EASTERN PA SCBWI AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR CRITIQUE GROUPS
Critique groups can be a key resource in your journey as an author and/or illustrator. I find surrounding myself with creative people inspires me. They help me brainstorm ideas when I’m stuck and see flaws in my work. But they also point out my strengths as a writer and offer me support when I need it most.
But critique groups work best if the group is a good fit and all members challenge themselves to make the experience valuable for others. The group leader’s job is to coordinate and communicate the group’s rules and meeting times so that members come prepared and participate in a way that breeds a positive and supportive community. I hope you find a group that helps you be the best writer and/or illustrator you can be. And I doubly hope you’ll make the effort to be that partner for others.
Here are some RESOURCES you might find helpful regarding critique groups.
Please Note: You must be an active SCBWI member in order to join an SCBWI Critique Group. Please make sure your membership is up-to-date. Leaders, please make sure to ask any prospective members if they are active SCBWI members before allowing them to join your group.
EPA SCBWI Critique Groups are often held on a monthly basis, in communities throughout Eastern Pennsylvania. Each group is unique, shaped by the talents and focus of the Critique Group Leader and participants.
On this site you will see a list of critique groups throughout Eastern PA. If the group is open to new members, please contact the leader directly. If you do not see a group open in your area or an online group that meets your needs, please contact the Critique Group Coordinator, Heather Pierce Stigall, at scbwiepaCGC@gmail.com the subject line: Critique Groups. I will contact you about other possibilities. If you would like to start your own critique group, I will need the following information:
1) Region: The EPA county where the group will meet.
2) Group name: Optional (The Group Leader can select the name or, once formed, the group can decide.)
3) Genres: List all formats that you would like to critique. BB=Board Book, PB=Picture Book, CB=Chapter Book, MG=Middle Grade, YA-Young Adult, NA=New Adult; fiction/non-fiction, Poetry
4) Writers/Illustrators:Do you want writers/and or illustrators to join?
5) Contact Person: Your name
6) Contact email: Your preferred email address
7) Meeting Place: You can be specific or more general, for example, “Barnes & Noble, Fairless Hills.”
8) Meeting Time: Please give a sense of weekday/weekend and day/evening and meeting frequency.
9) Open to New Members: Yes or No
10) Additional notes including submission guidelines: Optional
Below you’ll find a listing of critique groups within Eastern PA. We ask that groups help us keep this information current by emailing changes to Heather Pierce Stigall at scbwiepaCGC@gmail.com
UPDATE AS OF JUNE 2020:
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.
SCBWI recommends virtual events through 2020.
We are asking all critique groups to meet virtually or online.
ONLINE GROUPS LISTED FIRST, THEN ALPHABETICALLY BY CITY or REGION
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Group Name: C & A: Critiques & Accountability
Genres: Fiction & Non-Fiction BB & PB
Writers/Illustrators: Writers (author-illustrators are welcome)
Contact Person: Virginia Law Manning
Contact email: vl_law@yahoo.com
Meeting Place: we will meet virtually on Zoom or a similar format
Meeting Time: to be determined by members (please let me know your preference when you email)
Open to New Members: YES
Additional Notes: I am looking to start a new critique group for motivated SCBWI members who have been writing & revising manuscripts for several years, read picture books regularly, and are active in the children’s book community. I am especially interested in finding members who are teachers, librarians, or booksellers, or who have young children at home. Interested members should have strong critique skills and be eager to receive constructive criticism on their work. The name of the group, C & A: Critiques & Accountability, was chosen because I hope members will encourage each other to focus on their writing and the structure of deadlines and meetings will keep us accountable.
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Genres: CB, MG, YA (Fiction only)
Writers/Illustrators: Writers Only
Contact Person: Emily Fillingham
Contact email: Emily.fillingham@gmail.com
Meeting Place: ONLINE
Meeting Time: Once a month, depending on availability of members
Open to New Members: YES
Meeting Time: Once a month, depending on availability of members
Open to New Members: YES
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Genres: CB, MG, YA (Fiction only)
Writers/Illustrators: Writers Only
Contact Person: Emily Fillingham
Contact email: Emily.fillingham@gmail.com
Meeting Place: ONLINE
Meeting Time: Once a month, depending on availability of members
Open to New Members: YES
Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and speculative fiction MG=Middle Grade and YA-Young Adult
Writers/Illustrators: Writers Only
Contact Person: Alyssa Reynoso-Morris
Contact email: alyssareymorris@gmail.com
Meeting Place: ONLINE
Meeting Time: Last Saturday or Sunday of the Month
CLOSED to New Members
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Genre: CB, MG, & YA
Writers/Illustrators: Writers
Contact Person: Alice Berger
Contact email: Alice.berger@yahoo.com
Meeting Place: Online
Meeting Time: N/A
Additional Notes: We’ll submit work to an online forum during the first week of every month, then take the rest of the month to write critiques. Feel free to submit complete stories (one per month), sections of a larger work, or revisions from a previous submission. Up to 2,500 words per monthly submission.
