SCBWI Oregon: The Great Critique - Fall 2026 (10 am-1:30 pm PDT)
Sep 26, 2026
Northwest Portland Hostel - 479 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR or VIRTUAL
SCBWI Oregon’s Great Critique is an event that happens once a year. Each session is an awesome opportunity for writers and illustrators to be critiqued by a professional and their peers. 📝 Never been in a critique group? Wish you could be critiqued by someone who is ahead of you in the publishing game? Want to strengthen your work? Need a fresh set of eyes and ears on that oft-revised piece? This is your chance. A published author or illustrator will lead each small group and critique your manuscript or art. You’ll also hear/see others’ work and get feedback from those writers and illustrators too. Plus, you’ll learn from the comments by the critique leader about the work of others. ⭐So join us for a morning of perfecting your craft. And, who knows, you might make a few new like-minded friends to start a new critique group, too.⭐ Registration opens Saturday, August 1st and closes Wednesday, September 9th. (💯If the table you want is full when you register, you can email [email protected] to be added to a waitlist for that critique leader. There will be no guarantee of reserving a spot).
The Great Critique - Fall 2026 ~ Sept 26th ~ 10:30 am-1:30 pm PDT
Registration – You Must Pre-Register For This Event
- REGISTRATION opens on Aug 4th, 2026 and closes on Sept 12th, 2024
- SCBWI Members: $35
- Non-Members: $40
- Registration opens at approximately 7 pm
- Cancellations before Aug 29th will have a $15 administration fee deducted from the refund.
- No refunds given after Aug 29th (except emergency).
***Manuscripts and/or images are due Sept 5th (or as soon as possible if registering between Sept 5th and 12th) -- this is 3 weeks before the event! ***
IMPORTANT! Please review the In-Person and Virtual Great Critique Guidelines.
How It Works
- Please review The Great Critique Faculty Bios below before selecting your faculty member.
- The Great Critique – Fall 2026 is a hybrid event. Half of the faculty will be in person and half will be virtual.
- Select your IN-PERSON or VIRTUAL faculty member when you register by scrolling down to choose the faculty member.
- No refunds given for missing the submission deadline.
Questions about this event? Contact Lia Upton at [email protected].
If you are having trouble registering, contact Becky at [email protected]
The Great Critique - Fall 2026 - FACULTY
Megan Woodward - Picture Book (in-person)
Megan is an author, comedy screenwriter, copywriter, and freelance editor. She is the author of THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY NOT CURSED (Simon and Schuster, 2024), and two more forthcoming picture books; NO IFS, ANDS, OR BUTTS which will be released October 8, 2026, and an unannounced title coming in 2028. She specializes in all things humorous and finds no greater joy than making kids laugh. Connect with her on Instagram @womeganwo, or at www.meganwoodward.com
Tracy Subisak - Picture Book (in-person)
Tracy is the author and illustrator of the hilarious SORRY, SNAIL and the award-winning JENNY MEI IS SAD, as well as the illustrator of several picture books including THE INACTIVITY BOOK, and AMAH FARAWAY. Tracy lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. You can visit her online at tracysubisak.com and on Instagram at @tracysubisak.
Deb Lund - Picture Book (VIRTUAL)
Deb is the author of MONSTERS ON MACHINES, DINOSAILORS, ALL ABOARD THE DINOTRAIN, DINOSOARING, and other books for children. She can ride a unicycle and juggle (though not at the same time), and she's a popular presenter at schools, bookstores, libraries, and conferences. She's been a classroom and music teacher, a librarian, a school founding director, and in case you didn't figure it out yet, she's passionate about supporting writers, education, and the arts.
Chamisa Kellogg - Illustration (VIRTUAL)
Chamisa is an illustrator and author based in Portland, Oregon. Her illustrations often feature nature, imaginary worlds, and playful curious characters. Her visual voice is both gentle and bold, nostalgic and fresh, and is deeply influenced by her Waldorf education as a kid. Chamisa has illustrated several picture books, some of which have won awards or garnered starred reviews! Her author-illustrator debut, DIANA AND THE DOLPHIN, was published in early 2025. Chamisa loves stories about adventure and our connection to nature, family and community. She is currently working on her debut middle grade graphic novel, due out in Fall 2028 from HarperAlley.
Sonja Thomas - MG Novels (VIRTUAL)
Sonja writes stories for kids of all ages. Her debut novel, Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence, is an Oregon Book Award finalist, an Oregon Spirit Book Award Honor recipient, and a Washington State Book Award finalist. She’s also a contributing author for GOOD NIGHT STORIES FOR REBEL GIRLS: 100 REAL-LIFE TALES OF BLACK GIRL MAGIC. Her latest middle grade novel OLIVE BLACKWOOD TAKES ACTION! received “Two thumbs up for this necessary novel about anxiety and self-advocacy” from Kirkus Reviews. Find out more at bysonjathomas.com.