Critique Across Kansas and Missouri 2024 (May 19 – June 9)

Join us for Critique Across Kansas and Missouri, an offering of free, one-time critique groups organized and facilitated by SCBWI members. We have in-person groups across both Kansas and Missouri, as well as virtual options. It’s a great opportunity to connect with writers and illustrators in our region and get your work in front of fresh eyes or have it critiqued for the first time. The email call for those interested in hosting a group so keep an eye on those inboxes. Questions or comments? Email Mike at critiqueacrossksmo@gmail.com.

*2024 SCBWI Critique Across Kansas & Missouri*

KANSAS GROUPS

Host: William Mockry

Reserve a spot by contacting the host at: wmockry@gmail.com (please include SCBWI CRITIQUE in the subject line)

Location: Panera, 520 23rd Street, Lawrence, KS 66046

Date of Event: Saturday, June 15, 2024

Time of Event: 1:00 p.m.

Type of group: Fiction for Middle Grades or Young Adult

Number of spots available: 6

Short description: All submissions should be 1,500 words or less, and submitted as a Word Document attachment. Participants will e-mail their work to the host by 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 7. The host will then distribute stories to the group so everyone has a chance to read, process, and prepare comments prior to the in-person meeting. We will allow 20 minutes to settle in, then spend 20 minutes per manuscript. Everyone is welcome to stay and socialize informally afterward!

KANSAS CITY AREA GROUPS

Host name: Stacy James

Reserve a spot by contacting the host at:  stacyeleven@gmail.com, 702-332-1501

Date of Event: Tuesday, May 28th

Time of Event: 5 pm - 6:50 pm (they close at 7 pm)

Location: Monarch Books and Gifts 7713 151st Street, Overland Park

Type of group & genre (if specifying): Not specifying

Number of spots available: 6

Short description: Please submit 800 words or less by emailing your manuscript to Stacy James by Friday, May 20, who will then distribute them all to the group so everyone can read, process, and critique before the in-person meeting. There will be 30 minutes to chat and settle in and then spend 20 minutes per manuscript for critiques. No experience is required. Come share your drafts no matter where you are in the stage of bringing your ideas to life :) 

** There is coffee and tea available for purchase at the bookstore. 

MISSOURI GROUPS

Host name: Nancy Browning

Reserve a spot by contacting the host at: nancybrowning@yahoo.com (please put SCBWI Critique in the subject line)

Date of Event: Sunday, June 9

Time of Event: 2-4 pm

Location: Shortwave Coffee (29 S. 9th St., Columbia, MO, 65201; free parking on Sunday on the street and in garages)

Type of group & genre: PB, fiction or nonfiction

Number of spots available: 6

Short description:

Please send your PB manuscript with a logline pitch to Nancy by June 2. Participants should read and critique a hard copy that they will give to the writer in addition to our discussion/critique in person. Expect to spend a few minutes for introductions and then about 15 minutes critiquing each picture book.

Host: Lindsey Dunnagan Critchfield

Reserve a spot by contacting the host at: lindsey.dunnagan@gmail.com (please include SCBWI CRITIQUE in the subject line)

Date of Event: Sunday, June 2nd

Time of Event: 2 p.m.

Location: Kirksville Brewing Company (coffee & pastry shop), 114 W Harrison St Kirksville, MO 63501

Type of group, genre: Picture book

Number of spots available: 6

Short description: All PB manuscripts should be 500 words or less. PDF submissions are best, but Microsoft Word also works. If you want to submit a dummy book, that's welcome too. Participants will email their manuscripts to the host by Sunday, May 26, who will then distribute them to the group so everyone can read, process, and critique them before our in-person meeting. We will allow 20-30 minutes to chat and settle in, then spend 20 minutes per manuscript for critiques.

Host name: Rachel Kersey

Reserve a spot by contacting the host at: rachel.elaina.kersey@gmail.com

Date of Event: May 25, 2024

Time of Event: 12:00 pm/noon 

Location: Panera Bread 2535 N. Kansas Expressway Springfield, MO 65803

Type of group & genre (if specifying): Middle-Grade Fiction and Nonfiction and Poetry and Multigenre or Other middle grade.

Number of spots available: 5

Short description: Participants will submit their first 10 pages as text pasted into the body of their email within the group email chain by May 13. Please include in your email a FEW sentences about yourself, your manuscript (genre, synopsis that doesn’t necessarily have to give away the ending or main plot points), and what, if anything specific, you want critique on (or if you are open to a general critique.) Please prepare discussion notes for every participant’s manuscript excerpt by the day that we meet. I will buy everyone a drink. 

Host name:  Lori Younker

Reserve a spot by contacting the host at:  lorilyounker@gmail.com

Date of Event:  Sunday, May 19

Time of Event: 2:00 pm

Location: Trying for the Daniel Boone Library in Columbia MO 

Type of group & genre (if specifying): Middle Grade. Grades 4-9 to include the Transitional age genre that bridges to YA.  

Number of spots available: 6 total (counting Lori) for 2 groups of 3 or all together if there are 3-5 of us. 

Short description:  Middle Grade Fiction —we weave our stories to spark imagination and to encourage reluctant readers to read. Novel-and and Lyrical and high-level Pix books are welcome!  Nonfiction writers are welcome. We know you weave narratives too! 

