (Example: JaneDoe.doc)
No entry fee is required.
3. Your personal story of healing through hardship MAY be considered for inclusion in Dr. Taliafarro’s upcoming book. If selected, you will be contacted by Dr. Taliaferro with further details.
DEADLINE: The deadline for submissions is December 10, 2019. Winners will be notified and announced by late December. Only one submission per person will be allowed. If the winner is already registered for the 2020 SFWC, they can opt to be designate a recipient (for 2020 SFWC) OR they can let Barbara Santos ([email protected]) know they want to use the scholarship for 2021.There is no cash value. Questions about The Ellen Taliaferro Scholarship should be directed electronically to Ellen Taliaferro, MD via email at Ellent (at) mac (dot) com.
BIO: Dr. Ellen Taliaferro, lovingly referred to as the Dr. T by the SFWC Team, is the Project Director of the Health After Trauma Project, author of WellWriting For Health After Trauma and Abuse and co-author of The Physician’s Guide to Intimate Partner Violence and Respond to Intimate Partner Violence – 10 Action Steps You Can Take to Help Your Patients and Your Practice. She is a long-time practitioner of Buddhism. “I chose the San Francisco Writers Conference for this scholarship because it excels in offering opportunities for writers attending the conference to interact with the faculty–authors, editors, agents and publishers.”
KEVIN SMOKLER ANNUAL SFWC SCHOLARSHIP
The Kevin Smokler Scholarship will award TWO registrations to the 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference. The winners will also have an individual one-on-one consultation and share a meal during the 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference with longtime conference educator-in-residence Kevin Smokler.
Funds for the scholarship are supported by Kevin’s annual paid private consultation program, a fixture at the San Francisco Writers Conference since 2010. Kevin is the author of several books and genuinely likes people…especially writers! Read more about him.
RULES:
- Please write 500 words (or fewer) describing the writing project you intend to showcase at the conference and why you have chosen to commit your creativity to this particular project.
- To enter your submission, click here and USE THIS FORM. Only online submissions will be considered. The uploaded entry must be in a SINGLE file with the applicant’s name on the first page AND in the file name. (Ex: JaneDoe.doc)
- The scholarship is for the 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference and includes all main conference sessions, Gala, event breakfasts, keynotes, a free editorial consult, and social events. It does not include any travel or accommodations, optional sessions/meals, Master Classes, paid consultations, and/or Speed Dating with Agents.
- There is no application fee required. Only one submission per person will be allowed. This scholarship is open to any writer who has not been awarded the scholarship before. If the winner is already registered for the 2020 SFWC, they can notify us if they wish to designate a recipient (for 2020 SFWC) OR opt to use the scholarship for the 2021 SFWC. There is no cash value.
DEADLINE: Entries must be received by 5p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2019. Winners will be notified and announced in late December.
Kevin will make his selection based on the writing quality and passion of the essay. Past winners have published in literary journals and magazines nationwide.
NINA AMIR SFWC SCHOLARSHIP for Nonfiction Writing for 2020
The Nina Amir Scholarship for Nonfiction Writing will award a registration to the 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference.
Funds for the scholarship are supported by Nina’s annual paid private consultation program at the San Francisco Writers Conference.
RULES:
- Please write 500 words (or fewer) describing the nonfiction writing project you intend to pitch at the conference. Include a mission statement that explains why this project is meaningful to you and what type of positive and meaningful impact you hope it will have on readers, organizations, communities, or the world.
- To enter your submission, click here and USE THIS FORM. Only online submissions will be considered. The uploaded entry must be in a SINGLE file with the applicant’s name and contact info on the first page. Please use your name in the file name. (Ex: JaneDoe.doc)
- The scholarship is for the 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference and includes all main conference sessions, Gala, event breakfasts, keynotes, a free editorial consult, and social events. It does not include any travel or accommodations, or add-ons such as optional sessions/meals, Master Classes, paid consultations, and/or Speed Dating with Agents.
* The scholarship winner also will receive a one-hour consult with Nina Amir, which can be redeemed at the conference (if time allows) or by phone, Skype, or Zoom within six months of being awarded the scholarship.
- There is no application fee required. Only one submission per person will be allowed. This scholarship is open to any nonfiction writer who has not been awarded the scholarship before. If the winner is already registered for the 2020 SFWC, they can notify us if they wish to designate a recipient (for 2020 SFWC) OR opt to use the scholarship for the 2021 SFWC. There is no cash value.
DEADLINE: Entries must be received by 5p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2019. Winners will be notified and announced in late December.
The 2020 Joyce Turley Scholarship
Joyce teaching Billie Jean King how to Speed Read!
Our beloved advisory board member and scholarship benefactor, Joyce Turley, passed away just before the 2019 San Francisco Writers Conference. She will be missed. As a tribute to her, we created this scholarship for the San Francisco Writers Conference in her honor. We know Joyce would approve.
Short Story Theme: The ‘Brownie Effect’.
Joyce baked and gave away her signature brownies with abandon. She would even stop at the tollbooth on the Golden Gate Bridge to give them to the toll takers back in the day…just to see them smile. Tell us a story about an act of kindness or a special friendship that made a difference.
Rules:
- Any genre is acceptable…fiction, nonfiction, poetry, memoir, or children’s story.
- Entries must be submitted electronically using the link below. The NAME on the file you upload should include your name.
- On the first (cover) page of the entry file you submit: include your name, phone number and email address, a short bio, and any other pertinent information you want to share…such as why you want to attend the SFWC.
- Your story should be no more than 500 words.
- There is no fee to enter.
Deadline: 5 p.m on December 10th. Winners will be notified no later than Dec. 30th.
