Critique Options

(Please note that this is an in-person event. We at Writing Day Workshops plan both online/virtual as well as in-person events. This next PWW is an in-person event happening in Philadelphia on April 22, 2023. See you there.)

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Add $69 — for an in-depth, personal critique of your one-page query letter from Chuck Sambuchino, one of the day’s coordinators. (This rate is a special event value for Philadelphia Writing Workshop attendees only.) Registrants are encouraged to take advantage of the specially-priced critique, so they can send out their query letter with confidence following the workshop. Also, if you are meeting with an agent at the event, you’re essentially speaking your query letter aloud to them. Wouldn’t it be wise to give that query letter (i.e., your pitch) one great edit before that meeting?

Add $89 — for an in-depth personal critique of the first 10 pages of your novel. Spaces with faculty for these critiques are very limited, and participating attendees will either 1) get an in-person meeting at the workshop, if the faculty member is attending the live event, or 2) get a 10-minute phone call with the faculty member, and have notes passed along via email, if the critiquer is not attending the live event. Options:

  • Young adult and middle grade (in-person critiques): Faculty member Julie Eshbaugh, an author, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you at the April 22 event in person for 10-15 minutes to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the in-person meeting.
  • [SOLD OUT OF CRITIQUE SPOTS] Adult fantasy, science fiction, and horror (in-person critiques): Faculty member Gregory Frost, an author, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you at the April 22 event in person for 10-15 minutes to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the in-person meeting.
  • Young adult, middle grade, children’s picture books, adult romance (virtual): Faculty member Gabrielle Prendergast, an author, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting. If you are submitting a picture book, make the submission 1000 words maximum, and it can or cannot include illustrations.
  • Psychological thrillers, horror, mysteries, suspense, general contemporary adult fiction; and lastly some romance and women’s fiction (virtual): Faculty member S.Z. Estavillo, a writing coach and former literary agent, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting. 
  • Adult contemporary and historical fiction, romance, women’s fiction, mysteries, thrillers, middle grade, young adult contemporary/historical (virtual): Faculty member Jennifer Johnson Blalock, a writing coach and former literary agent, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting. 
  • Possibly more critique options coming soon.