What is it?
For an additional cost, you can receive feedback from a publishing industry professional on a sample of your work. Registration includes written feedback and a 15-minute one-on-one meeting that will take place at the event.
How to participate:
Be sure to select a critique WHEN you register for Illustrator Day AND MG & YA Day—LIVE! in Lancaster.
Deadline:
- Illustrators: Send your portfolio samples/dummy to Robyn, [email protected], by 11:59 PM ET Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
- PB Authors: Send your manuscript/GN sample to Kristen, [email protected], by 11:59 PM ET Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
- Please put LIVE! In Lancaster 2026 critique submission: Critique Faculty Last Name_Your Last Name_TITLE OF MANUSCRIPT/PORTFOLIO (same as saved file name) in the subject line of your email.
Who is critiquing what?
Brian Biggs, illustrator
Critiquing Illustration portfolios, PB dummies, illustrated GN samples, and illustrated CB samples
Leslie Zampetti, literary agent
Critiquing Illustration portfolios, PB dummies, and illustrated GN samples
Eugenia Mello, art director
More information coming soon!
Claire Stetzer, editor
Critiquing MG, YA, and Translation Samples
Charlotte Wenger, literary agent
Critiquing MG, YA, NIV, and GN Manuscripts/Illustrated Samples
What to Send
Read each faculty member's critique preferences above and be sure to select a critique with the faculty who is critiquing the correct category for your work.
- For Illustrators: Please send six portfolio-ready illustrations OR 1 dummy .jpg, .png or PDF file (5 MB max).
- For Illustrated Graphic Novel and Chapter Book Sample Pages: send up to 10 illustrated pages of your manuscript and a one-page, single-spaced synopsis (in the same document) .jpg, .png or PDF file (5 MB max).
- For Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Graphic Novel text only (MG/YA/GN text only) Authors/Translators: Please send up to 10 pages of your manuscript and a one-page, single-spaced synopsis (in the same document). Translator submissions should include a brief note about the source work (also in the same document).
- For Novels in Verse (NIV): Please send up to 2,500 words of your manuscript and a one-page, single-spaced synopsis (in the same document). Translator submissions should include a brief note about the source work (also in the same document).
How to format your submission:
⇒For all submissions, format your work in 12-point font, with one-inch margins, and double spacing (US Letter paper size). Include your synopsis in the same document (please don’t send two documents).
⇒The following formatting exceptions may be used for Novels in Verse (NIV) submissions only:
- You may format your NIV manuscript using either 1.15, 1.5, or double spacing. This spacing choice should be used standard throughout the manuscript sample.
- You may only vary from your standard spacing choice when needed for the visual presentation of a particular poem.
- You may only use a font size other than 12-point when needed for the visual presentation of a particular poem.
⇒Please include your name on every page of your work as a header or a footer, as well as identifying information on page one: first & last name, email address, title, genre.
⇒Please SAVE YOUR FILE as Critique Faculty Last Name_Your Last Name_TITLE OF MANUSCRIPT/PORTFOLIO as a PDF or DOC or DOCx.
Portfolio Example: Zampetti_Stone_PORTFOLIO
Manuscript/Dummy Example: Wenger_Strocchia_PURPLE CARROTS
We anticipate critiques to be returned on or about Saturday, September 12, 2026. Please review this feedback in preparation for your one-on-one meeting during the conference day.