Critique Guidelines and Faculty Appointments
When you register for the conference, you will have the option of selecting one of the following:
- Standard length prose or script critique – 10 pages plus a one-page synopsis $50
- Extended length prose or script critique – 30 pages plus a one-page synopsis $100
- Poetry critique – up to five poems, for a total of no more than 10 pages $50
Each critique comes with:
- A 20-minute one-on-one appointment during the conference or
- A group critique session with a total of 5 registrants plus the faculty member. Group appointments are only available with standard-length critiques.
Note: Each participant in a group critique will be provided a copy of the other participants’ pages so that they can follow the critique being given. However, the faculty member will be giving the critiques. All participants are encouraged to ask questions, but this is not meant to be a forum for attendees to critique each other’s work.
Group critiques are offered in response to the discomfort some attendees have with the one-on-one format. The idea is for everyone to benefit from each other’s critique and hear more of what a faculty member has to say regarding specific topics, but not experience “pitch pressure.”
Unless otherwise noted below, faculty members are offering individual appointments only.
There are a limited number of extended length critiques available. Please register early to insure that you get one. Once they are all allocated, the registration application will no longer offer them as an option. If you successfully register for an extended length critique, you will have an extended length critique.
Based on projected attendance, every attendee who wants a critique should have the opportunity to purchase one. However, availability is not unlimited. Please register early to insure that you get one. Note: Each registrant may purchase one critique. Registrants who do not want a critique may purchase one on behalf of another registrant.When you register:
- Indicate the type of critique you want (standard length, extended length or poetry).
- Specify your first, second, and third choice for the faculty member you would like to critique your work. Please read the faculty bios before making your selections. Every effort will be made to insure that you get one of your choices, but please note that manuscripts will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis, depending upon faculty availability.
- Specify if the critique is for someone other than yourself.
- Make sure that the person sending in the manuscript clearly marks the material with both their own name and that of who purchased it.
Important: After you complete the registration process:
- Send one copy of your manuscript pages via email as an MS Word or text attachment to critiques2008@myscww.org AND
- Mail two hard copies (seven copies if you are in a group critique) of your manuscript pages to:
SCWW Critiques
c/o Lee Cox
691 Majestic Oaks Drive
Charleston, SC 29412
Please include a cover page with your name, address, phone number and e-mail address.
Be sure to mail the number of copies (TWO or SEVEN) specified in #2 above!All prose manuscripts must be double-spaced, with standard one-inch margins, including the synopsis. Please include your name, the page number, and the name of your manuscript on each page.
Upon arrival at the conference, you will be notified of the time, place, and faculty member for your 20-minute appointment or group critique session.
Submissions must be postmarked by September 1, 2008. Earlier submissions will be appreciated.
Faculty appointments (without pre-reading of materials) will be offered based upon faculty availability at no additional charge once you arrive at the conference. Attendees may sign up for additional appointments on a first-come-first-served basis in the critique room beginning Friday, October 24th at 4:00 pm.
If you have a question regarding whether or not your submission for critique has been received, please contact Lee Cox at critiques2008@myscww.org or (843) 762-1472.
Irene Goodman Questionnaires
In lieu of critiques, literary agent Irene Goodman will review questionnaires for every conference attendee who would like to submit one. Here is how this process will work:
Indicate on your registration form that you would like to participate. We will email you a simple questionnaire that asks specifics about your book, with room to describe it in one paragraph. Complete and mail this form to Lee Cox at the above address. If you are sending a manuscript for critique by another faculty member, you may include it in the same package.
Ms. Goodman will review all the questionnaires submitted. If she sees something that piques her interest, she will ask for three chapters. If she likes those, she will ask for the whole manuscript.
Ms. Goodman will arrange to meet only with authors that she has an interest in at the conference. She will not provide feedback on the questionnaires regarding manuscripts that are not right for her, but she will review a questionnaire for every conference attendee who sends one in at no additional fee. She will accept only one questionnaire per person.
Everyone can participate in this program, whether they purchase a separate critique from another faculty member or not. So that Ms. Goodman will have time to read all of the questionnaires, please send yours in as early as possible.
