Do you need expert insight to help your picture book or early reader manuscript reach its full potential?
What should I expect?
In a 30-minute session, our industry expert will work with you to help your manuscript reach its full potential. Feedback may include discussions on voice, plot, characterisation, language, readability and/or writing techniques.
You will receive a brief written summary of the assessor’s key feedback points; however, you will not receive edits on your manuscript submission. This one-on-one meeting is a chance to discuss issues and potential solutions, and to ask questions. Please note, if you have illustrations, they may be brought on the day. The assessment focus is your text, though the assessor can discuss visual elements and integration of illustration and text, time permitting.
All of our assessments are carried out via Zoom or a phone call.
Please note: There is a limit of one booking per person.
Is my manuscript eligible?
These assessments are for picture books or chapter books for readers up to eight years old (under 20,000 words). If you are writing a manuscript for junior fiction/middle grade readers (approximately ages 8 to 12) or young adults, please see our young adult assessments.
Next dates:
- Thursday 6 March, 2025 with Katrina McKelvey (via Zoom/phone)
- If this date doesn’t work for you, join the waitlist for future Children’s Book Manuscript Assessments.
Testimonials
Katrina McKelvey provided a brilliantly concise assessment with plenty of helpful suggestions. Katrina felt my manuscript was close to being ready to submit, it just needed a few minor tweaks. It was the best manuscript assessment I’ve experienced in my journey so far. Thank you, Katrina and Writers Centre NSW. – Bernice
My experience with Aleesah was amazing … she was very friendly and generous with her notes, and I gained a lot of insights on what publishers are looking for and detailed advice on how to improve my manuscript. … It was just great to be able to have a productive conversation about my manuscript and share our mutual love for books and writing. I really value all the feedback I received and it has inspired me to keep going! – Aphrodite
Leonie’s feedback was extremely valuable…She was also very affirming. – Clare
Submission requirements
You will need to provide the following at least 10 days before your assessment:
- Picture book or chapter book text, up to 1000 words*
*Please note that if your manuscript excerpt exceeds the word limit, it will be truncated at 1000 words before being forwarded to the assessor. Please respect the time the assessor is dedicating to reading your work by sticking to the industry standard formatting and word limit. Thank you.
Submitting your work
Once you have made your appointment, you will need to your submission at least 10 days before your assessment as one document in MS Word format. Your document must be formatted to industry standards, as follows:
- Line spacing: 1.5 or double
- Font: Times New Roman
- Size: 12 pt
- Margins: minimum 3 cm all round (Word default margins are fine)
- Text should be range left (which means the right edge is ‘ragged’), not justified
- Page numbers: consecutive from beginning to end
You can submit your document via our submission form.
Please note, if your materials are not submitted at least 10 days before your assessment, we cannot guarantee your assessor will have time to review them before your appointment.
Please note: There is a limit of one booking per person.
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