Win a 30-minute phone call with New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, where she will review the first 50 pages of your work-in-progress!

(Manuscript pages should be written in English. Open to any age range/genre.)

Holly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels, including the Novels of Elfhame, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, the Spiderwick Chronicles, and her adult debut, Book of Night. She has been a finalist for an Eisner Award and the Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic Award, a Nebula, and a Newbery Honor. Her books have been translated into 32 languages worldwide and adapted for film. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret library.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Holly Black.

Win a manuscript critique of your YA or MG novel from award-winning author Francisco X. Stork!

Francisco X. Stork is the author of eleven novels, including Marcelo in the Real World, winner of the Schneider Family Award and Disappeared, a Walter Dean Myers Honor Book.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Francisco X. Stork.

Win a young adult query critique and a 30-minute AMA Zoom call with New York Times bestselling author Dhonielle Clayton! Come workshop your career with Dhonielle. She will offer feedback on your YA or MG query and answer any of your questions about the publishing industry.

Dhonielle Clayton is a New York Times bestselling author of The Conjureverse series, The Belles series, Shattered Midnight, co-author of Blackout, Whiteout, The Rumor Game, and of the Tiny Pretty Things duology, a Netflix original series. She is Board Chair of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books. Dhonielle is also the President and founder of Cake Creative and Electric Postcard Entertainment, IP story companies creating diverse books for all ages.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Dhonielle Clayton.

Win a full manuscript critique and 30-minute video chat with Rebecca Coffindaffer, author of the Crownchasers duology and the upcoming book The Bloody & the Damned. Rebecca will provide feedback on your manuscript and follow up with a video chat to talk craft and the publishing industry. Open to all genres, but Rebecca specializes in fantasy and science fiction!

Rebecca Coffindaffer (they/she) grew up on Star Wars, Star Trek, fantastical movies and even more fantastical books. These days they live in Kansas with their family, writing stories about magic and politics, spaceships, far-off worlds, and people walking away from explosions in slow motion.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Rebecca Coffindaffer.

Win a middle grade query critique and a 30-minute AMA Zoom call with New York Times bestselling author Dhonielle Clayton! Come workshop your career with Dhonielle. She will offer feedback on your YA or MG query and answer any of your questions about the publishing industry.

Dhonielle Clayton is a New York Times bestselling author of The Conjureverse series, The Belles series, Shattered Midnight, co-author of Blackout, Whiteout, The Rumor Game, and of the Tiny Pretty Things duology, a Netflix original series. She is Board Chair of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books. Dhonielle is also the President and founder of Cake Creative and Electric Postcard Entertainment, IP story companies creating diverse books for all ages.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Dhonielle Clayton.

Win a critique of your YA or adult fiction query and the first 50 pages of your manuscript from C.J. Subko, author of several published short stories! C.J. will offer detailed feedback on your query and sample pages.

C.J. Subko is currently on submission with agent Maria Brannan of Greyhound Literary. She has published several short stories in magazines including Spindle House and the upcoming Negative Creep anthology.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of C.J. Subko.

Win a chapter book critique from Jess Hernandez, author of First Day of Unicorn School. Jess will offer big picture edits as well as line editing. Maximum 5,000 words.

Jess Hernandez is from the Pacific Northwest. She's spent her grown-up life working with kids and books-as a teacher, a children's librarian, and an author. Her first book, First Day of Unicorn School, was illustrated by Mariano Epelbaum and was a 2023 Kentucky Bluegrass Nominee.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Jess Hernandez.

Win a written manuscript critique from Andrea Wang, Newbery Honor-winning author of Watercress. Andrea will offer line edits and feedback on up to 10 pages of your picture book or middle grade manuscript, fiction or nonfiction!

Andrea Wang is an acclaimed author of children's books, including Watercress, which received the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, among other accolades. Her other books, Summer at Squee, The Many Meanings of Meilan, Luli and the Language of Tea, Magic Ramen, and The Nian Monster, have also received awards and/or starred reviews. Andrea's work explores culture, creative thinking, and identity.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Andrea Wang.

Win a detailed critique of up to five pages of your picture OR up to 10 pages of your middle grade or young adult nonfiction manuscript from Sibert Medal-winner Cynthia Levinson! You will also receive a 30-minute follow-up phone or Zoom chat with Cynthia.