Critique Categories by Faculty Member
Novels
Mainstream |
Literary |
Women's Fiction |
| Bruce Bortz Charlotte Cook (6) Kathleen Gilligan Stacey Glick Beth Webb Hart A. J. Hartley Tommy Hays Sulay Hernandez Rose Hilliard Michael Homler Jennifer Jackson Beth Jusino Daniel Lazar (5) Robert Lamb Jeanne Leiby Alexandra Machinist Matthew Mahoney Kate McKean C. E. Murphy Derek Nikitas Barbara Poelle Jennifer Pooley (3) Paige Wheeler |
Anne C. Barnhill Bruce Bortz Charlotte Cook (6) David Forrer Kathleen Gilligan Beth Webb Hart Tommy Hays Michael Homler Beth Jusino Robert Lamb Daniel Lazar (5) Jeanne Leiby Alexandra Machinist Matthew Mahoney Kate McKean Asya Muchnick Derek Nikitas Barbara Poelle Jennifer Pooley (3) |
Anne C. Barnhill Bruce Bortz David Forrer Kathleen Gilligan Stacey Glick Beth Webb Hart Tommy Hays Sulay Hernandez Rose Hilliard Jennifer Jackson Beth Jusino Daniel Lazar (5) Jeanne Leiby Kate McKean Asya Muchnick Barbara Poelle Libby Sternberg Paige Wheeler |
Historical |
Southern |
Young Adult |
| Bruce Bortz Charlotte Cook (6) David Forrer A. J. Hartley Sulay Hernandez Beth Jusino Daniel Lazar (5) Jeanne Leiby Alexandra Machinist Kate McKean C. E. Murphy Barbara Poelle Libby Sternberg |
Anne C. Barnhill Bruce Bortz Kathleen Gilligan Beth Webb Hart Tommy Hays Beth Jusino Robert Lamb Daniel Lazar (5) Jeanne Leiby Matthew Mahoney Kate McKean |
Bruce Bortz Claudia Gable (1) Stacey Glick Beth Webb Hart Tommy Hays Rose Hilliard Beth Jusino Jennifer Jackson Ginger Knowlton Daniel Lazar (5) Alexandra Machinist Kate McKean C. E. Murphy Libby Sternberg |
Mystery |
Suspense / Thriller |
Science Fiction / Fantasy |
| James O. Born Bruce Bortz Charlotte Cook (6) David Forrer Kathleen Gilligan Lee Goldberg A. J. Hartley Michael Homler Jennifer Jackson Beth Jusino Daniel Lazar (5) Robert Lamb Alexandra Machinist Kate McKean C. E. Murphy Derek Nikitas Barbara Poelle Paige Wheeler |
James O. Born Bruce Bortz David Forrer Kathleen Gilligan Stacey Glick Lee Goldberg A. J. Hartley Sulay Hernandez Michael Homler Jennifer Jackson Beth Jusino Daniel Lazar (5) Matthew Mahoney Alexandra Machinist Kate McKean C. E. Murphy Derek Nikitas Barbara Poelle Paige Wheeler |
James O. Born Bruce Bortz A. J. Hartley Rose Hilliard Jennifer Jackson Beth Jusino Matthew Mahoney Kate McKean C. E. Murphy Toni Weisskopf |
Horror |
Inspirational |
Social Cause Fiction |
| James O. Born David Forrer A. J. Hartley Michael Homler Barbara Poelle |
Stacey Glick Beth Webb Hart Beth Jusino David Long (4) |
Charlotte Cook (6) |
Book Length Non-Fiction
Memoir / Narrative Non-Fiction |
Other Non-Fiction |
| Anne C. Barnhill Bruce Bortz David Forrer Kathleen Gilligan Stacey Glick Tommy Hays Sulay Hernandez Rose Hilliard Beth Jusino Robert Lamb Daniel Lazar (5) Jeanne Leiby Matthew Mahoney Asya Muchnick Jennifer Pooley(3) |
Bruce Bortz |
Short Fiction
Mainstream |
Literary |
Mystery / Suspense |
| Gilbert Allen Beth Webb Hart Tommy Hays Derek Nikitas |
Gilbert Allen Anne C. Barnhill David Forrer Beth Webb Hart Tommy Hays Robert Lamb Jeanne Leiby Matthew Mahoney Asya Muchnick Derek Nikitas |
Derek Nikitas |
Inspirational |
Science Fiction/ Fantasy |
Young Adult |
| Beth Webb Hart Beth Jusino |
C. E. Murphy | Claudia Gabel Tommy Hays Ginger Knowlton |
Short Non-Fiction
Creative Non-Fiction |
Essays |
Articles |
| Anne C. Barnhill Tommy Hays Robert Lamb Jeanne Leiby Asya Muchnick |
Tommy Hays Jeanne Leiby Matthew Mahoney |
Robert Lamb Jennifer Pooley (3) |
Other Catogories
Poetry |
Screenplays / Scripts |
Children’s Picture Books |
| Gilbert Allen Forrest Gander Patricia Smith |
Bruce Bortz A. J. Hartley Lee Goldberg |
Ginger Knowlton Daniel Lazar Margot Raven |
Notes
- Claudia Gabel is not interested in Children’s Picture Books. She will be doing a mix of group critiques and individual appointments.
- Kate McKean is not interested in history, politics, religion, or science. She is particularly interested in craft-related topics, such as sewing and knitting. She is also interested in topics related to sports.
- Jennifer Pooley is not interested in true crime, crime fiction, or anything with graphic violence.
- David Long is interested in mainstream, literary, historical, Southern, and women’s fiction, but only projects that are suitable for the inspirational market.
- Daniel Lazar is doing only group critiques—no individual appointments.
- Charlotte Cook will be doing a mix of group critiques and individual appointments.
Several faculty members not listed above will be available for individual appointments, but will not be pre-reading material. Attendees may sign-up for appointments when they arrive at the conference.
Unless otherwise noted, faculty members are doing individual appointments only, and not group critiques.