Critique groups
are an important way to improve your craft. We offer a few ways for you to meet other members and join or form critique groups, whether for in-person meetings or online meetings.
1. County Meetings — At many county meetings, there will be a sign up sheet where you can express interest in finding critique partners. You will then receive an email with all those that signed up at that meeting from our critique coordinator.
2. CRITCONNECT — Use our automated Google Doc listing board called CRITCONNECT. To access this board, please email SCBWI.critconnect@gmail.com and you will be sent an automated response outlining the rules and etiquette of the board and how to list, as well as a link to the Google Doc.
3. Social Media — The third way is to post your critique group/member interest on our Facebook page and Twitter @SCBWISFNEB
4. CRITIQUE CAFE — We periodically host critique events called Critique Cafes in our region both in-person and virtually. These are informal critique meetings at local cafe’s, libraries, or meeting rooms. In order to hold these meetings, we need the help of volunteers. If you would like to help organize a critique cafe, please let us know so we can help publicize it.
To be notified about upcoming events like our county meetings and critique cafes, please subscribe to our region’s email newsletter.
Our Critconnect/Critique Group Information Coordinator, Nanette Heffernan, is happy to answer your questions about critique groups and CRITCONNECT. She does not match you to a group or help you find members, as that is a personal endeavor based on your needs, writing, category, interest, location, timing, etc. But she can guide on how to use CRITCONNECT, let you know about groups that might be forming, how to set up a critique group, what to look for, and much more.
Note — It is your responsibility to follow up with colleagues to see if your writing and/or illustrating interests are aligned. Additionally, you are responsible for removing your name from the CRITCONNECT Google Doc once you have joined a critique group.
Finally, whether you are an experienced critique partner or newbie, we always recommend reading Linda Sue Park’s wonderful post The Give and Take of Critique Groups.
Happy Critiquing!