Cynthia Levinson is an author of nonfiction and historical fiction PB, MG, and YA. Her books have won the Sibert Medal, the Jane Addams and the Carter G. Woodson Book Awards and multiple honors from SCBWI, ILA, ALA, and others. She also struggles with writing as much as you do.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Cynthia Levinson.

Win a manuscript critique and 30 minute phone or video call with YA author Clara Kumagai! Clara will provide feedback on the first 30 pages of your YA manuscript and answer any questions you may have about the industry.

Clara Kumagai is from Canada, Japan, and Ireland. Catfish Rolling was nominated for the YOTO Carnegie Award, a finalist from the Great Reads Award and shortlisted for the 2023 KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards. She lives and writes in Ireland.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Clara Kumagai.

Win a 20-page middle grade manuscript critique from author Jessica Vitalis! Jessica will offer developmental and line level feedback to help take your story to the next level.

Jessica Vitalis is a Columbia MBA-wielding author with Greenwillow/HarperCollins. Her books have been translated into three languages, received multiple starred reviews, and appeared on "Best Book" lists for Kirkus and CCBC. Jessica is an experienced mentor and loves using the extensive craft knowledge she gained in the thirteen years she wrote before landing her first deal to help pre-published writers.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Jessica Vitalis.

Win a written critique of your YA or adult fiction query and the first three chapters of your manuscript from Lauren Thoman, author of Mindy's Book Studio pick I'll Stop the World and the upcoming speculative mystery You Shouldn't Be Here. Lauren will offer detailed feedback on your query and the first three chapters of your manuscript (up to 30 pages)!

Lauren Thoman writes speculative fiction for teens and adults. Her debut novel, I'll Stop the World, was selected for publication in 2023 by six-time Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling through her eponymous imprint, Mindy's Book Studio. Lauren lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and two children in a house full of dogs and fish.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Lauren Thoman.

Win a three-chapter manuscript critique from Alison Green Myers! Share the first three chapters of your middle grade novel or novel in verse with Alison. Alison will check with you via email about the specific type of feedback you are seeking, provide a written critique, and then follow up with a 30-minute Zoom call to answer your questions and talk next steps.

Alison Green Myers serves as the program director for the Highlights Foundation facilitating fellowships for storytellers. Alison is a National Writing Project Fellow and the author of A Bird Will Soar which earned the Schneider family book award from the American Library Association. Alison would love to discuss middle grade books with you, and talk about two upcoming middle grade projects (especially the one with an alligator whose ring-name is Fuzzy).

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Alison Green Myers.

Win a query critique and notes on the first three pages of your YA or MG manuscript from author and literary agent Eric Smith! Winner will also receive a Zoom call with Eric to unpack the notes and offer advice.

Eric Smith is a young adult author and literary agent with P.S. Literary, living in Philadelphia. Eric has worked with New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors across genres and categories.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Eric Smith.

Win a critique of your query and the first 5 pages of your manuscript, along with a 30-minute phone call with Brigid Kemmerer, New York Times bestselling author of the Cursebreaker series and the Defy the Night series! Brigid will offer a detailed critique on your query and opening pages, as well as answer any questions you might have during the call.

Brigid Kemmerer is the New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen books for young adults. A full time writer, Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her family. When she's not busy writing or being a mom, you can usually find her with her hands wrapped around a barbell.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Brigid Kemmerer.

Win a query critique and 30-minute phone call with Meera Trehan, author of The View from the Very Best House in Town. Meera will offer feedback on your query and answer any of your questions about the publishing industry.

Meera Trehan is the author of The View from the Very Best House in Town, which was named a Junior Library Guild Selection (audio book and print book), a 2023 CCBC Choice, and an Amazon's Editor Pick, among other honors. Her second novel, Snow, is forthcoming in 2024.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Meera Trehan.

Win a query critique and 30-minute phone call with Lisa Moore Ramee, bestselling and award winning author of A Good Kind of Trouble, Something to Say, and MapMaker. Lisa will provide feedback on your MG query and chat with you about the publishing industry!

