The 2024 PBParty contest entry day will be here soon…it’s February 22 from midnight to 8 pm EST. Here’s all the info you need to know about the contest.

Here’s the list of 68 participating agents, editors & art directors (and I believe we’ll have even more join before the end of the showcase).

Every year, there are lots of questions about the contest. The judges and I are happy to help! We’re holding a PBParty Prep Zoom on Monday, February 12 at 1 pm EST and hope you can join us! I’ll share the recording in the PBParty Participant Facebook group as soon as possible–and in an upcoming blog post, too. (Psssst…we came up with the Zoom date and time from a poll in our Facebook group–there are lots of perks of being there.)

Here’s the Zoom link! Password: PBParty24

If you can’t make the Zoom, you’re welcome to share any questions you have in the comments–and we’ll make sure it’s part of the Q&A session if it hasn’t already been covered. We can’t wait to chat with all of you soon!

NEW this year for author/illustrators: We’ve always had a 200 word minimum for the full manuscript you submit, because having too much online can hurt your chances of selling it and we want to protect you. But…we decided that author/illustrators with a manuscript less than 200 words (which includes wordless books) may enter for consideration in the Illustration Showcase only. Even though your sample and query won’t be displayed if you make it, the judges and I still need to see it to help make the strongest choices.

PBParty Tips

If a sample you’re considering entering to a contest like PBParty has a lot of art notes in the first 70 words…try to streamline them or use another manuscript. It’s hard to get a taste of the voice when art notes take up precious space.

Please look closely at the PB you’re entering. If something amazing happens soon after the 70 word limit…do everything possible to streamline the beginning to work it in. That could be what boosts you into the finals!

Streamlining tips:

Look for words you can easily cut, such as: that, just.

See if you can strengthen verbs like: ran fast to bolted

If you’ve included any art notes (which count for the first 70 words) make them as short and simple as possible. Don’t waste words by saying art note. If it’s in brackets, we know it’s a note. One of my PBs has a stray cat in a new home try to escape through a watery exit. [Toilet]

I have the word in brackets in a line of its own and it’s 1 word vs. 3 [Art note: toilet] Plus, it’s easier and less distracting to read inside a manuscript. We strongly prefer art notes this way.

Pat Zietlow Miller has an incredible free video teaching you how to Cut the Fluff! Thanks for all you do, Pat.

Good luck.  I know you can get it down to 70! You can ask anyone critiquing it to show you places to streamline, especially in the beginning.

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If a PB is humorous, there should be at least a hint of humor in the first 70 words (and sooner, if possible). But it should show up in the sample to set the tone for the book. A child wanting a funny read might be disappointed enough to stop part way through the book. (Although, if illustrations are really funny, that could help a lot.)

Please follow directions! It was awful having to disqualify a bunch of entries because…

*Word count was under 200 (this is to protect YOU from having so much online with a 70 word sample that it could be considered published)

*Query was missing a bio or pitch. If you’re newer, saying SCBWI, 12x12PB, participating in PBParty, etc. is fine! But you need to have a bio. The bio also needs to be from you—not switch to 3^rd person mid-way through. And it should be in paragraphs, not a list of comps or list of accomplishments like you’d have in a resume.

Don’t say: My name is or switch to 3^rd person midway through a query. It’s a personal letter from you, not a business resume.

This didn’t disqualify people…but it’s frustrating when we do everything possible to let people know to ONLY choose up to 3 genres…and the form even says it right where you fill it out…and participants mark way more than that. Finalists have their genres show in the main page of the final round…that and the title could entice agents/editors to click on an entry. But you can only see about 3 of them, so you need to showcase the strongest ones (and rhyming, if it rhymes).

Don’t end the sample mid-sentence!

Some of the concepts were amazing…but something kept them back from the finals. In some cases, it was:
*The opening wasn’t strong enough (the hook didn’t show, awkward phrasing, or talking heads that didn’t allow for enough unique art bait, etc.)
*The writing felt older—more like a chapter book or MG
*The language didn’t sing
*The manuscript itself was too long, and would be stronger streamlined
*The sample was confusing

The PBParty judges and I are sending tons of good vibes your way and can’t wait to read your entries on February 22! Good luck. 🙂