Things you’ll need for the Google Form

Here’s what you’ll need for the 2024 PBParty Contest

The Google form will only be open during the submission window on February 22—but you can create a file with everything you’ll need, then copy and paste it into the form. Now is the time to check every word, share with critique partners, and make sure it’s ready to dazzle.

*You can’t edit once you submit, and you can’t send a revised entry.

* If you can’t send it yourself, you can share your responses and have someone send it in for you.

NOTE: Google will strip ALL formatting (italics, columns, etc.)

~TITLE (Please Capitalize the First Letter of Each Word)

~SAMPLE First 60 – 70 words of a picture book 

*Do NOT enter a PB if the full manuscript is less than 200 words! You don’t want that much of your work online, even for a few days.

*Don’t stop in the middle of a… ^_(sentence)

*Art notes count toward your 60 – 70 words!!!

*Repeat: Art notes count toward your 60 – 70 words.  

Try to limit art notes as much as possible…but make sure people who haven’t read the manuscript before still understand it if you take notes out.

Please format notes like this [awesome art note]. Don’t say Art note or Illustration…we’ll know it’s a note because of the brackets. This will make it quicker to read (for the hard-working PBParty judges and the amazing agents and editors reading the showcased entries). Plus, all finalists will use the same method. 🙂

Don’t paginate, indent, or share spreads. Only include text and necessary art notes.

~QUERY The most important part of your query is the blurb! Don’t give away the ending–make us want to dive into your manuscript because it sounds so amazing. Hint: it’s helpful to look at queries that worked (like in PBParty Success Stories) and pitches that grabbed a lot of attention in events like #PBPitch.

Include your comps, bio, greeting, closing. Be sure to note lived experiences that make you the perfect person to write the story in the query as well (if it applies). You may use whatever you want for a greeting—but please don’t write it to a specific agent or editor. 

The query MUST be a complete query. If it’s a single line pitch with no bio, a bio with no pitch blurb, etc. it will disqualify you. Sadly, this has happened in the past and we don’t want it to happen to you!

Here’s your chance to make your entry shine so agents and editors fall in love with your words.

Do not include personal information like your name, address, e-mail, etc. If you include links in your bio, we will assume those can be made public.

In the past, people have been disqualified for putting large chunks of their manuscript in the query or packing in way too much info to try to make up for the short sample. If a query looks unprofessional, it will knock out an entry…even if we love the sample itself. (We don’t like having to disqualify a sample we love–so please don’t do this.)

~WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS STORY–and what do you have in common with the story or main character? (We share this in the final entries–some people forget to show an emotional connection to a manuscript in a query and we want to make sure your connection shines). This can be up to 100 words.

~GENRE Please include ONLY 1 – 3 genres for your manuscript! If you’re not sure what genre maybe one of these will help: diverse, humor, character driven, metafiction, concept, STEM/STEAM, rhyming, lyrical, fantasy, bedtime, historical fiction, informational fiction, holiday, contemporary, SEL (social & emotional learning). 

If it’s non-fiction, what type of non-fiction (biography, narrative, etc.)  

*Up to 3 genres will be listed along with the title and word count on the finalist page…so please make the best choices!

~WE’D LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU. Check any boxes that apply. You’re welcome to tell us a bit more in the “other” area. 🙂

[ ] BIPOC

[ ] Traditionally underrepresented voice in publishing

[ ] Traditionally published

[ ] Previously agented

[ ] Past PBParty Finalist

[ ] Past PBParty Honorable Mention

[ ] Other __________________________

~WORD COUNT (for the entire manuscript–NOT including the title, art notes, or back matter)

*IMPORTANT! The judge voting spreadsheet is coded so any word count under 200 words will immediately be disqualified. Make sure the manuscript you’re entering is at least 200 words (this is to protect YOU). Use the total for the full manuscript, not the sample. If the manuscript is 198 or 199 words, you may round up to 200. 🙂

~NAME (Full name please)

~E-MAIL (Please triple check that you have the correct e-mail…in case we need to get in contact with you. Plus, I e-mail finalists their PBParty finalist badge, banner & an invite to join our private and supportive Facebook group)

~TWITTER/BLUESKY AND/OR INSTAGRAM HANDLE (if you have one)

Sometimes, people make a mistake with their e-mail…and this gives us another way to contact you.

~SHARE A 1 – 3 SENTENCE PITCH for up to 3 of your strongest, polished PBs–NOT including the picture book you’re entering. (This is only to help us with final spots and won’t be shared online) This is optional, but we hope you’ll do it. 🙂

~SHARE THE FULL PICTURE BOOK MANUSCRIPT (we need you to paste in at least the last 100 words–but the full is way better. This will NOT be featured online or shared with the agents/editors.) It will only be read if the judges are highly considering your entry for the showcase and need to see a bit more before making a final decision. It will also be a huge help making sure rhyming manuscripts are spot on and 100% ready to dazzle. This should be text from your manuscript, not back matter.

~DO YOU WANT YOUR QUERY, SAMPLE, OR BOTH DELETED AFTER THE CONTEST…if you’re in the final showcase? The entries in the Illustration Showcase will all be deleted.

There will not be a confirmation e-mail. Once you click “Submit” you’ll see a confirmation message. Take a photo of it, if you’d like proof of your entry. 🙂

For author/illustrators

*You’ll have the same Google form as the writers, but you’ll have the ability to attach 2 illustrations.

*You’ll have the option to add a link to your portfolio and/or a password protected dummy or one that can’t be accessed without the link (just to help judges with the final decisions).

*Would you like to be considered for illustration work in addition to the picture book you submitted as an author/illustrator?

Format for illustrations: Title 1 your initials Title 2 your initials

Don’t mention including a dummy in your query…they won’t have access to it in the finals. You can mention that you have a dummy available though.

Good luck! We can’t wait to read your entries. 🙂