Important Critique Information:
Critiques are an optional add-on available for purchase when you register for the full Saturday conference. You may purchase one in-person or live virtual critique with an acquiring faculty member, one written critique with an acquiring faculty member, and one in-person or written critique with an author and/or illustrator per person (for a total of three critiques) at registration check-out. Please visit the Faculty Page to learn about our faculty members. We encourage you to do additional research to see what they are most interested in critiquing.
Critiques offer an opportunity to receive feedback on your work from industry professionals, with a focus on marketability and the execution of your craft. Please note that a critique is not a submission. Critiques with "acquiring" faculty members (i.e., editors, agents, art directors) sell out quickly; however, all attendees receive information about faculty members who accept post-conference submissions. Critiques from authors and illustrators are a fantastic way to hone your craft and learn how to elevate your work to the next level based on their industry experience.
The cut-off to buy and submit your work for a critique is Monday, September 1, 2025.
Critique Pricing:
Manuscripts- There are three options for Manuscript Critiques:
Option 1: Written-only with onsite or offsite faculty ($65)
Option 2: One-on-one (15 minutes) in-person at the conference with on-site faculty on Saturday ($80)
Option 3: One-on-one via live Zoom at the conference with off-site faculty on Saturday ($80)
Portfolios - There are two options for Portfolio Critiques:
Option 1: Written-only with onsite or offsite faculty ($65)
Option 2: One-on-one (15 minutes) Portfolio Critiques are in-person at the conference with on-site faculty on Saturday ($80)
Option 3: One-on-one via live Zoom at the conference with off-site faculty on Saturday ($80)
Critique Guidelines:
Manuscript Submission Process
All manuscripts submitted for critiques will be submitted through a Google Form. You will receive the link to the Google form via email with instructions a few days after you register.
All files submitted through the Google form should be labeled with the critique faculty's last name, your last name, the title, and saved as a Word.docx or Google.doc file:
FacultyLastName_YourLastName_TITLE.docx
Example: Weber_CJPenko_BESTMANUSCRIPTEVER.docx
MANUSCRIPT CHECKLIST
• Check your email for the Google Form to submit your manuscript for critique. If you don't have the link to the Google form within 48 hours of registering for the conference, please email Assitant Regional Advisor, Britney Rudowsky, at [email protected].
• Microsoft Word format with FacultyLastName_YourLastName_TITLE as the file name
• Double-spaced
• Check your page count (10 pages max)
• One story max (i.e., not 20 tiny picture book manuscripts)
• A query or cover letter is not needed
• One file per critique (However, if you choose to include a dummy with a picture book manuscript, you may also attach a PDF, less than 5MB in size)
Anyone registering after Monday, September 1, 2025, will not be able to sign up for manuscript critiques.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
No cover letter or query letter is needed — please only send the manuscript (or excerpt). It’s challenging to manage more than one file per person, and we receive numerous critiques.
If you are submitting a section of your manuscript and believe a synopsis is necessary for the reviewer to understand the context, you can include one at the beginning of your manuscript, and it will be included in the page total.
Only send one manuscript, even if it is a picture book that's less than ten pages. A wise past faculty member once said, “Each manuscript, regardless of how short, requires the same amount of attention.” Remember that elements of a story to be assessed (e.g., character, plot, sense of place) apply to all genres. Please only include one project in the manuscript document.
Portfolio Process
If you are selecting an in-person on-site critique with a faculty member, please bring your portfolio to the critique.
If you are selecting a live virtual Zoom critique with a faculty member, an upload link will be provided after registration.
If you are selecting a written-only critique, you will also receive an upload link after registration.
Receiving Your Critique:
If you purchase an in-person or live Zoom critique for Saturday, you will receive your critique timeslot at the registration table. We do our best to schedule your critique so as not to interfere with your breakout session choices.
If you purchase a written-only critique, you will receive your feedback from the Ohio North Regional Team via email within a week after the conference.