Critique Opportunities

Check out all these amazing critique opportunities:

Critique Types

Take the next step in your KidLit Journey! Critiques by industry professionals and experienced authors and illustrators provide expert guidance on how to improve your work. Whether you are a writer or illustrator, make sure you sign up for one of these critique opportunities to increase your chances to get your work published. We have 10 in-person faculty and 12 off-site faculty providing critiques. Look at each faculty page to learn what type of critiques each faculty member is offering. This year, as part of our SCBWI AZ Regional Conference, we are offering both WRITTEN-ONLY critiques as well as WRITTEN WITH 20-MINUTE ZOOM critiques. You will be able to purchase up to two critiques: one critique from our in-person faculty and one from our off-site faculty.

WRITTEN-ONLY CRITIQUES

Cost: $65.00

Materials Due Date: August 26, 2026

Submit your materials and receive detailed written feedback that you can pick up at the end of the conference. If you are attending virtually, the material will be sent to you after the conference is complete.

Accepted categories are detailed between parenthesis ().

Natascha Morris - Agent, Tobias Literary Agency - (PB, GN, MG, YA)
Andrea Cascardi - Agent, Transatlantic Agency - (PB, MG, YA, ILLO)
Charlotte Wenger - Agent, Prospect Literary Agency - (PB)
Gianna Lakenauth - Editor, Knopf/Penguin Random House - (PB, MG, YA)
Adam Rex - Author/illustrator - (PB, ER, GN, MG, ILLO)
Cynthia Harmony - Author/translator - (BB, PB)
Karen S. Chow - Author - (CB, MG, YA)
Christie Megill – Agent, The Cat Agency Inc (PB, ER, CB, ILLO)
Nina Richner – Agent, Howard Morhaim Literary Agency (GN, MG, YA)
Eve Adler – Agent, Red Fox Literary Agency (PB, ER, CB, ILLO)
Ritu Anand – Agent, D4EO Literary Agency (PB, ER, CB, GN, MG, YA, ILLO)
Amy Thrall Flynn – Agent, Aevitas Creative Management (PB, MG, YA, ILLO)
Laurel Symonds – Agent, KT Literary (PB, ER, CB, GN, MG, YA)
Analia Cabello – Agent, Andrea Brown Literary Agency (PB, ER, CB, GN, MG, YA, ILLO)

Please note: Read and follow the critique guidelines at the bottom of this page.

WRITTEN CRITIQUES WITH A 20-MINUTE ZOOM MEETING AFTER THE CONFERENCE

Cost: $90.00

Materials Due Date: August 26, 2026

Your 20-minute Zoom consultation will be scheduled after the conference. This will give you the opportunity to review the written notes before you meet with your critiquer.

Accepted categories are detailed between parenthesis ().

Charlotte Wenger - Agent, Prospect Literary Agency - (PB)
Ariel Richardson - Editor, Chronicle Books - (PB, ILLO)
G.F. Miller - Author - (MG, YA)
Michael Hale - Author/illustrator (PB, ILLO)
Karen S. Chow - Author (CB, MG, YA)
Linda Camacho – Agent, Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency (PB, GN, MG, YA)
Christie Megill – Agent, The Cat Agency Inc (PB, ER, CB, ILLO)
Ritu Anand – Agent, D4EO Literary Agency (PB, ER, CB, GN, MG, YA, ILLO)
Nina Richner – Agent, Howard Morhaim Literary Agency (GN, MG, YA)
Ali Romig – Editor, Delacorte Press (PRH) (MG, YA)
Stephanie Fretwell-Hill – Agent, Red Fox Literary Agency (PB, CB, GN, MG)
Saribel Pages – Agent, Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency (PB, ER, CB, MG)

Please note: Read and follow the critique guidelines at the bottom of this page.

Critique Guidelines:

To get critique feedback from the industry professionals listed above, you must register for the conference and pay for the critique.

Materials Due Date: August 26, 2026.

Only the creator who produced the work (manuscript or portfolio) can sign up for and receive the critique.
Previously published books (whether traditionally or self-published) are not eligible to be critiqued.
You may submit only ONE manuscript or portfolio per paid critique.
The name on your critique materials must match the name you registered under for the conference, even if you write under a pseudonym. 
No late submissions will be accepted.

***If you sign up and pay for a critique but fail to submit the critique materials by the due date, August 26, 2026, you will forfeit the critique fee you paid.***

You must follow the format your materials as outlined here:

Board Books or Picture Books - send one complete picture book manuscript, no more than 800 words as a PDF file.
Novels - send 10 pages of the manuscript and a one-page synopsis for the critiquer's better understanding of the work as a whole in one PDF file. Note: the 10 pages do not include the synopsis.
Portfolios - send a link to your online portfolio or a PDF with no more than 15 illustrations.

Standard submission formatting should be followed:

Use 12-point Arial or Times New Roman.
Double-space all manuscripts.
The default margin settings that appear in a Microsoft Word document are acceptable. If you are setting margins manually, use a 1-inch or 1.25-inch margin on each side of the page.
Include your name (First Last) in the upper right corner of each page (e.g. Mary Ford). The name on your manuscript MUST match the name you registered under even if you write under a pseudonym.
Include page numbers in the bottom right corner. Pages should be numbered consecutively.
Include a title page with your contact information in the upper left hand corner as well as the category of your manuscript (Picture Book, Chapter Book, MG, YA). If it is Non-Fiction, please add that. It must be only one category. E.g. There is no "MG/YA" category per publishing guidelines.
The title page and synopsis does NOT count as one of your manuscript ten pages.
If you are represented by an agent, please note that on the title page as well.

***If you submit materials that are improperly formatted and the critiquer rejects the submission, you will forfeit the critique fee you paid.***

The submission email address will be provided after you register and sign up for the critique.