Helpful Hints for Face to Face Manuscript and Portfolio Critiques

Manuscript and Portfolio Critiques are designed to help you develop your ideas and gain editing insights to enrich and improve your work.

Ask yourself why you want a critique. If it is to be published, you may need to readjust your expectations. If, on the other hand, it is to have an honest assessment of your work, you will learn from your assessor what is and isn’t working. You will need to be as open to criticism as to praise, as hard as that may be.

The value of a critique is to have fresh eyes from an industry professional peruse your work. Avoid submitting work to be critiqued if it just isn’t ready. It is better to spend time perfecting your work as best you can so the critique you receive will be more useful and relevant.

If you do have the chance to have a critique:

• Be calm, respectful and ready to listen

• Remember to keep an open mind and leave emotions at the door

• Prepare and rehearse a pitch out loud (Think one-minute summary)

• Be prepared to take notes and bring a highlighter.

• Ask for clarification if you don’t understand any points

• Leave your full manuscript at home. (If an agent or editor asks to see your work, they’ll let you know how to submit)

• Be your genuine self. Remember that agents, editors, and award-winning authors are people, too. They appreciate a friendly chat.

• If you know who your Critique Assessor is prior to the conference, familiarise yourself with books agented by or edited by that person or company. You’ll gain insight into their tastes and be ready with conversation starters if the opportunity presents itself. (Go to their website, Google them or ask other SCBWI members)

• Enjoy yourself.

Here are a few things to avoid doing:

• Don’t stalk the editor or agent. Let them go to the restroom in peace

• Don’t wear or bring gimmicks in the hopes of getting noticed

• If you are asked what your book is about, don’t whip out your manuscript. Revert to your rehearsed elevator pitch (Think one or two minutes, tops)

• Don’t call yourself the next J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, Rick Riordan, etc. Be original

• Don’t disrupt a critique in progress and don’t exceed your own time limit

• Don’t record a speaker’s session without first asking

What to do after you receive your critique:

A critique gives you honest and direct suggestions on how you can strengthen your writing. The suggestions give you an insight into a professional’s point of view and therefore it is worth your while to take their suggestions seriously.

• Take some time to think about it

• Read the critique or your notes again

• Think about the rationale behind the suggestions.

• Ask yourself why they were made and how they would improve the work

• Discuss them with other writers or illustrators

• Incorporate the suggestions into your work and compare the before and after results

• Remember the suggestions can be about the story itself or to do with marketability.

• In the final analysis it is your decision to accept or reject any suggestions offered.

Good Luck!

Behind the Scenes: Meet The BEATNICKERS!

Unable to extract themselves from an era of spiritual exploration and creative revolution, a handful of scribes and illustrators clung to the notion of the Beat Generation and morphed into The Beatnickers Band. For years, The Beatnickers have been gracing SCBWI AusNZ Conferences, enticing would be shakers and groovers onto the dance floors. And like a hippie left out in the sun too long, it’s a culture that seems to be assuming a life of its own. Join us now as we delve below the curdled mantle of The Beatnickers and their key members, starting with, James Foley.

James Foley makes picture books and comics for kids. He’s the author/illustrator of the S.Tinker Inc graphic novel series for middle primary: Brobot (2016) and Dungzilla (2017) starring Sally Tinker, the world’s foremost inventor under the age of twelve, and Joe Tinker, her stinky baby brother. The third in the series, Gastronauts, will be published in late 2018. James’ earlier books My Dead Bunny (2015) In The Lion (2012), The Last Viking (2011) and The Last Viking Returns (2014) have all scored several honours, including children’s choice awards, shortlistings in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year awards, and selection to the International Youth Library’s White Raven list. James is an an ambassador for Books In Homes and Room To Read. He is a massive Marvel movie nerd. He comes from a long line of queuing enthusiasts.

Welcome, James! Briefly state your conference role and conference responsibilities

My role will be Chief Lyric Warbler in a band called the Beatnickers. The band members are all SCBWI scribblers and scribes (plus the odd scoundrel).

How long have you been part of the SCBWI Band and what made you sign up for it: the money, the notoriety, the free scotch finger biscuits?

I was unaware there were free scotch finger biscuits. This will be my third time singing with the band - have there been free scotch finger biscuits in the past? Meredith and Scott, did you know about this?? Did you eat my share of the biscuits?!?

Describe your most notable achievement or proudest moment in Kids’ Lit to date

The best thing is that I still get to do it. It’s not a stable job, it’s not a given - but it’s been 9 years since I started my first book, 7 years since my first book was published, and 5 and a half years since I started doing it full time.

What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

The best part about SCBWI conferences is the chance to catch up with everyone from across Oz and have a party.

Name one thing you can’t live without

Scotch finger biscuits.

Provide at least one Fun Fact from a SCBWI Conference you’ve attended or played at (anywhere in the world)

I went to the 2012 NY winter conference, and Mo Willems was a keynote. He is quite good at throwing frisbees. I know this because he threw signed copies of his books into the audience. 75% sure they were softcovers.

