Pocono & the Three Bears 2026: Free Opportunities for Illustrators

This is a FREE opportunity to display your illustration work for our agents, art director, and editor faculty to peruse during the retreat. At the end of the weekend, we will announce The Most Outstanding Portfolio as selected by faculty.

This is a FREE peer-to-peer critique session where you will receive feedback on your portfolio and offer others feedback on theirs. (Meeting times determined by the group members.)

SATURDAY SESSIONS!! This is a FREE opportunity to receive live feedback in a large group session on up to three illustrations (submitted anonymously). Saturday, 9:00 AM: Just Right Agent-Client Fit with literary agents Jennie Dunham & Anjanette Barr—Feedback will be focused on market appeal, comparison to what faculty are seeing in their inbox, and faculty MSWL fit. Saturday, 1:00 PM: Just Right Character Intros with art director Maryn Arreguín & editor Celia Lee—Feedback will be focused on market appeal of the character introduction, comparison to what faculty are seeing in their inbox, and faculty MSWL fit. 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 will try to accommodate a variety of illustration types and as many samples as possible.

SUNDAY SESSION!! Everyone is invited to create an illustration that shows "The Moment of Surprise" (Goldilocks and the Three Bears not required!). Bring a separate easel to display this illustration assignment piece in the portfolio showcase. The faculty will select a few of their favorites to review during our Trying Out Chairs: Pitch Tank Panel on Sunday morning. NOTE: this will be on-the-spot market-focused feedback given in a large group setting.

SUNDAY SESSION: Do you have a question about crafting just the right visual ending? Everyone is invited to submit their questions for a chance to be included in this all-faculty panel.