2018Biannual SCBWI Oregon Conference

Saturday, May 19, 2018– Sunday, May 20, 2018

Holiday Inn South/Wilsonville

One-on-One Manuscript, Picture Book Dummy,
and Portfolio Consultations

Consultation fees are nonrefundable!

Individual critiques will take place during the scheduled workshops and presentations. Each interview is 14 minutes, no more. Please remember that a consultation is not a pitching session, it is your chance to get feedback and suggestions on how to improve and/or market your work. If your critiquer is an editor or agent, she/he will tell you if she/he would like you to send the project after the conference. But don’t count on it.

How to make the most of your Fourteen minutes

Read the directions below as to what each individual faculty member wants (genre, page length, etc.). DO NOT send more or something else! (Of course, you did read their bios, and if an editor or agent, looked at their houses or agencies, right?)

FACULTY

EDITORS/AGENTS

Kheryn Callender, Associate Editor, Hachette Book Group

Middle grade novels, young adult novels.

  • First ten pages of a novel plus a one-page synopsis.
  • Accepting 12 manuscript critiques.

Tiffany Liao, Editor, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers

Chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels.

  • First ten pages of a novel plus a one-page synopsis.
  • Accepting 10 manuscript critiques.

Nick Thomas, Editor, Arthur A. Levine Books

Chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels.

  • First ten pages of a novel plus a one-page synopsis.
  • Accepting 12 manuscript critiques.

Natascha Morris, Literary Agent, BookEnds

Picture books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, picture book dummies, portfolios.

  • First ten pages of a novel plus a one-page synopsis or an entire picture book manuscript.
  • See instructions for picture book dummies.
  • Accepting 6 manuscript critiques and 5 picture book dummy critiques.
  • She will also do 2 on-the-spot portfolio reviews—see instructions.

Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel, Literary Agent and Co-Founder, Full Circle Literary

Picture books (fiction and nonfiction), middle grade novels, picture book dummies, portfolios.

  • First ten pages of a novel plus a one-page synopsis or an entire picture book manuscript.
  • See instructions for picture book dummies.
  • Accepting 5 manuscript critiques and 2 picture book dummy critiques.
  • She will also do 6 on-the-spot portfolio critiques. See instructions.

Molly O’Neill, Literary Agent, Root Literary

Picture books (fiction and nonfiction), chapter books, middle grade and young adult novels, picture book dummies, portfolios.

  • First ten pages of a novel plus a one-page synopsis or an entire picture book manuscript.
  • See instructions for picture book dummies.
  • Accepting 5 manuscripts and 3 picture book dummy critiques.
  • She will also do 2 on-the-spot portfolio critiques. See instructions.

ART DIRECTOR

Maria Middleton, Art Director, Random House Children’s Books

Porfolios

  • She will be doing 10 on-the-spot portfolio reviews—see instructions.

AUTHORS and AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATORS

Gennifer Choldenko, Author

Picture books, chapter books, middle grade and young adult novels.

  • First ten pages of a novel plus a one-page synopsis or an entire picture book manuscript.
  • Accepting 4 manuscript critiques.

Vanessa Brantley Newton, Author/Illustrator

Porfolios

  • She will be doing 12 on-the-spot portfolio reviews—see instructions.

Lauren Castillo, Author/Illustrator This workshop is limited to 25 participants.

Porfolios

  • She will be doing 12 on-the-spot portfolio reviews—see instructions.

Laurel Gale, Author

Middle grade novels.

  • First ten pages of a novel plus a one-page synopsis.
  • Accepting 10 manuscript critiques.
  • Consultations Saturday only! You must be registered for Saturday to receive a consultation with Laurel.

Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan, Author

Picture books.

  • An entire picture book manuscript.
  • Accepting 10 manuscript critiques.

Ruth Musgrave, Author

Picture books, nonfiction, magazine articles.

  • First ten pages, standard manuscript layout (double-spaced with 1-inch margins).
  • On title page note the grade level.
  • Resource list.
  • For middle grade and YA nonfiction, a general outline or chapter list would be helpful –NOT REQUIRED. Less than a page long.
  • Accepting 10 manuscript critiques.

Sheryl Scarborough, Author

Middle grade and young adult novels.

  • First ten pages of a novel plus a one-page synopsis.
  • Accepting 10 manuscript critiques.
  • Consultations Saturday only! You must be registered for Saturday to receive a consultation with Laurel.

