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 or “online” if a virtual group
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 more general, for example, “Barnes & Noble, Fairless Hills” or “Zoom”
8) Meeting Time: Please give a sense of weekday/weekend, day/evening, and meeting frequency.
9) Open to New Members: Yes or No
10) Additional notes including submission guidelines: Optional (see below for examples)
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
ONLINE GROUPS LISTED FIRST, THEN ALPHABETICALLY BY CITY or REGION
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Region: ONLINE – Eastern PA
Group name: Full Steam Ahead
Genres: MG fiction
For Writers
Contact Person: Abbie James
Contact email: Abigail.werner.james@outlook.com
Meeting Place: Zoom
Meeting Time: Monthly; time TBD by members’ availability; meeting will last no longer than one hour.
CLOSED to New Members
Additional notes including submission guidelines: This critique group is for exchanging full manuscripts—for writers who are looking for big-picture feedback on plot, character arcs, and overall consistency across an entire novel. Prospective members should have at least one completed novel to offer for critique and have the time to read and critique one entire manuscript between monthly meetings. Members will focus on one group member’s work each month, so during a month that a member’s manuscript is receiving critiques from other group members, that member will not have anything to critique. Feedback will be given through comments on a shared Google doc. The monthly Zoom meeting will be primarily for the author to ask clarifying questions about any comments received. Members should be serious about working toward publication and able to give constructive feedback in an encouraging manner (e.g. “I” statements; liberal use of smiley-face emojis). I am looking for only two other people to allow group members to cycle through several manuscripts within a (somewhat) short time frame.
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Region: ONLINE – Lehigh County/Eastern PA
Genres: PB
For: Author-Illustrators only.You can focus primarily on one or the other, but you should be comfortable critiquing manuscripts and illustrations.
Contact Person: Melissa Lettis
Contact email: melissalettisart@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Online via Facebook group
Meeting Time: Monthly or bi-weekly – TBD by members
CLOSED to New Members
Additional notes including submission guidelines: If you are interested in joining, please send excerpts from your dummy book and 2 completed illustrations that include text placement (either from the same or a different project). We will critique picture book manuscripts, dummy books, query letters, and illustrations.
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Region: ONLINE – Eastern PA
Genres: PB
For: Both writers & illustrators welcome
Contact Person: Shantell Berry
Contact email: shantelllilliston@yahoo.com
Meeting Place: Zoom (Can eventually meet at the Lawrence Park Shopping Center Starbucks)
Meeting Time: Monthly (Time decided by group members)
Open to New Members? YES
Additional notes including submission guidelines: If you are interested in joining this group, contact Shantell who will ask you some screening questions to see if you are a good fit for the group. We request that all group members are respectful while commenting, discussing, and providing honest feedback on group members’ work. Please be on time and have critiques completed and submitted by Thursday before the meeting on Saturday. When critiquing other’s work, please point out the areas the member have done well as well as areas of improvement. The standardizing format for submissions is double spaced and 12 point font. Submissions for a children’s book will be up to 1,000 words. The meeting will take one hour and each person has 15 minutes to discuss the critique during the Zoom session.
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Region: ONLINE – Eastern PA
Group Name: Historical Fiction Critique & Accountability Group
Genres: Historical Fiction MG/YA/NA
For Writers
Contact Person: Emily
Contact email: Emily.fillingham@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Google Meet
Meeting Time: Once a Month; Sunday evening preferred, but I am open to other
times/dates that work best for the group.
Open to New Members? YES
Additional notes: Historical fiction only. I’m limiting the group to 1-2 other
people who want a critique group that meets routinely but may have
other obligations outside of writing, hence the small group size. I’d
like to form a group with writers who want critiques and
accountability. We can decide on details for submissions once the
group has been formed.
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Region: ONLINE – Eastern PA
Genres: BB & PB
For Writers & Illustrators
Contact Person: Wendy Fry
Contact email: fry.wendy@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom
Meeting Time: Mondays, 8pm ET, every 2-3 weeks
CLOSED to New Members
Additional notes including submission guidelines:500 words or less read-aloud during the meeting.