More details: The scholarship winner will receive a registration for the 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference event—including all regularly scheduled sessions, keynotes and social events during the main conference from Thursday, February 13th through Sunday, February 16th, 2020 which will be held at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. Also included is the Speed Dating for Agents session during the San Francisco Writers Conference. Food, lodging, transportation, SFWC Master Classes or incidentals are not included. If the winner has already registered for the event, the scholarship can be applied to a future San Francisco Writers Conference or San Francisco Writing for Change Conference. It may also be gifted to someone else. (There is no cash value.) The decision of the judge(s) is final. By submitting your story, you grant permission for SFWC to use your likeness and samples of your entry for promotional purposes.
Please CLICK HERE to upload your entry for the Joyce Turley Scholarship before 5 p.m. Pacific time on 12/10/19.
QUESTIONS? Contact Barbara at [email protected]
THE DIRECTOR’S SCHOLARSHIP for the 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference
SFWC Director Laurie McLean is committed to giving diverse voices a chance to be heard. This scholarship pays for the full conference registration fee (not including travel or accommodations), plus breakfast with Laurie one day of the conference to discuss anything the winner chooses.
To enter, please write 500 words (or fewer) on why your writing, based on your personal experience as a member of a marginalized group, would be a great addition to the #ownvoices conversation. Examples of marginalized identities include racial minorities, LGBTQ+ people, religious minorities, and people with disabilities.
Laurie will make her selection based on the writing quality of the essay as well as the passion exhibited by the entrant.
It’s worth noting that Harry Louis Williams II, the winner of the 2019 Director’s Scholarship got an agent while at the conference!
Deadline for entries is December 31, 2019.
Please click here to upload your entry for the Director’s Scholarship before 5 p.m. Pacific time on 12/31/19.
Please limit your entries to ONE per scholarship. In fairness, a writer can win ONLY one scholarship to the 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference. The decision of the judges is final. Good Luck!
The 2020 SFWC Student Scholarships for Bay Area High School Students
The SFWC Foundation is pleased to offer a limited number of one-day scholarships (for Saturday, February 15th) to San Francisco Bay Area high school students. As a way to encourage students to pursue a career in writing and publishing, they will get an insider’s look at the SFWC and meet presenters–authors, agents and book marketing professionals.
They will also get to attend any of the SFWC sessions they choose in areas of their particular writing interest. The student scholarship winner must agree to meet upon arrival with the SFWC Volunteer Coordinator in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency San Francisco by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 15. The SFWC events will end at 6:00 pm that same day. Students may apply for a scholarship by sending us a double-spaced, 250-word essay on why books and writing are important. We would also like a sample of the student’s work.
Send your essay and writing sample to Barbara Santos, SFWC Scholarships, P.O. Box 326, Oakley, CA 94561 or email it to Barbara Santos at [email protected].
Please include the name and address of your high school. Additionally we need the student’s address, phone number and email address. The winning student’s parent or guardian must sign an SFWC liability waiver that can be emailed in advance. The deadline for submissions is January 1st. Feel free to email questions to Barbara Santos at [email protected].
ALL ADULT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR the 2019 SFWC HAVE BEEN AWARDED! Here are the winners!
San Francisco Writers Conference 2019 Photography: Melanie E. Rijkers #SFWC19
CATHERINE COULTER SCHOLARSHIP: Lana Krumwiede and Steven Browne
Eli Potter Blockchain and Crypto Currency Scholarship: Amber Price and Shelley Allen
(Donations from Eli Potter and AutoDesk made these possible.)
THE DIRECTOR’S SCHOLARSHIP: Rev. Harry Williams and Kellen Akiyama
(Donations from Laurie McLean and Dr. Ellen Taliaferro made these possible.)
The 2019 SFWC Student Scholarship for Bay Area High School Students: Christina Abudayeh
The 2019 SFWC Student Scholarship for High School Students: Jacqueline Prata
Congratulations to all. As scholarships for the 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference become available, they will be posted on this page and announced in the SFWC Newsletter. Subscribe to the free SFWC Newsletter!
Note: Our SFWC Scholarships have no fees and all have a simple submission process. All adult scholarships offer a full registration to the event, and some offer additional goodies.
Don’t need a scholarship? Please consider helping someone who does by donating to the ongoing SFWC Scholarship Fund or contact Barbara Santos at [email protected] if you would like to create a scholarship of your own.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE WINNERS OF SCHOLARSHIPS FROM 2018!
From left top: Susan Tunney, Kate Farrell (SFWC Children’s Special Event Coordinator), Vicki Hudson. Bottom row: Jean Stillwell, Vickie Luo, Vidhima Shetty, Aashna Avachat, and children’s author Mitali Perkins.
The 2018 Dr. Ellen Taliaferro Scholarship Awarded to Susan Tunney.
2018 Vicki Hudson Emerging Writer Scholarship Awarded to Jean Stillwell
If you want to donate to the SFWC Scholarship fund, click here.
Want to start a scholarship in your own name and with your own guidelines? You can help other talented writers pursue a writing career. Now you can select the recipients of a scholarship to the SFWC that you create. We want to help as many writers attend the conference as possible, so we are offering a way for you to offer scholarships – in your name, your company’s name or anonymously.
The cost of a named scholarship is $1,000. You may be as involved as you like–choosing the theme, setting the rules and selecting the winner(s). Or you can give us guidelines and we will do the work! Each scholarship has a $1,250 value (cost of the event plus additional recognition for the recipient and you in the program.) Click here to see other Scholarship Donors!
To talk about creating a scholarship, please contact Barbara Santos.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!