Scroll down for information about the First Looks for Illustrators AND the First Pages for Authors & Translators panel submissions
First Looks (for Illustrators)
What is it?
Submit up to THREE illustration samples anonymously for an opportunity to receive live feedback in these large group sessions:
- SATURDAY, 9:00 AM: Just-Right Agent-Client Fit with literary agents Jennie Dunham & Anjanette Barr—Submit up to 3 illustrations that best represent your work. Feedback will be focused on market appeal, comparison to what faculty are seeing in their inbox, and faculty manuscript wish list (MSWL) fit.
- SATURDAY, 1:00 PM: Just-Right Character Intros with art director Maryn Arreguín & editor Celia Lee—Submit up to 3 illustrations that introduce a character. Feedback will be focused on market appeal of the character introduction, comparison to what faculty are seeing in their inbox, and faculty MSWL fit.
NOTE: All three illustrations will be reviewed in the same session. A variety of manuscript first pages will also be reviewed during these sessions. We regret that there may not be time to review all illustration submissions, but we will try to accommodate a variety of illustration types and as many samples as possible.
How to participate:
Free with registration
Deadline:
- Send your illustrations to our Co-Regional Advisor, Kristen Strocchia, [email protected], by 11:59 PM ET Friday, 4/10/26.
- Please put "Pocono 2026_First Looks” in the subject line of your email.
What to send:
Three portfolio-ready illustrations .jpg or .png file (5 MB max).
- Just-Right Agent-Client Fit—Submit up to 3 illustrations that best represent your work. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME or other identifying information on the artwork please.
- Just-Right Character Intros—Submit up to 3 illustrations that introduce a character. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME or other identifying information on the artwork please.
What to name your files:
⇒Please SAVE YOUR FILES as follows: Pocono 2026_SESSION CHOICE First Looks_YOUR INITIALS_IMAGE NUMBER. (Information in ALL CAPS to be added by you.)
⇒For example, for Kristen Strocchia's first file for the Agent-Client Fit session, she would label it: Pocono 2026_Agent-Client Fit First Looks_KS_1
First Pages (for Authors & Translators)
What is it?
This is a FREE opportunity to receive live feedback in a large group session on up to 250 words of your manuscript (submitted anonymously).
- SATURDAY, 9:00 AM: Just-Right Agent-Client Fit with literary agents Jennie Dunham & Anjanette Barr—Submit the first 250 words of your manuscript. Feedback will be focused on market appeal, comparison to what faculty are seeing in their inbox, and faculty manuscript wish list (MSWL) fit.
- SATURDAY, 1:00 PM: Just-Right Character Intros with editor Celia Lee & art director Maryn Arreguín—Submit up to 250 words of a character introduction in your manuscript. (Could be the part of a scene where you introduce your main character or a secondary character of your choice.) Feedback will be focused on market appeal of the character introduction, comparison to what faculty are seeing in their inbox, and faculty MSWL fit.
NOTE: A variety of illustration first looks will also be reviewed during these sessions. We regret that there may not be time to review all manuscript submissions, but we will try to accommodate a variety of manuscript types and as many samples as possible.
How to participate:
Free with registration
Deadline:
- Send your First Page or Character Introduction to our Co-Regional Advisor Kristen Strocchia, e[email protected], by 11:59 PM ET Friday, 4/10/26.
- In the subject line of your email, please put “Pocono 2026_First Pages” and the name of the panel session to which you are submitting.
What to send:
For ALL GENRES, please send ONE DOCUMENT with the following:
- Just-Right Agent-Client Fit—Submit the first 250 words of your manuscript. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME or other identifying information on the page please.
- Just-Right Character Intros—Submit up to 250 words of a character introduction in your manuscript. (Could be the part of a scene where you introduce your main character or a secondary character of your choice.) Please indicate whether the introduction is of your main character or a secondary character. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME or other identifying information on the page please.
Author-illustrator dummies/graphic novel samples are welcome for these panels!
- Just-Right Agent-Client Fit—Submit the first 2 1/2 spreads max of a picture book dummy or illustrated graphic novel sample. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME or other identifying information on the page please.
- Just-Right Character Intros—Submit up to 2 1/2 consecutive spreads max in which you introduce a character. Please indicate whether the introduction is of your main character or a secondary character. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME or other identifying information on the pages please.
Translation samples are also welcome for these panels!
- Just-Right Agent-Client Fit—Submit the first 250 words of your manuscript. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME or other identifying information on the page please. However, please do include a 1-2 sentence note about the source work (in the same document; this information will not be counted toward the submission word count).
- Just-Right Character Intros—Submit up to 250 words of a character introduction in your manuscript. (Could be the part of a scene where you introduce your main character or a secondary character of your choice.) Please indicate whether the introduction is of your main character or a secondary character. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME or other identifying information on the page please. However, please do include a 1-2 sentence note about the source work (in the same document; this information will not be counted toward the submission word count).
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).
⇒Please include title, category, and genre on every page of your work as a header or a footer. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME or other identifying information on the page please.
⇒Please SAVE YOUR FILE as a Word doc or PDF as follows: Pocono 2026_SESSION CHOICE First Page_CATEGORY_GENRE. (Information in ALL CAPS to be added by you.)
⇒For example, if sending a middle grade Sci Fi novel sample for the Just Right Character Intros panel, you would save the document as follows: Pocono 2026_Character Intros First Page_MG_SCIFI