WRITTEN CRITIQUES
Formatting Guidelines for ALL Written Critiques:
MANUSCRIPTS: One ms per critique please
—Digital formatting requirements for your single Word document or PDF file are as follows:
—If your file DOES NOT INCLUDE images, please format it as a Word document.
—If your file INCLUDES IMAGES, please format it as a PDF file no larger than 20MG; image format must conform to 8.5 x11 inches.
——8.5 by 11 inches, 1-inch margins,
——12-point standard font, double spaced.
——Your name, e-mail, ms title, format (picture book, middle grade, YA, graphic novel, etc.) AND genre (romance, mystery, biography, etc.) must be at the top of the first page.
——NOTE: FOR ADDITIONAL MSS CRITIQUE WITH Dr. Vecchiolla (ONLY): Please add trigger warning to contact information at the top of first page. Watch WEEK 9 presentation for more information about trigger warnings to be included in your contact information.
—No title page is necessary; text may start immediately after the identifying information.
—No introduction letters.
FORMATS FOR MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUE: Your digital submission should include…
For Picture Books:
ONE picture book manuscript only, please. Your file may include up to (10) pages maximum from ONE manuscript.
——NOTE: FOR ADDITIONAL MSS CRITIQUE WITH with Alice McGinty (ONLY):Your file may include up to (5) pages maximum from ONE manuscript.
For Novels:
FIRST (10) pages of the ms (even if this cuts off mid chapter); your optional synopsis may be single-spaced but must be contained within your 10 pages total.
If your FIRST (10) pages of the ms includes your illustrations (suitable for novels), they may also be included within your (10) pages. Please keep your image file to 20Mb or less.
For Poetry:
Includes rhyming picture books, novels in verse, and stand-alone poetry collections.
Poetry submissions should conform to the picture book and novel guidelines above and are allowed up to (10) pages; however, poems may be single spaced with a double space between stanzas, per industry standards. Stand-alone
collections (i.e., a group of poems intended to be published as one book) must have a page break at the end of each poem.
For Graphic Novels:
Your submission should include a one-page synopsis (which may be single-spaced) plus up to (10) pages of finished art, standard script pages or a consecutive combination thereof.
Name your FILE using the following format: WITW_2024_MS_Critique_FirstName_LastName
DUMMYS:
28 pages plus cover and endpapers maximum. All pages must be contained in a PDF not to exceed 12 inches in height (or width) or 20MB in file size.
Name your FILE using the following format: LAST_First_Dummy
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS: Portfolios may contain up to 15 pages combined into a single PDF with approximately one illustration per page.
Name your FILE using the following format: LAST_First_Portfolio
All INITIAL INSIDER CRITIQUE submissions are to be uploaded into the corresponding Dropbox link by Saturday, May 4, 11:59PM—no exceptions.
ADDITIONAL, OPTIONAL CRITIQUE submission information will be outlined in the GUIDELINES page of the attendee VIRTUAL FOLDER. Submissions will be due July 20 and SCBWI Gold Forms returned to attendees by August 31, 2024.
PLEASE SEND YOUR DIGITAL SUBMISSION IN EARLY if you are unfamiliar with Dropbox. You do not need a Dropbox account to upload your files.
QUESTIONS about submittals?: Email John Bowen, WITW Volunteer
PORTFOLIO SHOWCASE
Guidelines for Portfolio Showcase
Your portfolio must follow the guidelines below to be included in the PORTFOLIO SHOWCASE.
You may also display one book dummy at the Showcase. The dummy must not exceed the maximum portfolio size below.
Portfolio size: (measure while open)
Maximum width: 32"
Maximum height: 15"
10 -15 images suggested. Copies or prints only; no original art
Name and contact information must be in or on portfolio
You may display business or promotional cards with your portfolio. Up to 5" x 7" (horizontal or vertical format). No plastic holders.
QUESTIONS?: Louann Brown, WITW Volunteer
FIRST LOOK
One image, suitable for kidlit publication, may be screen-shared. Images may be:
- double-page spread
- book cover
- b/w interior art | vignettes | chapter headings
- finished cell page for graphic novels
QUESTIONS?: Email Densie Holmes, IC