Online Critique Groups

Looking for an online critique group?  See which group best fits your needs from the list below and contact the group co-ordinator directly.  If you can't find what you're looking for or need assistance, contact Nicky Schmidt.

GROUPS:

YA Critique - Currently closed to new members. We do all genres, from reality to fantasy and everything in between.  Because we are a closed group, members are allowed to post material other than material which is not exclusively YA. This is an actively managed group and all members are expected to contribute on a regular basis. To join the waiting list, contact Nicky Schmidt.

Group co-ordinators:  Nicky Schmidt and Jeannie Waudby

Young Adult - A supportive online critique group for authors of YA (from complete novices to published professionals!), all genres welcome, monthly commitment. Contact group co-ordinators to be placed on waiting list.

Group co-ordinators: Vicky Parsons and Kerryanne Mc Mackin

11+ Fantasy - It's what it says on the tin, but we do define fantasy broadly and include everything from high (totally different world) to modern urban (real world with a twist) and anything in between.  Currently accepting new members, please contact Ian Douglas if you'd like to join.

Group co-ordinator:  Ian Douglas

8+ Muddle Graders

Muddle Graders is an Ecrit group for writers focusing on fiction for the 8-12 age group.  Mixed genres, but all directed towards the same audience.  Our group is currently closed at 8 people, but  - as the group is new - I am running a short waiting list in case we decide to open up to new members in the future. Please contact Mariam to join the waiting list.

Group co-ordinator: Mariam Vossough

Wordsmiths 8+
Wordsmiths is an Ecrit group for writers focusing on fiction for middle graders (8+).  Mixed genres, but all directed towards the same audience. We are currently a relatively small group so if you are interested in joining please contact Alexandra Page.
Group co-ordinator: Alex Page

The Early Readers Gang
In Early Readers we focus on stories across all genres for 5-8 year olds. We're critiquing 70 word books for beginner readers through to short chapter books for more confident ones. Contact the group co-ordinators Liz Miller or MaureeenLynas if you would like to be put on the waiting list.
Group co-ordinators: Liz Miller and Maureen Lynas

Wordsprouts Picture Book Group.

WordSprouts is a critique group for Picture Book authors, author-illustrators and illustrators, who seek feedback and suggestions of improvement on their picture book ideas, manuscripts and dummies. We will strive to keep the focus on both words and pictures and celebrate the role of Picture Books in the life of a child. This group has been reformed from the PBCritique group with  13 member and is closed to new members.

Group co-ordinator: Chitra Soundar and Meagan Gaskell (Munroe)

PB Critique Too - In PB2 we post picture book text &/or illustrations for feedback, giving a brief explanation of how we would like to take the work further, or where we are stuck, and everyone chips in with comments and suggestions: we aim to help each other to reach the next level by offering constructive opinions. Contact us if you would like to be put on the waiting list!

Group co-ordinator: Lesley Moss

Artist-Authors E-Critique Group - The "AA" group has been running quite a while now and is, as it says on the tin, for illustrators who write their own texts, so tends to be mainly (but not exclusively) picture books and graphic novels. It's not an illustration critique group, but rather a group looking at stories written by illustrators. For serious illustrators (published pros or students at Art College).

Group co-ordinator: John Shelley

Illustrations Only - Yes, this one is for pictures sans words. Post images to this discussion thread in the Illustrator's Group with this link.

Group co-ordinator: John Shelley

Poetry E-Critique is a new venture and we are learning as we go.  It's a small (currently closed) group of SCBWI-BI writers keen to develop poetry for children and young adults.  There's an overlap with picturebook text for some of us too.  With a  variety of aims and experience, this group looks set to flourish and grow.  Please contact Lesley Moss if you'd like to join the waiting list.  

Group Co-ordinator: Lesley Moss

Fancy starting a new online critique group of your own and need assistance to do so - contact Nicky Schmidt.

Critique Advice: 

Remember when critiquing to "Offer your comments freely, with affection and respect. Once given, let them go."  Critiques should never embarrass, degrade or diminish - they should be done honestly and constructively and with respect.