Host name: Amanda Flinn

Reserve a spot by contacting the host at: aflinn79@gmail.com

Date of Event: Wednesday, June 5th

Time of Event: TBD (waiting to confirm with the library)

Location: Riverside Regional Library, 1997 E Jackson Blvd, Jackson MO 63755 

Type of group & genre: Board Book / Picture Book manuscripts

Number of spots available: 6-8

Short description: This group is for anyone interested in improving their kidlit writing skills! The host is a published author who loves to encourage new writers. The group will most likely meet during daytime hours but is flexible depending on group needs (and library availability). Participants will email their manuscripts to the host by Wednesday, May 29th, and she will distribute them to the group so everyone can read, process, and critique before our in-person meeting.

ST. LOUIS AREA GROUPS

Hosts:  Dayne Sislen and Katie Gast

Reserve a spot by contacting: SCBWI.mo@gmail.com

Date of Event:  Sunday, May 26, 2024

Time of Event:  1-3 pm

Location:  Mid County Library (Clayton Branch) Parking under the building

Type of Group: Picture book dummy

Number of spots available:  6

Date to submit dummies:  May 20, 2024 email to Dayne at SCBWI.mo@gmail.com

Short Description:  PB dummy critiques 32 pages, under 800 words.

This critique is for illustrators and non-illustrators who want to learn to break down their stories into spreads. Detailed instructions will be given to those who need it. Submitted dummies in PDF format will be uploaded to a private webpage so all participants can download them to view them before our meeting. Non-illustrators can use stick figures to indicate the action on each spread. Illustrators can submit their dummies with loose pencil drawings or finished illustrations. No need to do color on more than one or two spreads. Bring your own physical printed dummy with you to our critique for all to admire in person and your notes for your critique of the other participants' dummies.

Host name: Jody Feldman

Reserve a spot by contacting the host at: jody@jodyfeldman.com

Date of Event: Week of June 3 (TBD by participants' availability)

Time of Event: 6:00p - 9:00p

Location: St. Louis and vicinity with an option to join virtually. If most participants will be joining via computer, we may switch to fully virtual.

Type of group & genre (if specifying): MG and YA, all genres

Number of spots available: 6 total

Short description: Plan on submitting the first 10 pages of your manuscript plus a brief synopsis (not more than one page) by May 20 to give us enough time to have discussion notes ready. It will be dinnertime, so if we meet in person, we'll figure out the food situation together.

Host: Priscilla Kurz

Reserve a spot by contacting the host at: pbkurz@gmail.com (please include SCBWI CRITIQUE in the subject line)

Date of Event: Saturday, June 1

Time of Event: 1:30 p.m.

Location: Starbucks’s coffee shop, 1500 South Lindbergh Blvd., St Louis MO

Type of group, genre: PB, fiction or nonfiction

Number of spots available: 6

Short Description: All PB manuscripts must be 800 words or less, and submitted through Microsoft Word. Participants will email their manuscripts to the host by Friday, May 24, who will then distribute them all to the group so everyone can read, process, and critique them before our in-person meeting. We will allow 30 minutes to chat and settle in, then spend 20 minutes per manuscript for critiques.

Each participant will first list in writing and later discuss three assets of each manuscript, followed by suggestions for improvement with concrete examples in regard to character, plot, and voice with the aim to encourage the writer of each manuscript in future work.  We will keep written comments to a minimum and ask the writer in the discussion if these are understandable.  

VIRTUAL GROUPS

Host name: Jennifer Rogers

Reserve a spot by contacting the host at: jensrogers@live.com (please include SCBWI CRITIQUE in the subject line)

Date of Event: Thursday, May 23rd 2024

Time of Event: 6:00 p.m. Central Time

Location: VIRTUAL (via Zoom)

Type of group & genre (if specifying): Picture Book ages 4-7 Fiction

Number of spots available: 6

Short Description: All PB manuscripts must be 800 words or less and submitted through Microsoft Word. Participants will email their manuscripts to the host by Sunday, May 19th, 2024.

Please include what phase of writing you’re in (early draft, revising, polishing) and if you have any specific concerns about your story. We will meet via Zoom to give oral critiques and answer questions. After the Zoom meeting, you will send the host your written critique of each manuscript via email so they can distribute it to each writer.

Host name: Donna Marx

Reserve a spot by contacting the host at: donnajmarx@gmail.com

Date of Event: Thursday, May 23rd

Time of Event: 6:00 PM

Location:  Zoom ( I will email everyone a link.)

Type of group & genre (if specifying): Fiction Picture Books

Number of spots available: 4

Short description: All PB manuscripts must be 500 words or less, and submitted through Microsoft Word. This group will be perfect for a story you want additional eyes on.

Participants will email their manuscripts to the host by Sunday, May 19 (or sooner), who will then distribute them all to the group so everyone can read, process, and critique them before our Zoom meeting. We will allow a few minutes to chat and settle in, then spend 15-20 minutes per manuscript for critiques. I apologize for the quick turnaround.

I need to squeeze this in before an upcoming vacation.😃

Host name: Mike Hays

Reserve a spot by contacting the host at: coachhays@gmail.com (please include SCBWI CRITIQUE in the subject line) by May 20, 2024.

Time of Event: E-mail exchange only (Wrap-up Zoom meeting possible)

Location: VIRTUAL

Date of Event: 

Deadline to submit work for critique: May 24, 2024

Deadline to have critiques completed: June 9, 2024

Type of group, genre: MG fiction or MG graphic novel script

Number of spots available: 4

Short description: Participants will submit their first 10 manuscript pages or first 10 graphic novel script pages in a Microsoft Word document using double-spaced, 12 pt font, standard manuscript formatting. Please include in your submission email a few introductory sentences about yourself, a one-paragraph introduction to your manuscript (100-200 words), and what aspects of the manuscript you would most like feedback on. We complete the critiques by email and decide if everyone would like to do a wrap-up Zoom meeting.