One-to-One file uploads

One-to-One file uploads

One-to-One file upload information:

When are my One-to-One files due?

You will need to upload your documents by 1pm (BST) on May 18th 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.

How do I submit my One-to-One files?

Unless you have booked a session with Debi Alper, who does not require files submitted in advance, you will receive an email from info@jerichowriters.com within 5 minutes of booking your session (subject line: 'Your one-to-one is booked! Time to upload your documents'). You can request a new submission email by logging into the Festival website and completing the form at One-to-Ones > Submission Links.

This email will contain a link to an upload form for the session referenced in the confirmation email. If you have booked two sessions, you will receive two separate confirmation emails and will need to use the correct link for each session.

After clicking the link, you will be asked to select your genre. Please see the table below for more guidance on the documents we request for each genre category.

Click 'Next' to start uploading your files. You can only submit one file for each section, so if you have accidentally chosen the wrong file, you will need to remove the first document using the 'x' button next to the file name before reselecting the correct file.

After uploading your documents and clicking 'Next', you will be asked to confirm that you are happy for us to share the submitted work with the industry professional and that you acknowledge all submissions are final. Once you have ticked both boxes, click Submit and your files will be sent to your chosen industry professional. You will also receive confirmation of this by email.

What should I upload for my One-to-One session?

This depends on your genre and the industry professional you're speaking with!

Participating industry professionals with unique requirements are:
  1. Debi Alper, who does not require any files submitted in advance. Instead, she would like you to bring to the session a short extract from your manuscript, a synopsis, or questions to ask her about any aspect of writing or being published.
  2. Debbie Young, who would like you to complete a self-publishing questionnaire in advance of the session. You can find this questionnaire via the file upload link sent by email after purchasing your session.
  3. Ella Berthoud, who would like you to submit a query/cover letter, a synopsis, and a 300-500 word writing sample. You can submit these via the file upload link sent by email after purchasing your session.
For all other sessions, please refer to our guidance in the table below. You will also have the opportunity to indicate which of your files (if any) you would especially like the agent to focus on when preparing feedback.

Genre
File requirements
Notes
Fiction (including adult, young adult and middle grade)

Query/cover letter (.doc or .docx)
Synopsis (.doc or .docx)
First 5000 words (.doc or .docx)


Picture book

Query/cover letter (.doc or .docx)
Picture book text #1 (.doc, .docx or .pdf)
Picture book text #2 (.doc, .docx or .pdf)

Please submit a maximum of two picture book texts for review.
Narrative non-fiction (including memoir)
Query/cover letter (.doc or .docx)
Synopsis OR non-fiction chapter breakdown (.doc or .docx)
First 5000 words (.doc or .docx)
Agents may request either a synopsis (as with a fiction submission) or a non-fiction chapter breakdown. You may wish to consult your chosen agent's requirements via their agency website, or simply choose the format you feel best suits your project.
Subject-led non-fiction
Query/cover letter (.doc or .docx)
Book proposal (.doc or .docx)
First 3000-5000 words (.doc or .docx)

As non-fiction book proposals are longer than synopses, your agent or book doctor may read a shorter sample of your manuscript.
Book proposals typically include your professional bio and credentials, a market overview, and an outline/chapter breakdown. 

What if I am missing one of the requested files?

All files requested on your upload form must be uploaded together in order to submit the form to your chosen industry professional. If you are missing one or more of the documents marked as required, please upload a placeholder document. This could be an otherwise blank document with a short line indicating that you are choosing not to submit the file in question. If you would like support with this, please contact info@jerichowriters.com 

How should I format my documents?

With the exception of picture books, which may be in PDF format, all documents must be Word documents (.doc or .docx). We will not send any additional files (including illustrations) to the agent or book doctor in advance of your session.

We would appreciate you following this format for file names: Author Name, Manuscript Title, Document Type.
(For example, Joe Smith, My Book, Query Letter.)

We recommend following industry standard guidelines when formatting your documents, though we will not reject your submission if you do not follow these:
• Readable, non-decorative font in 11pt or 12pt
• Black text on white background
• Avoid coloured text, highlighting, or excessive text formatting
• Numbered pages for multiple-page documents
• Page breaks between chapters
• Default (1 inch) margins
• Double-spaced lines (1.5 space or even single-spaced lines may be fine for your query letter)
• Check the document is clean from any placeholder text, comments, Tracked Changes, etc.

Please do not worry about formatting – as long as your documents are easily readable and in the correct file format, you don’t need to panic about getting everything right. The guidelines above are just useful tips to keep all of your querying documents neat, professional, and reader-friendly.

Can I edit my files after uploading them?

If you have uploaded files via the form but have not yet submitted the form, you can delete your upload and reselect a file by clicking the 'x' button next to the file name.

Once you have completed the form and clicked Submit, all uploads are final. Industry professionals may begin reading and preparing feedback at any time after your files are submitted, so you will be unable to reupload or request edits. Please leave yourself enough time to proofread your documents carefully and ensure that you are happy with them before you submit them.

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