Frequently asked questions

Our new Critique Group Community allows premium SCBWI members to create their own tailor-made groups through listings on our site. Members may browse through the available listings and choose to apply to their favorite group. Once the critique partners have found each other, they will meet privately to critique each other's work.

You do! All critique groups are created and managed by SCBWI members. Our site feature exists to help you establish a group, attract likeminded members, and organize how you plan to meet off-site. Once you have found your critique partners, you may meet online, via Zoom, email, social media, or any platform of your choosing.

This is not advised. Our site is set up to let you share illustrations and writing samples via JPG, PNG, and PDF uploads, but that is only to help you introduce each other to your work. Once you begin sharing work for critique purposes, we recommend that you use email, Dropbox, Google Docs, or some other sharing service.

Now the real fun begins! Management of the group is entirely in your hands, but we do have a few suggestions about how to start. First, read our tips on leading a critique group (https://www.scbwi.org/how-to-lead-a-critique-group) and giving and receiving feedback (https://www.scbwi.org/the-give-and-take-of-critique-when-you-re-getting-started). Next, finalize the time, date, and location of your first meeting; you can communicate with your members through the site’s comment wall or direct message on your preferred platform. Then you can decide on a system for sharing your work and giving feedback.

Yes, you can accept new applications at any time. It is up to you to determine when your group is full, and may add or subtract members whenever you want.

We do have a rule that SCBWI members may not apply to more than 3 critique groups at a time. However, if you change your mind about any group, or are not accepted, you may click ‘Revoke Submission’ to cancel your application. This will free you up to try again. New critique groups are constantly being added to the site so you should have a multitude of choices. If none of the groups meet your needs, we recommend creating a group of your own.

When sharing creative projects, it is common for some conflict to arise. We trust you to navigate these waters on your own and make the choices that are best for you, your group, and its members. Not everyone finds their perfect critique partners on their first try, and that’s okay. However, if you experience harassment from a fellow SCBWI member, please report it to the organization through our official form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJbaJvmwP7Hnpu5BZ_jUAXisx8ixlRIlTfTW4vSuJdbX5VbQ/viewform

Yes. Go to your Critique Group tab and scroll down to the section that says “My critique groups”. This will list any group with which you are affiliated. Each group has the option to “leave group”, except those which you have created yourself.

There is not currently an option to abandon your group while leaving it active on the site, but you may delete a group that is no longer active.

Go to “My critique groups” and click the “settings” option of the group in question. At the bottom of the settings page is the option to delete your group. We hope you will consult with your group members before you take this step, because the group will disappear from their pages as well.