This page specifies guidelines for creating your log lines and first pages or illustrations for professional feedback and contests.
LOG LINES
(Up to 3 permitted for STITCHED PITCH PACKAGE & IN PERSON PITCH SESSIONS; 1 permitted for PITCH CONTEST):
— Each attendee will prepare log lines for up to (3) works-in-progress. Log lines are 1 to 2 sentence pitches for your work-in-progress.
—First 50 attendees who are signed up for the Pitch Contest will upload an entry to the Pitch Contest per directions received via email.
— See Preparing for Pitch Contests: How to Write a Killer Logline by Laurie Miller, SCBWI
FIRST PAGES
(1 page of your manuscript total maximum per works-in-progress;
Up to 3 permitted for STITCHED PITCH PACKAGE & IN PERSON PITCH SESSIONS)
—12 point font (standard font, such as Times New Roman, Arial)
—1 inch margins
—Double spaced (for poetry, see below)
—POETRY: This includes rhyming picture books, novels in verse, and stand-alone poetry collections. Poetry submissions should conform to the guidelines above; however, they may be single spaced with a double space between stanzas, per industry standards. Feel free to format your poetry to allow for a standard of approximately 250 words (e.g. putting verses into multiple columns, etc.).
—GRAPHIC NOVEL: One standard script page.
—If you are an in-person attendee, be prepared to SHARE and READ your first pages. Bring 10 copies to Barbara Belding Lodge.
— If you are an in-person attendee author-illustrator, you are invited to share dummys in addition to their first pages as collateral material only.
PRINTED ILLUSTRATIONS
(Up to 3 printed illustrations permitted for in person PITCH SESSIONS):
— Attendees seated with Jordan Kost will prepare (3) finished illustrations. Bring your best work! Any 3 pieces may be shared. They don’t have to be (3) sequential illustrations. Illustrations should be printed no smaller than 8″x 8″ and no larger than 18″ x 18″.
— In person event images MUST BE PRINTED. Digital images on a laptop or handheld device are not permitted.
—Questions on creating your illustrations for pitching in person?: Email NaShanta Fletcher, SCBWI-IL Illustrator Coordinator
STITCHED PITCH PACKAGES
STITCHED PITCH PACKAGE FOR MANUSCRIPTS: Submit 4 pages into one multi-page Word document
—Page 1: Identifying information plus 3 written LOG LINES
—Pages 2-4: FIRST PAGES that correspond to those 3 written log lines; 1 page total maximum per log line; Up to 3 first pages permitted
Digital formatting requirements for your single Word document is as follows:
—Please format as a Word Document.
—8.5 inches by 11 inches, 1-inch margins, 12-point standard font, double spaced.
—Your identifying information (name & e-mail) must be at the top of Page 1. Optional: you may add a link to your professional website
—Page 1 contains up to (3) written LOG LINES. (See LOG LINES, above). Add ms title, format (picture book, middle grade, YA, graphic novel, etc.) AND genre (romance, mystery, biography, etc.) intermediately following each pitch.
—Page 2-4: Up to (3) corresponding FIRST PAGES of your works-in-progress. (See FIRST PAGES, above).
—This completes your 4-page pitch package.
—Name your file with the naming convention: LAST_First.docx
—All submissions are to be uploaded into a Dropbox between Sunday, May 7 – Saturday , May 13 at 11:59 PM—no exceptions.
—PLEASE SEND YOUR DIGITAL SUBMISSION IN EARLY if you are unfamiliar with Dropbox.
STITCHED PITCH PACKAGE FOR ILLUSTRATIONS: Submit 4 pages, including 3 jpegs into one multi-page pdf
—Page 1: Identifying information
—Pages 2-4: Finished illustration jpeg on each page; Up to 3 jpegs permitted
Digital formatting requirements for your single document is as follows:
—Save each image as a JPG at 96dpi with the longest dimension (vertically or horizontally) being 1500 pixels maximum.
—Your identifying information (name & e-mail) must be at the top of Page 1. Optional: you may add a link to your professional website
—Page 2-4: Finished illustration jpeg on each page; Up to 3 jpegs permitted.
—This completes your 4-page pitch package.
—Name your file using the following format: IL_LAST_First.pdf.
—All submissions are to be uploaded into a Dropbox between Sunday, May 7 – Saturday , May 13 at 11:59 PM—no exceptions.
—PLEASE SEND YOUR DIGITAL SUBMISSION IN EARLY if you are unfamiliar with Dropbox.
—Questions on formatting your Stitched Pitch Package for Illustrations?: Email NaShanta Fletcher, SCBWI-IL Illustrator Coordinator
ART PIECE CONTEST
(1 illustration permitted for ART PIECE CONTEST):
—Attendees who are signed up for the art piece contest, are eligible to enter one piece of art.
—Save image as a JPG at 96dpi with the longest dimension (vertically or horizontally) being 1500 pixels maximum.
—Please format illustration as a jpeg.
—Name your JPG using the following format: IL_Contest_LAST_First.jpg.
—First 50 contestants will upload entry to the Art Piece Contest per directions received via email
—Questions on formatting your Contest Art Piece?: Email NaShanta Fletcher, SCBWI-IL Illustrator Coordinator
How do I know what I selected during registration? Click here.
QUESTIONS: Email Deborah Topolski, Co-RA