MANUSCRIPT CONSULTATIONS

Individual consultations with Kheryn Callender, Gennifer Choldenko, Laurel Gale, Tiffany Liao, Gretchen McLellan, Natascha Morris, Ruth Musgrave, Molly O’Neill, Sheryl Scarborough, Stefanie Von Borstel, and Nick Thomas will take place during the scheduled workshops and presentations.

  1. Select the manuscript consultation option and your consultant when you register.
  1. We cannot guarantee you a written critique, although we have asked our faculty to do so.
  1. These are first come, first serve by registration. However, we ask you to not choose an agent/editor appointment unless you:

- have had a previous critique at an SCBWI conference or retreat
- participated in a Great Critique session

- are in a critique group
- are a PAL author, or
- have attended two or more SCBWI conferences

This will provide the best critique experience for everyone without us having to take the time to jury manuscripts.

  1. Make sure you read the guidelines above on what the faculty member you’ve chosen wants to see.
  1. Get your manuscriptto us BY Monday, March 19th. No exceptions!

Send one copy in standard manuscript format (double-spaced, 12-point type, standard margins (1 to 1¼ inches), pages titled and numbered) – do not fold or staple; paper clips are fine.

Each manuscript first page needs name, address, phone number, and email. Succeeding pages should have your name and page number and book title, if desired. (This is standard. Link to standard manuscript format:

Do not send a cover letter.

Mail flat in a 9x12 or 10x13 envelope - do not send by registered mail

Send to:

One-on-One Manuscript Consultations

SCBWI Oregon

PO Box 990

Mulino, OR 97042-0990

If you do not meet the deadline to mail in your manuscript, we will not accept email submissions.

If you do not follow instructions, you WILL be disqualified.

  1. Who you’ll have for your critiquer…

You will get who you signed up for, unless we discover you are not qualified for an editor or agent appointment, and as long as you get your manuscript in by the deadline. No manuscript, no refund, no appointment.We’ll have your appointment time in your conference packet.

PICTURE BOOK DUMMY CONSULTATIONS

Natascha Morris, Molly O’Neill, and Stefanie Von Borstel will accept picture book dummies along with manuscripts from writer/illustrators. Please review the following guidelines:

  1. Select the picture book dummy option and your consultant when you register.
  2. Submit a dummy to accompany your picture book manuscript (see guidelines for manuscript format above).
  3. Please include a simple dummy in no more than 32-page format that will fit into a 9” x 12” or 10” x 13” envelope—no larger!
  4. Manuscript and dummy must be received by March 19th.No exceptions!

PORTFOLIO CONSULTATIONS

Individual consultations with Vanessa Brantley Newton, Lauren Castillo, Maria Middleton, Natascha Morris, Molly O’Neill, and Stefanie Von Borstel and will take place during the scheduled workshops and presentations.

  1. Select the portfolio option and your consultant when you register.
  1. Limit your portfolio to 10-12 printed images. No originals, please. Please limit the size of your portfolio to 11” x 14". You may include one printed dummy in the pocket of your portfolio (again, no originals), attached with string or similar implement.

Suggestions of what to include:

  • Children in motion
  • A character with a problem
  • Different views of the same character
  • Work that shows a character moving through a story
  • Work that shows a cohesive style
  • Start with your strongest piece and end with your second strongest piece
  • Name and contact info on each piece
  • Postcards and business cards
  1. Bring your portfolio to your appointment.If you are participating in the juried art show, place your name card in your portfolio spot until you can return it to the show.
  1. Who you’ll have for your critiquer…

You will get who you signed up for. We’ll have your appointment time in your conference packet.

YOUR APPOINTMENT

  1. Be prepared…

To be timely - appointments are booked back to back.

  • Arrive early, so you can start on time.
  • Depart graciously and promptly when your time is up – others are waiting, or the editor/agent is scheduled for a much needed break.
  • Missed appointments cannot be made up or receive a fee refund.

To answer questions your critiquer might ask:

  • “What is your book/story about?” in one to three sentences—especially if you’ve submitted a novel.
  • “What’s the genre for your story?”
  • “Who is your audience?”
  • “How does your story end?”
  • “What is unique about your book/story?”

To be concise.

  1. Be professional…

On time

Courteous

Responsible

  1. Afterwards…

Remember writer or illustrator to editor/agent/art director etiquette.

  • Do not telephone the editor/agent/art directorunless invited to do so – submission addresses are in your registration packet.
  • You and other attendees at the conference may submit to the editor/agent/art directorafter the conference.
  • Refer to your attendance at the conference, your consultation - mention why you think your enclosed work might be of interest.
  • Follow any other instructions received during sessions and listed in the submission information in your registration packet.