Lisa Moore Ramee still calls Los Angeles home even though she now lives in the Bay Area of Northern California. She counts coffee as one of her best friends and is a devout believer in dreams coming true. Her debut novel, A Good Kind of Trouble, is a Walter Dean Meyers Honor book, an Indie bestseller and made many "best of" lists for 2019. She is also the author of Something to Say, which received 3 starred reviews, MapMaker, and The Everybody Experiment.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Lisa Moore Ramee.

Win a query critique and a 30-minute chat with Nathan Bransford, former literary agent and author of the JACOB WONDERBAR series.

Nathan Bransford was formerly a literary agent with Curtis Brown Ltd and is the author of HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL and the JACOB WONDERBAR series. He started blogging in 2007 and his blog has consistently been named one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writers Digest. He's dedicated to helping authors write what they love, navigate the publishing process, and successfully market their books.

Image: A headshot of Nathan Bransford.

Win a signed and annotated copy of The Otherwoods plus a query critique and 30-minute call or video call with Justine Pucella Winans, award-winning author of YA and MG fiction!

Justine Pucella Winans is a queer and nonbinary author who lives in Los Angeles with their husband and chaotic Halloween cats. They are the author of the acclaimed Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything, JLG Selection One Killer Problem, Stonewall Honor Book The Otherwoods, and the forthcoming Wishbone. When not writing spooky, funny, and queer books, Justine can be found training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or pushing off their massive TBR stack to read webcomics.

US only.

Image: A graphic with the cover of The Otherwoods and a headshot of Justine Pucella Winans.

Win a written query critique and feedback from author and IPEd-accredited editor Shannon Jade! Shannon will perform a detailed line and copy edit of your query letter and provide helpful feedback to help you refine your query package.

Shannon Jade holds a BA in creative writing and publishing and is currently pursuing a master's in environmental science. As an author, she has written several not-for-profit and work-for-hire projects in addition to anthology short stories, and in 2022, she was a contributing author to Goodnight Stories For Rebel Girls: 100 Inspiring Young Changemakers. Shannon is also an IPEd-accredited editor with extensive freelance editing and proofreading experience for both self-publishing authors and traditional publishing houses.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Shannon Jade.

Win a 30-minute Zoom call with Robin Stevenson, award-winning author of over 30 books for kids and teens! Robin will offer feedback on your query (of any age group and genre) OR the first 10 pages of your manuscript, and answer any of your questions about writing and publishing.

Robin Stevenson is the author of over 30 books for kids and teens, including both fiction and nonfiction. She is a Stonewall Honor winner, Lambda Literary Award finalist, and the winner of the Sheila A. Egoff and Silver Birch Awards. Her books include Pride Puppy, When You Get the Chance, My Body My Choice: The Fight for Abortion Rights, and Queer History A-Z.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Robin Stevenson.

Win a critique of your YA query from Molly Horan, author of Epically Earnest. Molly will offer feedback on your query and help you capture what makes your manuscript special and unique!

Molly Horan is the author of Epically Earnest, I Have Seven Dogs, and the forthcoming Thanks for Listening. She teaches creative writing at NYU and SVA.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Molly Horan.

Win a written query critique from Amitha Jagannath Knight, author of the picture book Usha and the Big Digger.

Dr. Amitha Jagannath Knight is a writer and poet for all ages and a graduate of MIT and Tufts University School of Medicine. She is also a former social media manager for We Need Diverse Books. Her debut picture book, Usha and the Big Digger, won a 2023 Mathical Book Prize Honor Award.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Amitha Jagannath Knight.

Win a picture book manuscript critique and chat with Maritere R. Bellas, International Latino Awards winner! Maritere will offer feedback on your manuscript and share her experience with the publishing industry.

Award-winning author, bilingual parenting mentor, speaker, podcast host, and parenting influencer Maritere R. Bellas is the author of two bilingual children's books and four parenting books, published in English and in Spanish.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Maritere R. Bellas.

Win a picture book manuscript critique and a 30 minute ask-me-anything phone call with bestselling author Joanna Ho! Joanna will offer feedback on your picture book manuscript and answer any questions you might have about your critique, the publishing process, etc.

