Critiques

Written/In-person Critiques and Portfolio Reviews

Back by popular demand: In-person critiques and portfolio reviews!

Based on feedback from previous conferences, we're bringing back more interactive opportunities with our faculty. SCBWI-MI is now offering written critiques with an in-person 15-min review during the conference for $75. This gives you the chance to:

Ask questions
Brainstorm solutions
Receive in-depth feedback about your WiP from our experienced and knowledgeable faculty.

Participating Faculty:

Sarah Rockett- editor
Maria Dismondy- editor
Alexandra Weiss- agent
Mina Chung- Art Director
Kat Higgs-Coulthard- author
Jean Alicia Elster- author
John Hendrix- author/illustrator

You are able to choose who you would like a critique/portfolio review from, but please note that they are first come, first served. If you would like to purchase a critique, you need to do so at the time of registration though you don’t have to send it until April 11th, 2025. Due to the limited number of critiques and portfolio reviews available you are able to purchase only one critique/portfolio review.

**Written critiques/portfolio review will be completed prior to the conference and returned to you during your 15 minute in-person review. You will find your review time when you check-in at the conference.**

**Illustrators: it is recommended (but not required) that you bring a physical portfolio to your scheduled review.**

Once you register for the conference and purchase a critique or portfolio review, you will find the Critique/Portfolio Review Submission Form under the "Events" section of your member home page. Go to your Member Home Page<Click on "Events"< Scroll down until you see SCBWI-MI Spring Conference Critiques

Please fill out this form by April 11th, 2025.

**Late submissions will not be accepted.** No refunds will be given for critiques or portfolio reviews.

You must be registered for the 2025 spring conference to participate.

Submission Guidelines:

Written submissions must be sent in a Word doc in standard formatting 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins.
Label your Word doc attachment as “first name_last name_critiquer_TITLE OF MS” example “Jodi_McKay_Weiss_This Book Rocks!”
On the first page in the upper left corner, include your name, the category and genre, and word count. Include a page number in the upper right corner. Immediately start with the title and manuscript.

For picture book submissions:

Fiction: up to 800 words, 1-inch margins, double spaced (sample here).
Non-fiction: 1,200 words, 1-inch margins, double spaced.
Art notes do not count toward word count.

For Novel submissions:

6 pages, 1-inch margins, double spaced (sample here).
You may include a single-spaced one-page synopsis (at the end of your pages), but the synopsis will not be critiqued.

For Portfolio submissions:

Create a single PDF file of 7-10 jpg images
Name your file in this format: "First name_Lastname_critiquer_portfolio"

Example: Mike_Wazowski_MinaChung_portfolio

The critiques will be returned to you at the conference during your in-person review time. You will be notified of your review time when you sign in at the conference.

(This is a "One and Done" situation. Faculty are unable to offer follow-up critique manuscripts/portfolio reviews.)

MSWL (Manuscript Wishlist):

Information about each acquiring faculty's mswl and how to submit will be shared with conference attendees in their virtual folders. This is a benefit for conference attendees only. Please do not share this information with anyone who is not attending the conference.