Manuscript Critiques and Submissions
Want to know what you specifically can do to make your work shine? You must be registered for the full conference to have an industry professional critique your manuscript at the conference. Conference attendees may purchase a total of one paid manuscript critique. To participate, select a paid manuscript critique during the registration process.
For paid feedback on portfolios, see the For Illustrators page or the Feedback > Portfolio Critiques page.
For 2025, we will be running our manuscript contest in conjunction with our critiques. See the Contest page for details!
PAID Face-to-Face Critiques ($85-$100)
(Submissions due by July 1, 2025)
Choose Your Own Critiquer $100
Critiquer Chosen for You $85
During online registration, you’ll have the option to choose one of the above two options under “Conference Extras.” Be sure to register early! Choose-your-own spots fill up especially fast! Once slots are full, these options will no longer be available. (NOTE: If a faculty member’s choose-your-own slots are full, it does NOT automatically mean they have no more room left for critiques. The conference committee reserves a specific number of slots with each faculty member for those who don’t choose their own critiquer.) Critiques might be with an agent or editor. Continue reading for more information, or download the Manuscript Formatting Guidelines on this page.
What to Submit for a Paid Critique
For your paid critique, you may submit:
• one picture book manuscript
• OR one picture book manuscript with dummy (for author-illustrators only)
• OR up to 10 pages of poems
• OR a one-page synopsis of a fiction or nonfiction project + the first 10 pages of the corresponding manuscript
• OR a one-page synopsis of a graphic novel project + the first 10 pages of the corresponding manuscript (a one-page art sample is optional)
How to Format Your Manuscript
NOTE: Writers who are not illustrators DO NOT need illustrations for their picture books. A correctly formatted manuscript is the only necessary submission. Author-illustrators may submit a correctly formatted manuscript with or without a dummy.
1) Please name your manuscript file as follows—LASTNAME.TITLE.YEAR—and send it in .docx format. For picture book dummies, name your PDF as follows: LASTNAME.TITLEDUMMY.YEAR
NOTE: The name on your manuscript MUST match the name you registered under for the conference even if you write under a pseudonym.
2) Format ALL manuscripts in double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman with 1” margins.
3) ALL submissions must include a title page with your contact information and the category of your manuscript (YA, MG, PB, chapter book, graphic novel, or NF) in the upper left-hand corner. Please note, it must be only one category; there is no MG/YA per publishing guidelines. If you are represented by an agent, please note that on the title page as well. The title page does NOT count as one of your ten pages.
4) For picture books: submit up to 10 pages of ONE picture book manuscript. No synopsis is needed.
5) For picture book dummies: submit one full dummy as a PDF (regardless of page number) AND a .docx file of your manuscript only, formatted as listed in the steps above.
6) For middle grade, young adult, nonfiction, chapter books, and graphic novels: submit a title page, the first 10 pages of your manuscript, double-spaced (even if it cuts off mid-chapter) plus a short synopsis no longer than one page (single-spaced), all in the same document. Your total submission document should be 12 pages long (title page, 10-page manuscript, synopsis page).
7) For poetry: this includes rhyming picture books, novels in verse, and stand-alone poetry collections. Poetry submissions should conform to the picture book and novel guidelines above; however, they 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. Note that your 10 pages can have no more than 2500 words.
8) You are welcome to include a header with your name and the title of your work on each page of your manuscript, as well as page numbers (as shown on the downloadable Formatted Manuscript Sample Pages), but you are not required to do so.
When and How to Submit for a Paid Critique
1. Online conference registration must be completed and all fees must be paid before submitting your manuscript for a paid critique.
2. Your manuscript must ARRIVE in our inbox ON or BEFORE 11:59 p.m. Eastern time/10:59 p.m. Central time on July 1, 2025. Manuscripts received after that day cannot be accepted.
3. Send your correctly formatted manuscript to [email protected] no later than Tuesday, July 1, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time/10:59 p.m. Central time. (NOTE: We will not be able to swap manuscripts after you’ve sent yours to us. If your manuscript arrives after 11:59 p.m. Eastern time/10:59 p.m. Central time on July 1, you will be informed. This fee is nonrefundable.)
4. In the subject line of your email, please include: the type of critique you’ve chosen (i.e. “choose your own critiquer,” “critiquer chosen for you”), as well as your manuscript’s genre (i.e., fantasy, mystery, contemporary, graphic novel) and category (i.e., picture book, middle grade, young adult, nonfiction). EXAMPLE: Critiquer chosen for you, picture book, OR Critiquer chosen for you, young adult fantasy.
5. If you have had a critique at a previous conference with one of THIS YEAR’S faculty, please add that information (the name of the reviewer) in the body of your email so we can avoid scheduling you with someone you’ve already met with.
6. All submissions will receive a personal confirmation within ONE WEEK. PLEASE DO NOT email asking if your submission has been received BEFORE this window expires.
7. Questions? Download and review the Manuscript Sample Pages on this page. Still have questions? Email Erica Rodgers at [email protected].
When and How Will I Receive My Critique?
Critiqued manuscripts will be returned to attendees via email a day or two before the conference. The time and location of your assigned face-to-face appointment with your critiquer will be given to you when you check in to the conference. When you get to the conference, plan to arrive at the designated critique room before your appointment time. You’ll get 15 minutes with your critiquer for the in-person portion of your feedback session, so come prepared to get the most out of the experience.