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. Eastern PA 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:
Region: The EPA county where the group will meet or “online” if a virtual group
Group name: Optional (The Group Leader can select the name or, once formed, the group can decide.)
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
Writers/Illustrators:Do you want writers/and or illustrators to join?
Contact Person: Your name
Contact email: Your preferred email address
Meeting Place: You can be more general, for example, “Barnes & Noble, Fairless Hills” or “Zoom”
Meeting Time: Please give a sense of weekday/weekend, day/evening, and meeting frequency.
Open to New Members: Yes or No
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: TBD
Genres: Picture Book text only
For: Writers & Writer-Illustrators welcome
Contact Person: Wendy Fry
Contact Email: fry.wendy@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom
Meeting Time: Monthly on Monday afternoons
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: Manuscripts submitted via Google Drive one week prior to meeting.
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Region: ONLINE - Eastern PA
Group Name: The Phanatics
Genres: Picture Book
For: Writers
Contact Person: Dawn Byrne
Contact Email: dawnbyrnewriter@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Online
Meeting Time: Tuesday evenings 1-2 times/month
Open to New Members: YES
Additional Notes: If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Dawn. Once we have a few members we can determine the best time/day to meet.
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Region: ONLINE – Eastern PA
Group Name: Rhyming Rookies
Genres: Picture Book Rhymers
For: Primarily writers, but writer-illustrators are welcome
Contact Person: Nicole Cunningham
Contact email: ncunnin444@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom Meetings
Meeting Time: bi-weekly, weekday evenings (flexible)
CLOSED to New Members
Additional notes, including submission guidelines:
We are a rhyming group dedicated to pursuing traditional publishing. As critique partners, we will review manuscripts, pitches, query letters, and bios.
This group is encouraged to enhance their knowledge by continuing to strengthen their skills in this craft.
Please have a minimum of three well-written manuscripts before considering this group.
If you are interested, email Nicole for additional information.
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Region: ONLINE – Eastern PA (Delaware & Chester Co.)
Group Name: Square Pegs
Genres: PB
For: Writer and or Illustrators are welcome. Illustrators must be willing to critique written work and writers vice versa.
Contact Person: Sarah R Barlow
Contact email: sarahbarlowart@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom
Meeting Time: 10 AM the 3rd Tuesday of the month
CLOSED to New Members
Additional notes including submission guidelines: Neurodivergent-friendly! We need more voices from the neurodiverse and/or disabled community.
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Region: ONLINE – Eastern PA
Group Name: Picture Book Buddies
Genres: PB For Writers
Contact Person: Erin Mazzoni
Contact email: eemazzoni@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom
Meeting Time: First Monday of each month at 7:00 PM
CLOSED to New Members
Additional notes including submission guidelines: Manuscript should be submitted no later than the 15th of each month. Critiques will then be typed and sent to everyone in the group via email (reply all). Each person should refrain from reading others’ comments before sending your own.
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Region: ONLINE – Eastern PA
Group name: Full Steam Ahead
Genres: MG fiction For Writers
Contact Person: Abbie James
Contact email: abigail9404@hotmail.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
Group Name: Scribbling Scribes
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 and Zoom
Meeting Time: Mornings, once per month
Open to New Members? We would consider opening the group to 1 or 2 more members, if we feel we are a good fit. See guidelines below. Additional notes including submission guidelines: If you are interested in joining, please send a dummy book and 2 completed illustrations. Our group critiques 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
Meeting Time: Monthly (Time decided by group members)
CLOSED to New Members (NOTE: THIS GROUP IS CURRENTLY ON HIATUS)
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: 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; Monday evenings
OPEN to New Members? YES
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)
For: Writers & Author-Illustrators
Contact Person: Sondra Zalewski
Contact email: sondrazw@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom
Meeting Time: Monthly, Wednesdays @ 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
For: Writers (author-illustrators are welcome)
Contact Person: Kristen Strocchia
Contact email: kcstrocchia@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom
Meeting Time: Evenings, 3rd Monday of the month
CLOSED to New Members, but may email to inquire about/be waitlisted for possible openings
Additional Notes: Interested members should have strong critique skills and be eager to receive constructive criticism on their work. Manuscript submissions due to group the two Fridays before the monthly meeting with written feedback uploaded by the Friday before. Approximately 20-minutes for each member to listen to and discuss feedback. Written critique notes from all group members provided via a shared Google Drive folder.
