Critique Group Connection
A Premium Member Benefit!
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Participating in a critique group is a great way to strengthen your writing and/or illustration, however we know it can be hard to connect with peers to form a group. It is our hope that between these in-person and virtual critique events, you are able to form a critique group where you support each other throughout your creative journeys.
In-person Critique Events
Find your local shoptalk and bring your work to their in-person critique meet-up. Be sure to check the event calendar and/or the Michigan Events page for information on what to bring to these meetings.
Ann Arbor: May 9th, 10:00 am-12:00pm @ Malletts Creek branch
Shoptalk coordinator- Betsy McKee
Metro-Detroit: May 16th, 2:00-3:30 @ Road Less Traveled Books in Farmington
Shoptalk coordinators- Pria Dee and Celeste Turner
Up North: September 13th or 20th, location TBA
Shoptalk coordinators- Heather Shumaker and Rachel Anderson
KAST: October 10th, location TBA
Shoptalk coordinator- Isabel Estrada O'Hagin
Grand Rapids: TBA
Shoptalk coordinator- Kristen Wolden Nitz
Virtual Events
Join us on Zoom for 2 hour virtual critique sessions. Attendees will be assigned to breakout rooms for: picture books, graphic novels and novels in verse, MG and YA novels, author/Illustrators, & illustrators. All participants are expected to give feedback. If you are new to giving critiques, please read the information in the tiles below. **Please join by 6:20 to be placed in your breakout room.**
Virtual critique events are for Premium members (all sign ups will be checked). The Zoom link and passcode will be sent on the day of the event.
June 17th @ 6:30-8:30 pm
Click HERE to sign up.
August 26 @ 6:30-8:30 pm
Click HERE to sign up.
November 4th @ 6:30-8:30 PM
Click HERE to sign up.
Please be prepared to share the following:
Picture Books:
Fiction: up to 600 words, double spaced
Non-fiction: 1,200 words, double spaced.
For Author/Illustrators: A full dummy (fully laid-out sketched picture book with 1-2 completed pieces of artwork). You will need to know how to share your screen.
Novels: 6 pages, double spaced.
Graphic novels:
Art and text: 6 sample page spreads in jpg or pdf format, as well as a summary/synopsis.
Text only: 6 pages of script.
Novels in Verse: 6 pages, single-spaced, no page breaks at the end of a poem. Run them right up after the one before.
Illustrators: 1-3 related images or 1 stand-alone image. You will need to know how to share your screen.
Illustrator Monthly Mingle Critiques
Please upload one art piece to the Monthly Mingle Critique Google folder prior to the meeting and we will share them with the group. Whether you have specific questions, concerns, or just need a little validation, we are all here to help! They will be shared in the order in which they were uploaded and we will get through as many as we can in one hour.
October 12: QUARTERLY CRITIQUE
Click HERE to join the Mingle
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Looking for a critique group? You can-
1. Exchange emails with the people in your in-person or virtual critique group
or
2. Click on the "Forming a Group" tile below. There you will find a link to a spreadsheet where you can add your information and find information about others who want to create or add to an existing group. You are responsible for contacting people on the list that best fit the type of group you would like to form or join.
Please note:
Critique Connection is only open to current SCBWI MI Premium members.
Once groups are formed, they are no longer part of SCBWI. Each group is responsible for managing itself.
Please be patient – it may take a while for a critique group to come together.
Before attending SCBWI-MI's critique opportunities, we encourage you to learn how or refresh your memory on the elements typically covered in critiques. You can find that information as well as how to receive feedback in the tiles below.
Questions? Please email SCBWI-MI Regional Advisor, Jodi McKay- [email protected]
