Hello writers and illustrators,
We want to support you in your writing and illustrating. Critique groups are an essential way to improve your craft. They are also incredibly helpful for learning about the business of writing and illustrating for children.
We know that for many reasons, meeting in person with a critique group isn’t always possible. So we’d like to offer some ways to find a valuable critique group that don’t require an in-person meeting.
If you’d like to participate in a virtual/online critique group, please contact the group leader listed on this page.
If you’d like to LEAD a virtual/online critique group, please email SCBWI.wpa.membership@gmail.com
Many virtual/online critique groups work by exchanging emails. We’d also like to offer any new or exisitng groups that contain at least ONE SCBWI member the chance to use our Zoom platform to host their group meeting. This requires some familiarity with technology, so please email Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan directly if you’d like to use this option.
Members Looking for Groups:
Please email scbwi.wpa.membership@gmail.com if you’re looking for a group or want to help build a group!
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Online YA Critique Group
Openings: Limited
Contact: Jenny Birch (jennifersbirch at gmail.com)
Email exchange
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Online North Hills Picture Book Illustrators
Openings: Yes
Day/Time: Fourth Fridays – from 6 – 9 pm – May 22
Location: ONLINE
Genre/Ages: Bring Images and Dummy Books to be critiqued!
Contact: Julianna Zito – wpa-ic@scbwi.org
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Zoom North Hills Critique Group
Openings: Yes
Day/Time: Fluctuates – based on group poll in a Slack Group
Location: As of March 2020, meeting via Zoom.
Genre/Ages: Mostly PB, some magazine, some MG
Contact: Nicole M (manages scheduling)
Contact SCBWI.wpa.critiquegroups@gmail.com if interested in joining via Slack.
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Online Picture Book Critique Group
Openings: Yes
Day/Time: Ongoing
Contact Julianna Helt julianna.helt[at]gmail.com
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Online PA PB Critiques
Openings: Yes
Day/Time: Ongoing
Contact Derek Trimmer derektrimmer[at]gmail.com
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Squirrel Hill Picture Book Illustrators
Openings: Yes
Day/Time: Postponed
Location: Panera Bread
3401 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Genre/Ages: Bring Images and Dummy Books to be Critiqued
Contact: Brittany Ashcraft – ashcraftbrittany@gmail.com
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Bethel Park Picture Book Illustrators/Writers
Openings: Yes
Day/Time: Postponed
Location: Panera Bread South Park Shops
5243 Library Rd, Bethel Park PA 15102
Contact: Kris Sacco
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Peters Township
Openings: No
Day/Time: Mondays, 7:00 to 9:00 pm;
Every other Wednesday, 10:00 am-Noon
Location: Peters Township Public Library
Virtual Option: occasionally will meet virtually with Google hang out
Genre/Ages: PB to YA, fantasy, finction and NF
Contact:
Mondays: David Amaditz chairnomor@verizon.net
Wednesdays: Stephanie Logue slogue608@yahoo.com
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Beechview
Openings: No
Day/Time: 3rd Saturday of the month, 1:00-3:00 pm
Location:
Genre/Ages: Middle Grade historical fiction / YA historical fiction / YA Scifi
Contact: Audrey Iacone
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State College, PA: PennCraft
Openings: Yes
Day/Time: every other Thursday (from Aug 22, 2019)
Location: At the State College Wegmans at 7 pm
Contact: Megan Gregor
megamoo72@hotmail.com
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