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Region: ONLINE
Group Name: Writer Forge
Genres: Eclectic (PB/CB/MG/YA/NF/GN)
For: Writers and Writer-Illustrators
Contact Person: Kristen Strocchia
Contact Email: kcstrocchia@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom
Meeting Time: 2nd Tuesday of the month.
CLOSED to New Members, but may email to inquire about/be waitlisted for possible openings
Additional Notes: Interested members should have strong critique skills and be eager to receive constructive criticism on their work. Manuscript submissions due to group the Tuesday before the monthly meeting with written feedback uploaded by midnight Sunday. Approximately 20-minutes for each member to listen to and discuss feedback. Written critique notes from all group members provided via a shared Google Drive folder.
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Genres: CB, MG, YA (Fiction only)
For: Writers Only
Contact Person: Louise Feder
Contact email: louisefeder@gmail.com
Meeting Place: ONLINE
Meeting Time: Once a month, depending on availability of members
CLOSED to New Members
Additional notes: 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 2,500 words per monthly submission.
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Region: ONLINE -EASTERN PA/PHILADELPHIA
Genres: PB
For: Writers-Illustrators only
Contact Person: Kaela Parkhouse
Contact Email: kparkhouse@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Online via Discord
Meeting Time: Once a month on a weekday
CLOSED to New Members
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 work to the group one week ahead of time, and we’ll discuss the projects on the meetup day.
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Genre: CB, MG, & YA
For: Writers
Contact Person: Alice Berger
Contact email: Alice.berger@yahoo.com
Meeting Place: Online
Meeting Time: N/A
CLOSED to New Members
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.
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Genre: PB & BB
For Both writers and Illustrators 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
For: 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.
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Region: ONLINE–EASTERN PA
Group Name: The Highlighters
Genre: Mostly PBs, but some members also write poetry, MG, and CB
For: 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–LANCASTER/EASTERN PA
Group Name: Java & PB
Genre: PB
For: 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
For: Writers
Contact Person: Lorraine Storms
Contact Email: lryanstorms@gmail.com
Meeting place: Online
Meeting Time: monthly
CLOSED to new members
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Region: BUCKS COUNTY (Newtown, New Hope)
Genres: PB, CB, MG, YA
For: Writers and Illustrators
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 Parker
Contact Email: apichardo56@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Wegmans, Warrington, PA
Meeting Time: Fridays; biweekly
Open to new members? YES
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Region: CUMBERLAND COUNTY (Harrisburg)
Genres: PB and CB
For: Writers
Contact Person: Susan Sempeles
Contact Email: write.now@comcast.net
Meeting place: Via Zoom; New Cumberland Public Library, New Cumberland, PA
Meeting Time: Twice a month: 1st Saturday, 2 - 4 PM; and 3rd Sunday, 7 - 9 PM
CLOSED to new members
Additional notes: Members continue to meet on Zoom for the current year, though one of the monthly meetings may return to being held in person later this year at the New Cumberland Public Library.
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Region: DELAWARE COUNTY
Genres: PB
For: Writers and writer/illustrators
Contact Person: Kristin Weldon Peri
Contact Email: kristinweldonperi@comcast.net
Meeting place: temporarily online
Meeting Time: Sunday evenings; monthly
CLOSED to new members
Additional notes: Ideal Membership: We are looking for one or two more members who have been actively learning about and writing picture books for the past few years, and are pursuing traditional publishing. Must be committed to attending our monthly meeting (online for now/in Delaware County if/when we return to in-person), submitting work consistently, and giving constructive feedback. Please contact Kristin if you are interested in joining, including a brief bio along with your Twitter handle and a link to your website if you have one. Each member is responsible for providing written and verbal feedback to all other members at the monthly meeting.
