Get your manuscript critiqued!
Availability of slots will be updated monthly.
How written critiques work:
Step 1: Review the list below of people offering written critiques. Each instructor specializes in critiquing specific types of work, so please make sure you select the person right for your project.
Step 2: Purchase your written critique. (Or use the code in your email to claim your free critique.)
Step 3: Watch your email for a confirmation email. If you don't get a confirmation email, check your spam (or promotions) folder. Email support@storytelleracademy.com if you didn't receive your confirmation email.
Step 4: You will fill out a form and attach one manuscript or dummy for that person to critique. (You will only do this once, so please make sure you have it right the first time. When you submit the form, it will send an email to the person who will be critiquing your work. YOU MAY NOT CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT WHICH PERSON YOU WANT OR GET A REFUND AFTER YOU'VE SUBMITTED. As the person you have submitted to may have already started your critique, that would not be fair to them.)
Step 5: When you have successfully submitted, you should see a "Thank You" page and get a confirmation email.
Step 6: The person critiquing your picture book has two weeks to finish your critique. Please be patient. You should get an email with your critique attached within two weeks.
If at any point in the process you have questions, you can email us at support@storytelleracademy.com.
Who will be giving written critiques?
Arree Chung
Author/Illustrator
Arree's Ninja! series has received starred reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal. Kirkus also gave a starred review to Mixed, which recently won the FCGB award. Today Arree lives a creative life, making stories for children. Arree spends most of his time making picture books, writing middle-grade novels, and sharing his love for art, design, and storytelling with kids and dreamers everywhere.
For critique, you may submit your story or dummy.
Nadia Salomon
Author
Nadia Salomon (nadiasalomon.com) is a children's author writing on themes of South Asian and Caribbean culture, STEM, nonfiction, and humor. She is the winner of the 2020 SCBWI Service Award and the 2019 SCBWI WOOP Honor Award for work of outstanding progress. Nadia also has two forthcoming books in 2023 and 2024.
For written critique, please include a brief cover letter in the body of your manuscript, noting specific issues you would like Nadia to focus on. Please submit as a MS Word Doc file. You may submit only one of the following:
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ONE picture book manuscript per consultation and no more than 1000 words or 1,200 for non-fiction.
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For non-fiction pieces, I will only critique storytelling. Fact-checking back matter/source material is the sole responsibility of the writer.
You will receive a written summary and your manuscript with comments in Microsoft Word.
Rita Lorraine Hubbard
Author
Award-winning author Rita Lorraine Hubbard is a retired special education teacher of 20 years. She now writes for children and middle graders full-time. Her books, THE OLDEST STUDENT: HOW MARY WALKER LEARNED TO READ; HAMMERING FOR FREEDOM: THE WILLIAM LEWIS STORY; and AFRICAN AMERICANS OF CHATTANOOGA: A HISTORY OF UNSUNG HEROES, have garnered awards that include the New Voices Award, the East Tennessee Historical Preservation Award, Amazon Editor's Pick, and the 2022 Texas Bluebonnet Master List Award. You can find Rita online at: www.ritahubbard.com.
You may submit nonfiction bios of 1200 words or less or contemporary humor of 600 words or less for a written critique.
Tim McCanna
Author
Tim McCanna writes rhyming picture books and taught our Storytelling in Rhyme and Meterology 101 mini-classes. He also has his author/illustrator debut graphic early reader releasing this year.
You may submit one board book, picture book, or early reader for written critique. Rhymers can be up to 600 words. Prose can be up to 800 words. Early readers can be up to 1,000 words.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the benefits of a written critique?
If you don't have time (or the money) for a mentored critique group or a one-on-one critique, you can still get feedback from a published author or author/illustrator with a written critique. These are especially valuable for when you're stuck on a problem that your critique group hasn't been able to help with, or when you need some guidance, or when you think your story is ready to query agents or submit.
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Can I purchase a one-on-one in advance, or can I be put on the waitlist for a specific instructor?
We are updating our slots monthly for each person giving critiques. Due to the limited number of slots for each of them, we will not be offering a waiting list. However, they will be back the next month with the same number of slots. We recommend that you have your picture book ready to submit at the beginning of the month.
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Can I purchase multiple written critiques?
Yes, you may purchase written critiques from multiple people, and you may also purchase more than one with an individual person. If you find the written critiques really help you, then we encourage you to benefit from that as much as you're able.
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Do I need to be a member to purchase a written critique?
No. You don't have to be a member to purchase a written critique.
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Is this a one-time fee, or do you offer financing aid?
It's a one-time payment of $99.
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What is your cancellation policy?
You may get a refund up until you have submitted your work for critique. Once you have submitted your work for critique, YOU MAY NOT CHANGE YOUR PERSON OR GET A REFUND. The person critiquing your project may have already done the work, and that wouldn't be fair to them. There will be no refunds on critiques already received.
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Who should I contact to follow-up if I need help during this process?
You may send an email to Myrna Foster at myrna@storytelleracademy.com or support@storytelleracademy.com for help.