CLOSED to New Members
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Genre: PB & BB
Writers/Illustrators: Both can join!
Contact Person: Caitlin Eslinger
Contact email: Weddcaitlin@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Online
Meeting Time: We would send out manuscripts at the beginning and middle of the month
CLOSED to New Members
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Group Name: TBD
Genre: Primarily CB, MG, YA
Writers/Illustrators: Writers
Contact Person: Chris Low
Contact email: chrislowauthor@gmail.com
Meeting Place: ONLINE
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes Including Submission Guidelines: We’ll submit work to a shared google folder during the first week of every month, then take the rest of the month to write critiques. Feel free to submit complete stories (one per month), sections of a larger work, or revisions from a previous submission. Up to 5,000 words per monthly submission.
Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Group Name: The Highlighters
Genre: Mostly PBs, but some members also write poetry, MG, and CB
Writers/Illustrators: Writers
Contact Person: Becky Scharnhorst
Contact email: beckyscharnhorst@gmail.com
Meeting Place: ONLINE
CLOSED to new members
Additional Notes: We send manuscripts out at the beginning of every month and sometimes in the middle of the month.
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Group Name: WNYR – Writing Non-Fiction for Young Readers
Genre: All categories of NF (birth to YA)
Writers/Illustrators: Writers
Contact Person: Rani Iyer
Contact email: iyerani@gmail.com
Meeting Place: ONLINE
Open to new members? YES
Additional Notes: The group will have a max. of 10 writers. It is open to published & non-published writers. The critiques will be submitted via online forum. All members submit once per month during open period of submission (kept open for a week to 10 days). If you miss submitting critiques or new materials, you must drop out. Members can submit revisions or parts of longer work. Word limit for submission is 2,000 words max, from single manuscript. NO critiques in November or December but restarts promptly on Jan 2. Min of three members, max of 10 required to run this group.
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Region: ONLINE–LANCASTER/EASTERN PA
Group Name: Java & PB
Genre: PB
Writers/Illustrators: Writers
Contact Person: Katie Caprino
Contact email: kathryncaprino@hotmail.com
Meeting Place: ONLINE
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: we send manuscripts out at the beginning of each month
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Region: BERKS COUNTY
Group Name: Reading Writers
Genres: MG and YA
Writers/Illustrators: Writers
Contact Person: Lorraine Storms
Contact Email: lryanstorms@gmail.com
First Meeting place: Exeter Community Library, 4569 Prestwick Dr, Reading, 19606, Children’s Area Study Room
Meeting Time: Contact Lorraine for details
Open to new members? YES
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Region: BUCKS COUNTY (Newtown, New Hope)
Genres: PB, CB, MG, YA
Writers/Illustrators: Both
Contact Person: Barbara Clark
Contact Email: bnknclark@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Corner Bakery Cafe, 3 West Road, Newtown, PA 18940
Meeting Time: Weekday, during the day; monthly
Open to New Members? YES
Additional Notes: Members email manuscripts to all group members one week prior to meetings.
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Region: BUCKS COUNTY (Warrington)
Group name: Pencilvania Children’s Book Writer Critique Group
Genre: PB, MS, Poetry (Open to any children’s book genre)
Contact Person: Ali Pichardo
Contact Email: apichardo56@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Wegmans, Warrington, PA
Meetings: Fridays; weekly
CLOSED to new members. Ali Pichardo is happy to share her tips on how to start your own group.