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Region: KING OF PRUSSIA/MALVERN
Group Name: WWFC – Will Write for Cheesecake
Genres: PB/CB
For: Writers/Writer-Illustrators
Contact Person: Robin Jordan
Contact Email: Robinamjordan@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom (occasionally in person at 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
For: 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
For: Writers and Illustrators
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: ONLINE for now – Lancaster/Lititz Area
Group Name: TBD
Genres: PB, CB, MG, YA; fiction/nonfiction
For: Writers
Contact Person: Diane Guscott
Contact email: dianeguscott@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Zoom for now
Meeting Time: Last Sunday of the month; afternoons
Open to New Members? YES
Additional notes including submission guidelines: Submit a .pdf of your 12 pt. type, double spaced WIP of no more than 10 pages via email to the entire group, two weeks prior to the meeting. Picture books, poems and short stories can be submitted in their entirety. Please include your name, genre, age group, and feedback looked for in your email and at the top of your WIP.
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Region: Lancaster/Lancaster County
Group name: Little Lines
Genres: BB/PB/CB/Poetry, fiction and/or non-fiction
Writers/Illustrators: Author/Illustrators
Contact Person: Rebecca Chester
Contact email: rebeccawchester@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Local library in Lancaster (or other location in Lancaster TBD by members)
Meeting Time: Monthly (Day/time to be determined by members upon group formation. Will accommodate author/illustrators with day jobs.)
Open to New Members: Yes (4-6 members)
Additional notes including submission guidelines: Plan to meet monthly in person, sharing work to be critiqued one week prior to meeting. Members will be expected to come to critique meetings prepared to share written and verbal feedback. Seeking author/illustrator critique partners for mutual constructive feedback on manuscript and dummy development, illustration portfolios, querying, and all other aspects on the path to publication and representation. Members may be at any stage of their publication journey (published/unpublished, agented/unagented), but should be committed to developing their craft and comfortable providing objective and constructive critique on writing and illustration. Please email Rebecca Chester at rebeccawchester@gmail.com if interested in joining me!
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Region: LANCASTER COUNTY (Lititz-Area)
Genres: PB, CB, MG, YA – Fiction & Nonfiction
For: 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
For: Writers and Illustrators
Contact Person: Andree Santini
Contact Email: andreesantini@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Currently online until we return to Barnes & Noble, 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
For: 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: PA Kid Lit Life
Genres: BB and PB
For: Writers (author-illustrators welcome)
Contact Person: Vicenta Montgomery
Contact Email: TheLilyPadMom@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Meetings are all virtual at this time. An in-person meeting is not required but would be great once or twice a year if it fits into everyone’s schedule and in a location that works for everyone.
Meeting Time: We currently meet virtually, monthly on Thursday evenings
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes/Submission Guidelines: We are a group of SCBWI members who have a strong interest in pursuing publishing a picture book and/or board book and have been actively learning about writing childrens’ books. Must be committed to attending our monthly meeting online. Submitting work is optional on a monthly basis and needs to be submitted the week prior to the meeting if you would like your manuscript reviewed. Participating in monthly meetings with prepared constructive feedback to each member of the group who has submitted a manuscript is required. Please email me with a little information about yourself if you are interested in joining this group. 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
For: Writers, Illustrators, Writer-Illustrators 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
For: 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
For: Writers
Contact Person: Sarah Heaton
Contact Email: thebestsarahinthewholewideworld@hotmail.com
Meeting Place: Ardmore, 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 COUNTY / NW PHILLY
Genres: PB/MG
For: Writers and Illustrators
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
For: 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: PHILLY–IN PERSON
Group Name: Philadelphia Picture Book Critique Group
Genres: PB
For: writers & writer-illustrators
Contact Person: Kristen Rashid
Contact email: kristenrashid@gmail.com
Meeting Place: Philadelphia, rotating between members’ homes
Meeting Time: Monday mornings, monthly
CLOSED to New Members
Additional Notes: We are a group actively learning about and writing picture books for the past few years, and are pursuing traditional publishing. Must be committed to attending our monthly meeting (online for now/in Philadelphia when we return to in-person), submitting work on a monthly basis, and giving constructive feedback. Please contact Kristen if you are interested in joining, including a brief bio along with your Twitter handle and a link to your website if you have one. 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, with an optional mid-month written critique exchange.
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Region: PHILLY—WESTERN SUBURBS
Group Name: Lancaster Ave Writers’ Group
Genres: MG and YA
For: 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
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)
For Writers, Illustrators, Writer-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,
For: 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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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 scbwiepaCGC@gmail.com.
Thanks and talk to you soon!
Happy writing & illustrating,
Heather Stigall Critique Group Coordinator Eastern PA SCBWI