SCBWI Long Island Presents: From Feedback to Flourish: How Critique Groups Can Elevate Your Manuscript
Sep 13, 2025
Online event
We all love our manuscripts, but sometimes we’re too close to them to identify issues. That’s where critique groups come in. Critiquing the works of others can help bring your own manuscript to the next level. Learn the ins and outs of critique groups from our expert panelists and find out what makes a critique group effective, how to constructively provide and receive feedback, and so much more to elevate your manuscript!
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Date of the Program: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Start time of the Program: 3:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Free for members
$40 for non-members
We all love our manuscripts, but sometimes we’re too close to them to identify issues. That’s where critique groups come in. Critiquing the works of others can help bring your own manuscript to the next level. Learn the ins and outs of critique groups from our expert panelists and find out what makes a critique group effective, how to constructively provide and receive feedback, and so much more to elevate your manuscript!
This is a 45-minute virtual presentation, followed by a 15-minute question and answer session.
The Zoom event will be recorded, and attendees will have 30 days to review the session. The recording will not be copied or shared on social media.
Presenters
Maria Wen Adcock is the author of IT'S CHINESE NEW YEAR, CURIOUS GEORGE (2023) and MY NAME IS AI LIN (2025). Maria is a first-generation Chinese-American writer and founder of the award-winning multicultural parenting blog, Bicultural Mama. She has appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, Bloomberg News, Newsday, and Huffington Post. Maria volunteers for SCBWI Long Island as a critique group moderator and Writer Coordinator to ensure notes are taken during events. Find her at www.MariaWenAdcock.com.
Debbie Vilardi is the author of over twenty leveled readers, including Anne Frank Writes Words of Hope (Capstone Press, 2022), a graphic biography on a fourth-grade level. Her other publication credits include works for teachers, articles for writers, poems, and a short story. She has been running her own critique group for more than twenty years and has been part of two other groups. She’s also the executive editor of Kid LIt News, the newsletter of the Long Island chapter of SCBWI and the moderator of the critique section of the SCBWI Discussion Forum. She can be found at debbievilardi.com
Roseanne Baxter Frank is the social media coordinator for the Long Island chapter. Our accounts are @scbwilongisland on FB, Instagram, and X/Twitter. You can contact her for all promotions and news through any of the social media accounts. Roseanne is a freelance editor and hosts picture book writing workshops at local libraries. Roseanne is the author of O’WIN & the MOON (2025) and several indie published books.