Get to know James better by visiting his website: www.jamesfoley.com.au

If you’re keen to meet more Beatnickers scoundrels, er members, stick around, we’ve managed to lure them in with a mere half a packet of scotch finger biscuits! Till then,

Rove ya later!

Dimity (Head Gardener)

www.dimitypowell.com

#SCBWISyd

SCBWI Success Story Amelia McInerney

When Susanne Gervay invited me to be one of the book presenters for my debut book, The Book Chook (illustrated by Connah Brecon, Omnibus Books-Scholastic) as part of this year's SCBWI conference, I was thrilled! The previous conference (held in July 2016) was the first book-related event I ever attended and if someone there had told me that the manuscript I was having critiqued that day would be published by Scholastic and that I'd be launching it at the next conference, I think my curls would have stood straight. And if they had also told me that I'd have five books contracted by the time the next conference rolled around, I think my hair would have fallen out.

Back in 2016, I didn't know a soul in the industry. I'd just moved back to Australia (again) and this time I was not only toting another dual-citizenshipped baby, but a new-found obsession for writing kidlit. I'd been writing the way I thought all writers wrote, all housebound and hermit-like. I wrote in time snatched between caring for my baby, preschooler and kindergartener, and around scouring the internet as I educated myself in all things writerly. Grounded by my tiny pink people and the long white months of snow, I was happy with my solitary pastime. But I clearly remember the feeling I got when I stumbled across a certain strangely-acronymed organisation online. I was excited that such a community existed. And in Australia, too. 

Once settled back in Australia, I sought out this 'SCBWI', hoping to improve my craft, learn about the industry and make some writing friends. Or at least talk to someone about our shared passion. I paid my membership, bought a ticket to the conference, and because I'd been hanging on to a manuscript for a year and a half, decided to jump right in and book myself a critique while I was at it.

Those first two conference days were a giddy blur of meeting other green kindred spirits, absorbing a sea of information from the accomplished speakers, and making real connections with people in the industry, starting with a warm and personal welcome from Susanne Gervay. (On some level, I felt that I both knew and loved this woman. Instantly. Sounds like an odd reaction, but if you know her, you know it's not.) Anyway— starry-eyed, I went on to chat with Emma Allen! and Neridah McMullin! and everywhere I looked, there were authors, illustrators and thrillingly, PUBLISHERS! (I'd stalked their Linked-in profiles on the train ride in.) I felt like the Terminator seeking out all the Sarah Connors (but friendlier and seemingly more casual) as I swanned about the crowd. I remember taking a few moments out to pour over the beautiful picture books on display in the foyer and I got chatting to the nice man who was selling them. He told me he had a bookshop in Sydney and that when my book came out, I could launch it at his shop. I said something like "OK!! Thanks!!" and floated to the next panel session. I was having the time of my life. And it was still morning. (Note to self: call Paul Macdonald re launch.)

Then I had my assessment with Tara Weikum, the conference's Key-note speaker and Vice President of Harper Collins USA. (Anyone for a swim in the deep end?!) I remember thinking that despite Tara's incredible experience and credentials, she might not be the best fit for me, seeing as she was American and mainly focussed on YA, and I had written a rhyming picture book about a 'chook'. I was wrong! She gave me an incredibly insightful critique, and although one piece of advice she offered seemed impossible (because of my already-burgeoning word count) I tried implementing it on the train ride home and subsequently ended up rewriting the manuscript. Prior to the conference, I thought my manuscript was as good as I could get it to be, and I was attached to each line of rhyme. I was quite surprised that with the small nudge, I actually enjoyed rewriting it because the story was so much better for it. Tara also gave me some helpful feedback on another picture book manuscript I showed her at the critique. Both of those picture book texts (and a further two) went on to be contracted by Clare Hallifax, whom I heard speak that day and then met at another SCBWI event soon after. I signed with my agent, Jacinta di Mase, after flying down to Melbourne to meet her at yet another SCBWI event where she was guest speaker, some weeks prior to KidLitVic. My fifth picture book is coming out with Allen and Unwin in 2020 and although that submission went through my agent, I had previously met Anna McFarlane... you guessed it...at a SCBWI event. Oh, and I got the idea for my fourth book on a SCBWI Sketch and Scribble day… I could go on!

Since that fateful day in 2016, I’ve been going to lots of kidlit events and the highlight is always catching up with the vast network of creative friends I've made through organisations like SCBWI. My heartfelt thanks to the SCBWI team for their contribution to children's literature in Australia and the warmth, generosity and opportunities they extend to the members of our community.

Amelia McInerney

www.ameliamcinerney.com

My facebook is Amelia McInerney Author

My Instagram is @ameliamcinerneyauthor

Bio:

Amelia grew up in Melbourne, but now lives just outside Sydney in the Blue Mountains. She spends her days writing kids' books, staring out the window thinking up stories for kids' books, and occasionally just plain staring out the window. 

When she's not writing, thinking or staring, Amelia likes to help people and also cover them with gel, which makes her other job (doing ultrasounds) perfect for her.

Amelia also enjoys doing yoga and snorkelling, but not at the same time because that's really hard.

Amelia has three kids, two hermit crabs and a husband.