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Region: CHESTER COUNTY (West Chester)
Genres: Mainly kid lit, but all genres welcome
Writers/Illustrators: Both
Contact Person: Lesley Grigg
Contact Email: mail@lesleygrigg.com
Meeting Place: West Chester
Meeting Time: Weeknights
Open to new members: YES
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Region: CUMBERLAND COUNTY (Harrisburg)
Genres: PB and CB
Writers/Illustrators: Writers
Contact Person: Susan Sempeles
Contact Email: write.now@comcast.net
Meeting place: New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
Meeting Time: Saturday afternoons; monthly
Open to new members? YES
Additional notes: Members meet in person.
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Region: DELAWARE COUNTY
Genres: PB
Writers/Illustrators: Writers and writer/illustrators
Contact Person: Tim Canny
Contact Email: timcanny@verizon.net
Meeting place: Lawrence Park Shopping Center, Broomall
Meeting Time: Saturday mornings; monthly
OPEN to new members? YES
Additional notes: Ideal Membership: Pre-published and published picture book, kidlit writers, and writer-illustrators. Critique Group Goal: To be a supportive, helpful, informative space where people can feel safe sharing their work.
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Region: KING OF PRUSSIA/MALVERN
Genres: PB/CB
Writers/Illustrators: Both
Contact Person: Robin Jordan
Contact Email: Robinamjordan@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Barnes and Noble, Wayne
Meeting Time: Weekday, during the day; monthly
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: Notes: This is a critique group for experienced and dedicated authors.
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Region: LACAWANNA & SURROUNDING AREAS
Genres: BB/PB/Early Readers
Writers/Illustrators: Writers Only
Contact Person: Josette Abruzzini
Contact Email: Josette.abruzzini@gmail.com
Meeting Place: While the weather is nice we plan to meet at local parks, then move to indoor cafes come winter. Since we are planning on trying new locations it’s best to email Fawn and find out where and when we are meeting for the month
Meeting Time: Friday evenings; monthly (for now–this may change to Sundays or another day as it meets the needs of group members)
Open to New Members? YES
Additional Notes: Notes: We will be exchanging our manuscripts via email the week before we meet so we will have the critiques ready to discuss at the meeting. When submitting your email please be use 12 pt font, and be sure to include your name and title on each page. We are going to be open to allowing children to attend if you cannot arrange a sitter.
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Region: LANCASTER
Genres: all genres
Writers/Illustrators: Illustrators
Contact Person: Sheri Hansen
Contact Email: sherichansen@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Prince Street Café
Meeting Time: Monday evenings; please email Sheri for specifics
Open to New Members: YES
Additional Notes: This is a new group open to any illustrator who is looking for group feedback, professional community, and the fun and challenge of developing our art ideas together.
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Region: LANCASTER
Group Name:
Genres: PB, CB, MG, YA
Writers/Illustrators: Yes
Contact Person: Eva Polites
Contact Email: evapol@comcast.net
Meeting Place: Panera–Fruitville Pike
Meeting Time: Tuesdays
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: Let’s get together!!!
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Region: LANCASTER COUNTY
Group Name: Lititz Area Children’s Writing Critique Group
Genres: PB, CB, MG, YA, NA – Fiction & Nonfiction
Writers/Illustrators: Writers & Writer-Illustrators
Contact Person: Diane Guscott
Contact Email: dianeguscott@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Slate Cafe, Lititz
Meeting Time: Sundays; monthly
Open to New Members? YES
Additional Notes: Contact Diane for details
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Region: LANCASTER COUNTY (Lititz-Area)
Genres: PB, CB, MG, YA – Fiction & Nonfiction
Writers/Illustrators: Writers & Writer-Illustrators
Contact Person: Pradeep Velugubantla
Contact Email: pradeep.velugubantla@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Lititz Area Mennonite School
Meeting Time: Sunday afternoons; monthly
Open to New Members? Contact Pradeep Velugubantla
Additional Notes: We share our work-in-progress by email a week before our monthly in-person meeting. When we meet, we offer verbal and written feedback to the author in the form of encouragement and constructive critique. Our guidelines are available on request. Our group is limited to six active members. Please Contact Pradeep Velugubantla for information on membership availability.
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Region: LEHIGH VALLEY/ NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
Genres: PB, CB, MG, YA
Writers/Illustrators: Yes
Contact Person: Mark Magro
Contact Email: mmagro26@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Barnes & Nobles, Freemansburg Ave., Bethlehem, PA
Meeting Time: Tuesday evenings; monthly
Open to New Members? YES
Additional Notes: Must be willing to review all genres and be committed to make most meetings.