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Region: ONLINE – Eastern PA
Group name: Story Sloggers
Genres: MG
For Writers
Contact Person: Abbie James
Contact email: abigail9404@hotmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom
Meeting Time: monthly; time to be decided by group members
CLOSED to New Members
Additional notes including submission guidelines: Members will email up to 10 pages from manuscript to other group members at least one week before scheduled Zoom meeting. Members will offer written comments on manuscripts and discuss during Zoom.
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Region: ONLINE — Eastern PA
Genres: PB
For Writers and Writer-Illustrators
Contact Person: Karen Tylek
Contact email: ksmuck12@yahoo.com
Meeting Place: Zoom
Meeting Time: Monthly; Tuesday evenings
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: Deadline to submit manuscripts is a week before each meeting; return written critiques the Saturday before each meeting. Meet via Zoom to ask clarifying questions and have further discussion.
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Region: ONLINE–Eastern PA
Genres: MG and YA (fiction only)
For: Writers only
Contact Person: Kielly Dunn
Contact email: dunnkielly@gmail.com
Meeting Place: ONLINE
CLOSED to New Members
Additional notes including submission guidelines: We do written critiques. Every month, we submit work to a shared Google folder during the first week of the month, then take the rest of the month to write critiques. Up to 2,500 words per monthly submission. We do occasional virtual meetings (every 3 months or so) to check in, get to know one another, and discuss our work.
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Group name: BIC Group
Genres: MG fiction, YA fiction
For: Writers
Contact Person: Jeanne Moran
Contact email: authorjeannemoran@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Online
Meeting Time: Monthly on a weekday evening, time and day to be determined by members
CLOSED to New Members
Additional notes including submission guidelines: This group is limited to five serious MG and YA novelists whose goal is publication. Up to 10 pages of a WIP can be submitted a week before the meeting. Critique will be shared verbally and through comments on the returned manuscript.
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Group Name: Pen & Paintbrush
Genres: PB (fiction & nonfiction)
Writers/Illustrators: Writers & Author-Illustrators
Contact Person: Sondra Zalewski
Contact email: sondrazw@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom
Meeting Time: Monthly, Tuesdays @ 7:30pm
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: Work for critique is added to a shared Drive folder one week prior to the monthly meeting. Members review and make notes on submissions in preparation for discussion. Following the meeting, detailed written critiques are shared with the author/author-illustrators. We accept members who are committed to the craft of writing and/or writing/illustrating PBs. Please send a brief bio and link to your portfolio or a writing sample.
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Group Name: PB Chat
Genres: Fiction & Non-Fiction BB & PB
Writers/Illustrators: Writers (author-illustrators are welcome)
Contact Person: Kristen Strocchia
Contact email: kcstrocchia@gmail.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)
CLOSED to New Members
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
CLOSED to New Members
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: Currently online; once restrictions are lifted, Panera Bread, Reading
Meeting Time: Contact Lorraine for details
CLOSED to new members?
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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: Northampton Library, Richboro
Meeting Time: Tuesdays, 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, PA
Meeting Time: Weeknights
CLOSED to new members
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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, New Cumberland, PA
Meeting Time: Saturday afternoons; monthly
CLOSED to new members
Additional notes: Members meet in person, however meetings are taking place over Zoom until at least summer 2022.
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Region: DELAWARE COUNTY
Genres: PB
Writers/Illustrators: Writers and writer/illustrators
Contact Person: Kristin Weldon Peri
Contact Email: kristinweldonperi@comcast.net
Meeting place: temporarily online
Meeting Time: Sunday evenings; monthly
OPEN to new members? YES
Additional notes: Ideal Membership:
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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: 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
CLOSED to New Members
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, PA
Meeting Time: Tuesdays
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: Let’s get together!!!
