Manuscript Critiques

SCBWI Western Washington attendees have the opportunity to purchase a critique from one of our participating literary agents or editors. These industry professionals can provide objective, professional assessments of your project’s readiness for publication and identify key issues before you query.

Is eight pages enough of your project for an editor or agent to provide solid feedback? The hard truth is that these gatekeepers are accustomed to deciding “yes” or “no” quickly, often within the first several pages. They focus on immediate engagement, strong voice, original concepts, and clear potential. Professional critiques can help creators ensure their projects stand out in a crowded market.

During registration, participants can choose which agent or editor they’d like to critique their work. Each faculty member has a limited number of critique slots, so early registration offers the best chance of receiving your first choice.

If you choose to purchase a manuscript critique, please note that materials must be submitted in advance of the conference. This allows our faculty time for a thoughtful review. You’ll receive a written critique after the event — perfect for digging into detailed feedback once the conference buzz settles.

All critique submission must be received by midnight on March 16, 2026.

Materials must be emailed to: [email protected]

Your completed written critique will be emailed to you between May 3, 2026, and May 13, 2026.

Failure to comply with the guidelines or to provide a manuscript by the stated deadline may preclude an attendee from receiving a critique. Refunds will not be provided. 

How to format your submission for your critique:

At the top of the submission, include your name, email, and title of the manuscript. On successive pages, add your name and manuscript title to the top of each page as a header. 

• Use standard formatting: 12 pt Arial or Times New Roman.

• For novels, chapter books, and picture book manuscripts, indent the first line of every paragraph one-half inch. Do not add an extra space or blank line between paragraphs.

• If you are intending to both author and illustrate your project, add the line "author illustrated PB" (or MG or Chapter Book, etc.) in your contact information, even though you are submitting only the text.

• For longer projects, you have the option of including a synopsis. The synopsis will not be critiqued. It is intended only to give the critique faculty a better idea of the story.

• Preferred file formats: Word doc for manuscripts; JPG or PDF for graphic novels that include art samples.

• Please name your file in this format: YourName_ProjectName_CATEGORY Example: JaneDoe_ThisIsMyStory_PB

• For category, please use these abbreviations:

Picture book = PB

Chapter book = CB

Middle grade = MG

Young adult = YA

Graphic novel = GN

Novel in Verse = NV

• If nonfiction, add NF to the category abbreviation in this format: JaneDoe_ThisIsMyStory_NFPB

Nonfiction picture book = NFPB

Nonfiction chapter book = NFCB

Nonfiction middle grade = NFMG

Nonfiction young adult = NFYA

Nonfiction graphic novel = NFGN

Nonfiction novel in verse = NFNV

Picture books:

• 1-inch margins.

• Double-spaced.

• 8 pages maximum, even if it cuts off mid-sentence. 

Graphic novels: 

Art and text: 

• 8 sample page spreads in jpg or pdf format.

• You may include a 1-page synopsis at the end of your pages, but it will not be critiqued.

Text only: 

• 1-inch margins, double-spaced, 8 pages maximum, even if it cuts off mid-sentence. 

• You may include a 1-page synopsis at the end of our pages, but it will not be critiqued.

 Novels:

• 1-inch margins,

• Double-spaced.

• 8 pages maximum, even if it cuts off mid-sentence.

• You may include a 1-page synopsis at the end of your pages, but it will not be critiqued.

Novels in Verse: 

• 1-inch margins.

• Single-space within a stanza.

• Double-space between stanzas.

• Start each new poem on a fresh page.

• 8 pages maximum, even if it cuts off mid-sentence.

• You may include a 1-page synopsis at the end of your pages, but it will not be critiqued.

REMINDER

All critique submission must be received by midnight on March 16, 2026.

Materials must be emailed to: [email protected]

Your completed written critique will be emailed to you between May 3, 2026, and May 13, 2026.