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Region: LYCOMING COUNTY/WILLIAMSPORT
Genre: PB, CB, MG, YA Fiction and nonfiction
Writers/Illustrators: Writers only
Contact Person: Tammy Burke
Contact Email: deirsprite@gmail.com
Meeting Place: James V. Brown Library, Williamsport
Meeting Time: Monday evenings; monthly
Open to new members? YES
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Region: MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Group Name: Write On!
Genres: BB, PB, CB, MG, Poetry
Writers/Illustrators: Writers & Illustrators are welcome to join
Contact Person: Sally Silverman & Suzanne Shockley
Contact Email: sallysilverman@comcast.net OR suzanneshockley2@gmail.com
Meeting Place: via Zoom
Meeting Time: Monthly; first Tuesday of each month; 7-9 PM
Open to New Members: YES
Additional Notes & Submission Guidelines: Submissions via Word document due the week before each meeting
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Region: MONTGOMERY COUNTY (Royersford/Limerick/Collegeville/Norristown/King of Prussia)
Genres: PB (fiction and non-fiction), CB, MG, YA
Writers/Illustrators: All welcome
Contact Person: Steve Silbiger
Contact Email: silbigers@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Towne Book Center, Collegeville, PA
Meeting Time: Tuesday evenings; monthly
CLOSED to New Members
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Region: MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Group Name: Bucks-Mont Children’s Writers
Genres: PB, CB, MG, YA
Writers/Illustrators: All writers
Contact Person: Wendy Greenley
Contact Email: wendy@wendygreenley.com
Meeting Place: Barnes & Noble, North Wales, PA
Meeting Time: Mornings; twice per month
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: Manuscripts are exchanged a week in advance online. Comments and manuscripts returned at the meeting. Group size is limited. No “drop ins.”
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Region: MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Group Name: Main Line Writers Group
Genres: PB, CB, MG
Writers/Illustrators: Writers
Contact Person: Sarah Heaton
Contact Email: thebestsarahinthewholewideworld@hotmail.com
Meeting Place: Rosemont, PA
Meeting Time: Weekday days; monthly
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: Submit to the group 1 week ahead of time. We meet in person to discuss each other’s work.
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Region: PHILADELPHIA–CENTER CITY (Group 1 of 2)
Genres: Picture Book
Writers/Illustrators: Writers
Contact Person: Lois Wickstrom
Contact Email: reluctantspy@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Currently online (location TBD once safe to do so)
Meeting Time: Group 1–Friday evenings, monthly; Group 2–Tuesday evenings 1-2 times/month
Open to New Members: YES
Additional Notes: If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Lois. Once we have a few members we can determine the best time/day to meet.
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Region: PHILLY–CENTER CITY (Group 2 of 2)
Group Name: Graphic Novel & Comics Critique Group
Genres: All categories of graphic novels & comics
Writers/Illustrators: writers, illustrators & writer-illustrators
Contact Person: Kaela Parkhouse
Contact Email: kparkhouse@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Spread Bagelry, 2401 Walnut Street
Meeting Time: Friday mornings; monthly
Open to New Members: YES
Additional Notes: This is a new group open to anyone working on comics and graphic novels for teens and children. Looking for 6 people who are committed to meeting monthly. Bring a piece that you are working on if you want to receive feedback from the group. Once a group is established, work will be submitted 5 days before meet date. Please contact Kaela if you’re interested in joining and include a brief bio and a link to your website if you have one.
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Region: PHILADELPHIA (Rittenhouse/Fitler/Grad Hospital/Logan Sq area)
Genres: PB
Writers/Illustrators: writers & illustrators
Contact Person: Michael Toledano
Contact Email: michaelstoledano@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Fitler Square Park when the weather is nice; Over Google Meets when weather is lousy
Meeting Time: Once a month during the week. Ideally sometime between 10am-3pm
Open to New Members: YES
Additional Notes: Please contact Michael for more information
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Region: PHILLY – PENNSYLVANIA AVE
Group Name: Philadelphia Writers + Illustrators Crit Group
Genres: PB
Writers/Illustrators: both
Contact Person: Drew Samsoe
Contact Email: missdrewillustration@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Whole Foods Market, 2101 Pennsylvania Avenue
Meeting Time: Tuesday evenings; monthly
CLOSED to New Members: We currently have 11 members and no open positions.
