Manuscript Submission

How to go about an Online Critique in 5 easy steps

 A professionally formatted submission shows that you understand the business of writing and publishing for children.

1. Register. Use the Faculty page to ensure your preferred faculty member offers critiques for your type of project.
2. Polish your PB submission, or novel submission.

PB

• First 500 words for fiction. First 800 words for non-fiction.
• Text only—Choose a PB Dummy Review if you are submitting art and text as an author/illustrator.
• Picture books do not require a synopsis.

Novel (includes Chapter Books, MG, YA, GN text, Verse novels)

• Submit only the first 10 pages of one manuscript, even if it cuts off in the middle of a chapter.
• No word count needed.
• Include a single spaced, 1-page synopsis. For more information on writing a synopsis, we suggest Jane Friedman’s Blog.

3. Prepare a single document. Synopsis included in document with novel submissions.

• Double spaced (novels in verse may use 1-inch spacing), 1-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman Font
• First page, upper left corner: Name, Email, Category (PB, CB, MG, GN, YA, NF)
• Page numbers in the upper right corner, beginning on the second page: PAGE #, Last Name/TITLE
• Title in all CAPS, centered at top of page. Manuscript begins below the title.
• Word.docx files only
• Label file Last Name, Title, Faculty Name: LastName_Title_Faculty.docx

4. Submit + Schedule. Use the form found under the MY EVENTS tab of your Member Home to submit your materials and select an available meeting time.

• Deadline to submit: Saturday, Oct 4th, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET

5. Join the Zoom.

• Critique meetings will be held the week of Monday, Nov 10th, 2025
• Find the Zoom link to join under the MY EVENTS tab of your SCBWI Member Home. Join the Zoom a few minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. Sessions are booked back to back—if you are late, your session will still end on time. Missed appointments may not be rescheduled. Another attendee has paid for the appointment right after yours. Be considerate of this and exit the meeting when time is called.
• Take a deep breath. Come with open ears and prepared questions. The benefit to critique is receiving professional feedback on how we can improve our work.