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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
Writers/Illustrators: Yes
Contact Person: Andree Santini
Contact Email: andreesantini@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Currently online until we return to Barnes & Nobles, Freemansburg Ave., Bethlehem, PA
Meeting Time: Once per month, usually on a Monday evening
Open to New Members? YES
Additional Notes: Members email manuscripts or dummies to all group members one week prior to meetings. Group size will be limited to 5 committed members. If you’re interested in joining, please send a brief bio, website link if you have one, and sample of your work to Andree.
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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
Contact Email: sallysilverman@comcast.net
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 (Schwenksville/Royersford/Pottstown/possibly King of Prussia)
Group Name: PA Kid Lit Life
Genres: BB and PB
Writers/Illustrators: Writers (author-illustrators welcome)
Contact Person: Vicenta Montgomery
Contact Email: TheLilyPadMom@gmail.com
Meeting Place: virtual meetings most of the time; in-person meetings approx 2-3 times/year in location local to Schwenksville/Royersford/Pottstown area OR King of Prussia if we have a member from Philadelphia
Meeting Time: Monthly meetings probably on Thursday (day or evening; time to be determined by group)
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes/Submission Guidelines: I am looking for 2-3 SCBWI members who have a strong interest in pursuing publishing and have been actively learning about writing childrens’ books. Must be committed to attending our monthly meeting online, submitting work on a monthly basis and/or willing to give constructive feedback to each member of the group who has submitted something prior to the meeting for review. Please email me with a little information about yourself if you are interested in joining this group. Please also indicate what day/time works best for you as I have a little flexibility in the day of the week meetings will be held. I look forward to meeting anyone who is as excited about going on this writing journey as I am.
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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: Wegman’s Grocery Store, Collegeville, PA
Meeting Time: Wednesday 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
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: PHILADELPHIA COUNTY / NW PHILLY
Genres: PB/MG
Writers/Illustrators: Both
Contact Person: Sarah Claxton
Contact email: sarah.adler.claxton@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom, in person at Avenues Cafe in Mt. Airy when possible
Meeting Time: First Wednesday monthly, 9:30am
CLOSED to New Members
Additional notes including submission guidelines: If you are interested in joining this group, contact Sarah who will ask you some screening questions to see if you are a good fit for the group. We are looking for members who have been actively learning about and writing picture books for the past few years, and are pursuing traditional publishing. We request that all group members are respectful while commenting, discussing, and providing honest feedback on group members’ work. Manuscripts/dummies will be sent via email one week in advance of the meeting. Each member is responsible for providing written and verbal feedback to all other members at the monthly meeting.
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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
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: Please contact Michael for more information
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Region: PHILADELPHIA (West Philly)
Genres: PB
Writers-Illustrators only
Contact Person: Kaela Parkhouse
Contact Email: kparkhouse@gmail.com
Meeting Place: 2nd floor Starbucks in the Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Meeting Time: Once a month on a weekday
Open to New Members: YES
Additional Notes: I am looking for 2-3 SCBWI members who are really into making children’s books and are pursuing publishing. Please email me with a little information about yourself with links to your portfolio or instagram if you are interested in joining this group. Submit to the group one week ahead of time, and we’ll meet in person to discuss each other’s work.
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Region: PHILLY–ONLINE
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: Google Meet (for now)
Meeting Time: Monday evenings, monthly
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes:
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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, Wynnewood, PA
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, Brodheadsville, PA
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: Writer Forge
Genres: All genres welcome! [At present, the group mostly consists of PB, MG, and YA writers]
Writers/Illustrators: Yes [Again, mostly writers at this time.]
Contact Person: Kristen Strocchia
Contact Email: kcstrocchia@gmail.com
Meeting Place: online only at this time
Meeting Time: Once Thursday per month.
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: Manuscript submissions due to group the Monday before we meet. Approximately 20-minute for each member to listen to and discuss feedback. Critique notes emailed after meeting.
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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