Additional Notes: We are a group of both published and unpublished authors, illustrators, and author-illustrators, focusing on writing while giving art direction. Work is submitted 5 days before meet date (dummy or manuscript attachments accepted). 5 people present each month with 20 minutes allotted to each work. Members who are absent for meetings are obligated to submit emailed critiques within a week after meet date.
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Region: PHILLY–QUEEN VILLAGE
Group Name: Philadelphia Picture Book Critique Group
Genres: PB
Writers/Illustrators: writers & writer-illustrators
Contact Person: Kristen Rashid
Contact email: kristenrashid@gmail.com
Meeting Place: The Bagel Place, 404 Queen Street 19147
Meeting Time: Friday mornings, monthly; beginning January 2019
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: This group will be capped at 6 active members who are committed to attending the monthly meeting, submitting work on a monthly or bimonthly basis (depending on the number of members), and giving constructive feedback. Please contact Kristen if you are interested in joining, including a brief bio and a link to your website if you have one. Manuscripts/dummies will be sent via email one week in advance of the meeting. Each member will be responsible for providing written and verbal feedback at the in-person meeting. Members who are absent for meetings will be obligated to submit emailed critiques within a week after meet date. No drop ins.
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Region: PHILLY—WESTERN SUBURBS
Group Name: Lancaster Ave Writers’ Group
Genres: MG and YA
Writers/Illustrators: Writers
Contact Person: Laura Parnum
Contact e-mail: lparnum@msn.com
Meeting Place: Panera Bread, 278 East Lancaster Ave, Wynnewood, PA 19096
Meeting Time: usually Thursday evenings; monthly
CLOSED to new members. This group is currently closed to new members.
Additional notes: Members submit 10-30 pages (one member at a time) on a rolling basis every two weeks for critique. We use an online critique format, adding comments to Word documents, which we share using Slack. We also use Slack to communicate questions, comments, suggestions, tools, and writerly resources (such as contests, conferences, and news). We meet once a month to catch up in person, discuss updates in our writer lives, and enjoy one another’s company!
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Region: POCONO MOUNTAINS
Genre: My writing focus: Board Books, Picture Books. (Group Genre: OPEN)
Writers/Illustrators: ALL WELCOME!
Contact Person: Kelly Jean Gillow
Contact Email: kellygillow@countryhomelearning.com
Meeting Place: Country Home Learning & Art Center, 1784 Rt. 209 Suite101 Brodheadsville, Pa. 18322 (Across from Wawa)
Meeting Time: Thursday evenings; monthly
Open to New Members? YES
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Region: SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
Genre: PB, CB, MG,
Writer/Illus: Writers, Illustrators and writers/illustrators
Contact Person: Valeria Wicker
Contact email: wickerillustrations@gmail.com
Meeting Place: To be discussed, preferably Pottsville or Orwigsburg public libraries
Meeting Time: Once per month
Open to New Members? YES
Additional: Members should have basic knowledge in children’s literature, structural components such as story arc, current illustration and industry trends. Each member will be forwarding their work by email at least one week before the meeting. Writers/ illustrators may forward their dummies if possible. Illustrators only: JPEG images 200dpi or less. Must be willing to read all members work, provide feedback and commit to attend most meetings.
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Region: SOUTHERN WAYNE COUNTY
Group Name: NEPA Writer Forge
Genres: All genres welcome! [At present, the group mostly consists of YA, NA, and A manuscripts, though occasionally PB, CB, and MG are brought as well.]
Writers/Illustrators: Yes [Again, mostly writers at this time.]
Contact Person: Kristen Strocchia
Contact Email: kcstrocchia@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Please email Kristen Strocchia to find out the next meeting date and location
Meeting Time: Once per month.
Open to New Members? Yes and No…Our current group is comfortably full, but we are open to splitting into genre specific/locale accessible groups if there are other interested writers in the area.
Additional Notes: Each member’s critique lasts approximately 20 minutes including: time to read your manuscript portion aloud, and time for each other member to provide feedback. Generally this time period allows for 7-9 pages to be shared and critiqued comfortably.
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That’s it for now, if you didn’t find a group in your area or you’re interested in starting one, please email EPA Critique Group Coordinator Heather Pierce Stigall at heatherstigallcm@aol.com
Thanks and talk to you soon!
Happy writing & illustrating,
Heather Stigall
Critique Group Coordinator Eastern PA SCBWI
