Critiques

Written/In-person Critiques and Portfolio Reviews

SCBWI-MI is offering written critiques with an in-person 15-min review during the conference for $75. 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. Critiques will be completed and returned to you at the conference. 

Please fill out the Critique/Portfolio Review Form by April 11, 2025.

You can find this 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

**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: Lastname_portfolio 

      Example: Doe_portfolio

For Book Dummy submissions:

• Dummies should consist of a fully laid-out sketched picture book with 1-2 completed pieces of artwork. Books should be assembled into a single PDF file.
• Name your file in this format:  Lastname_bookdummy 

      Example: Doe_bookdummy

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.

MSWL (Manuscript Wishlist):

Information about each acquiring faculty's mswl and how to submit will be shared with conference attendees within a week after the conference.