Joanna Ho is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of many books for kids. She has received the Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature Honor, a Golden Kite Award, an Ezra Jack Keats Honor, and a Golden Poppy Award.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Joanna Ho.

Win a written picture book manuscript critique from Vicki Johnson, author of Molly's Tuxedo. Vicki will review your manuscript, line by line, and offer her feedback via email, with a 30-minute follow-up call to discuss the edits and any questions you may have about the publishing industry.

Vicki Johnson's debut picture book is Molly's Tuxedo (Little Bee Books), illustrated by Gillian Reid. Vicki was a 2022 Lambda Literary Fellow. Molly's Tuxedo is a 2024 NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Recommended Book, a 2024 American Library Association Rainbow Book List selection, and a 2023 Ontario Library Association Top Ten 'Best Bets' Picture Book.

US only.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Vicki Johnson.

Win a full written picture book dummy or picture book manuscript critique from author-illustrator Jeanette Bradley!

Jeanette Bradley writes, draws, and makes books for kids. Her books include Something Great; No Voice Too Small; No World Too Big; Love, Mama; and the forthcoming No Brain the Same. Jeanette is an organizer of the We Are ALL Readers festival celebrating diverse children's literature. She lives in Rhode Island with her wife and kids.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Jeanette Bradley.

Win a picture book manuscript critique and 30-minute phone call with Emily Sun Li, Simmons children's literature MFA candidate and author of picturebook Mr. Chow's Night Market (forthcoming in Spring 2026 with Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House)! Emily will offer feedback on your (ideally non-rhyming) picture book manuscript and answer any questions about the publishing industry and/or MFA programs in children's literature.

Emily Sun Li is a Chinese American writer pursuing an MA in Children's Literature and MFA in Writing for Children at Simmons University. Previously, she spent two years teaching English and studying Mandarin Chinese in Kaohsiung, Taiwan as a Fulbright scholar. Her debut picture book, Mr. Chow's Night Market, releases in Spring 2026 in a two-book deal with Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Emily Sun Li.

Win a written picture book manuscript critique with Caroline Kusin Pritchard, author of Gitty and Kvetch, Where Is Poppy?, and more. Caroline will offer line edits as well as overarching feedback to support your picture book journey!

Caroline Kusin Pritchard's debut picture book, Gitty and Kvetch, was a Tablet Magazine Best Jewish Picture Book of 2021. Her next picture book, Where is Poppy?, was released this spring, and her co-written biography book What Jewish Looks Like will come out in the fall, with more on the way! She holds her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Caroline Kusin Pritchard.

Win a written critique of your picture book manuscript, including bilingual English/Spanish books, from author Silvia Lopez!

Silvia Lopez's books have received two Florida Book Awards, among others. Her latest work, Uno Más, One More: a Latino Retelling of an Old Scottish Ballad, (Little Brown) is due for release in May 2024.

US only.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Silvia Lopez.

Win a written critique of your non-rhyming fiction picture book from Madhu Messenger, author of The Wedding Shoe Snatch, upcoming in October 2024!

Madhu Messenger received a 12 x 12 scholarship (2023), a We Need Diverse Books Middle Grade Mentorship (2022), the Yuyi Morales Merit Scholarship from Children's Book Academy (2021), honorable mention in the Oregon Writers Colony Writing Contest (2018), and was a PBParty Finalist (2022). Her debut picture book, The Wedding Shoe Snatch, comes out in October 2024. Madhu is an active member of Inked Voices and Yale Women Writers Group.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Madhu Messenger.

Win a written critique of a lyrical picture book manuscript from Costantia Manoli, award-winning author of Tomatoes in My Lunchbox and The Fig Tree. Costantia will offer feedback on your manuscript, focusing particularly on language, form, and structure to create effect and meaning!

Costantia Manoli is the award-winning author of Tomatoes in My Lunchbox (2022) and The Fig Tree (2025). Born in the United Kingdom to Cypriot parents, she spent the picture book period of her life in London contending with a name that even she has difficulty pronouncing in English! Costantia is a Fulbright Scholar twice over, an SCBWI Stephen Fraser Encouragement Award winner and in 2023 was nominated for the Ezra Jack Keats Writer Award.

Open internationally.

Image: A graphic with a headshot of Costantia Manoli.