Your critique group should be a safe-haven.

And remember, a critique group is successful only when all members participate regularly - providing both submissions and critiques.

Intellectual Property:

Critique groups work on the principle of trust, and all intellectual property must be respected.  Plagiarism is not acceptable.

Membership:
All those wishing to join an E-Critique group must be paid-up members in good standing of the SCBWI.

Are you convinced now that you want to start a writer's critique group? Great! First, however, you must sort out a few details before you're ready to meet and share words of wisdom.

• Determine the ideal number of members. It's best to have between five and ten, but a lot depends on how you choose to structure the meeting (see next bullet point). Fewer than five means that you will not have a variety of opinions (and you risk having to cancel a meeting if half your members cannot attend), while more than ten means that you won't have the time to look at anyone's work in depth. Ideally, members should all live within reasonable commuting distance of each other; facing a long car or train trip on a cold and rainy day could be a deterrent for faraway members.

• Decide on a format. You may choose to allow all members to submit a work each time, or, if you have a large number of participants, rotate who brings work (five members one week, then five different members the next, for example). Some groups encourage members to read their work aloud, while others prefer to dive right in with the comments. Most groups require members to submit their stories ahead of time.

• Choose how often to meet. Meeting monthly is probably the best option. Members have enough time to prepare material without feeling undue pressure. Weekly/bi-weekly is a bit ambitious; less frequently than monthly can slow the group's momentum.

• Select a venue. Some members like to meet at a neutral location, such as a coffee shop. Others prefer to meet at each other's homes (rotated so that no one has to bear the burden of hosting each time - unless that is agreed upon by all members). Both have merit - a member's home offers more quiet and privacy, but an outside venue can be stimulating and offer a change of scenery to writers who work from home full time.

• Appoint someone to chair. It's often beneficial to designate a session leader, someone who can keep the meeting on track, making sure that you don't run over the allotted time for each person's critique and that no one dominates the discussion.

If you already belong to a group or wish to join an existing one, here are a few tips to keep the group running smoothly.

• Take the commitment seriously. Don't view the meeting date as flexible, cancelling if something "better" comes along (unless, of course, it's a true emergency). If other members take the time and effort to submit work, you owe it to them to participate. At the very least, email your comments within a few days of the meeting.

• Make notes on the submitted copies. This way, the critiqued member can have a written record of your comments without having to write down everything you say, allowing him/her to "be in the moment" of the discussion. Oh, and put your name on the paper - it can be quite confusing to return home with a stack of manuscripts only to discover when you look at them weeks later that you can't recall who said what.

• Be tactful and respectful. When commenting on someone else's project, remember that how you deliver your remarks is as important as what you actually say. True, creative types need to develop a thick skin when dealing with editors, but a critique group should provide a kind of safe haven - you can be constructive without being destructive. People who feel attacked (whatever the intent) are not likely to return.

• Stay focused on the critique. It's great when members get along and want to spend time chatting, but the true goal of these sessions is to examine the works in progress. If you want to promote your group's bonding spirit, plan a social event - a museum, film, picnic, dinner, etc. - on a quarterly basis.

• Share publishing contacts. If you've had success with a particular publishing house, let other members know. Learning firsthand about the industry and getting personal referrals is a valuable part of belonging to a writer's group.

If you find that your group meetings have become a bit stale, why not try these alternative strategies:

• Have one session during which you give a series of "assignments" or writing prompts - everyone writes, then reads aloud, their exercises.

•  Hold a marketing session - each member brings one or two completed projects for which the group brainstorms possible markets.

• Choose a different venue. A change of scenery could change the way group members interact and express their viewpoints.

• Ask each member to bring two or three ideas and/or works-in-progress to share. Other members can then rate the ideas as worth/not worth pursuing.

• Before your critique meeting, act like a child: colour, finger-paint, model with clay, act out your favourite book, sing nursery rhymes!

By Eileen Nester Ramchandran