MA - Amherst/Northampton: NEW!
This critique group meets IN PERSON at the Forbes Library in Northampton. Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience under your belt, join us to share your work and provide feedback. Our focus is on fostering a supportive, collaborative environment where members can improve their craft and get closer to publication goals. While we lean toward picture book projects, writers and illustrators working on middle-grade and YA are welcome to join as well. We will meet the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from 3-4pm starting January 2025. For more information, please contact Emily at ellis.brune@ellisbrune.com.
MA – Amherst/Northampton:
This group currently meets on Zoom on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 7-9 p.m. except in November when we meet outside the Thanksgiving holiday week. The group consists of writers and illustrators at every level of experience. We're sorry, but the group is temporarily closed. We'll re-evaluate this decision periodically. Contact Carol at carolmunro.personal@gmail.com.
MA – Andover:
The group meets the second or third Wednesday of the month from 7 – 8:30 PM either in a hybrid format (in person at Memorial Hall Library and on Zoom), or fully virtual on Zoom. Check out our blog, Writers’ Rumpus (http://writersrumpus.com). Please contact Marianne Knowles to confirm the next meeting’s date and format, and to receive group guidelines: mpknowles85@gmail.com.
MA - Boston:
A children’s writer group meets at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square at the Newsfeed Cafe (inside the library on the first floor). Meetings are IN PERSON on the third Sunday of the month at 1 pm. We invite writers and want-to-be writers working on picture books and early chapter books to come and share their work in progress and to give and get support. The library is located one block from the Green Line Copley Square stop and three blocks from the Orange Line Back Bay stop. For more information contact Young Yvonne Park at ypark7740@gmail.com or Linda Brown at mojolb2@gmail.com
MA - Boston/GBIG (Greater Boston Illustrator's Group):
The Greater Boston Illustrators’ Group meets in person the second Wednesday of each month from 6:45 - 9:00 pm at The Weston Public Library in Weston, MA. Contact Priscilla for more information. Priscilla@priscillaalpaugh.com.
MA- Boston/North Shore:
A critique group for experienced picture book writers is forming either at Barnes & Noble in Peabody or Burlington. I'm seeking writers looking for feedback and support and actively submit scripts to agents/editors. Let's drink coffee or tea or whatever and inspire each other! Get in touch with Paula at picturethiswow@aol.com.
MA – Cape Cod/ Hyannis: NEW!!
Writers and writer-illustrators of all levels and genres are welcome. We meet via Zoom at 1pm on the fourth Thursday of every month. Up to a week before the meeting, we exchange material for a PB, or up to one chapter of an MG or YA via email. Critique comments are sent directly to the writer. Please contact Wendy at wendyparciak@gmail.com for more information.
MA - Hudson:
The Writers' Loft Picture Book Critique Group generally meets on various Wednesday mornings (10:30am-12:30pm) and Thursday evenings (7-9pm) periodically each month. The PBCG is a drop-in group, so there is no need to attend every meeting. Meetings are limited to four manuscripts per meeting. Membership at The Writers' Loft if not required. For more information, email The Loft at writersloftma@gmail.com and visit https://www.thewritersloft.org.
MA - Needham/Newton Writers Group:
We are a small group of PB, MG, and YA authors who meet in the Needham/Newton area every 3 weeks, on Fridays at 11 a.m. We currently meet at the Newton Free Library. The schedule may change, depending on the group’s needs. We are currently not accepting new members. For more information, please contact angela@angelalucillelongo.com.
MA – Newton:
This is a group of writers working on novels ranging from chapter books to YA fiction. All the members are published authors, educators working with young readers, or both. Having met for years at a public library, the group now convenes online on the last Wednesday evening of each month with an in-person get-together planned each fall. For more information contact jnolbell@earthlink.net.
MA - Sturbridge:
A small critique group focusing on picture books is accepting 1-2 more members. We meet virtually for now on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8pm. If you are a serious author looking to give and receive feedback on manuscripts and queries, contact Daryl at edengott@sbcglobal.net.
MA- Wakefield:
KidLit writers of picture book through young adult, all levels. RSVP and submit a writing sample 3 weeks prior to each meeting. Writing will be distributed 2 weeks prior to each meeting. Please submit writing that is approximately 10-minutes or 10-pages in length to: info@theroomtowrite.org. The KidLit Critique Group meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month 7:00 - 9:00 pm in the Boys & Girls Club of Wakefield Location: Ground Floor of the Americal Civic Center, 467 Main Street, Wakefield, MA. For more information visit: The Room to Write/Critique
MA- Wakefield:
Writers at all levels and of all genres are welcome. RSVP and submit a writing sample 3 weeks prior to each meeting. Writing will be distributed 2 weeks prior to each meeting. Please submit writing that is approximately 10-minutes or 10-pages in length to: info@theroomtowrite.org. The Writers Critique Group meets the 3rd Thursday of every month 7:00 - 9:00 pm in the Boys & Girls Club of Wakefield Location: Ground Floor of the Americal Civic Center, 467 Main Street, Wakefield, MA. For more information visit: The Room to Write/Critique.
MA- Watertown/Waltham - NEW!
For writers of middle-grade and young adult fiction/non-fiction, this group will focus on critiquing work with the goal of publication and supporting each other on the rocky road to publication. We plan to meet every three weeks at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays at the Watertown Public Library. For more information, please contact Andrew at watertownwritersguild@gmail.com
MA – Western Mass:
Do you dream in 32-page spreads? Do you rattle off daily routines in rhyme? Do you live and breathe to construct the perfect query letter? Do you dig writing picture books? Do you fiddle with metered verse? If you answered yes to any of the above, this is the group for you. Take the plunge towards the golden ticket of publication and join our group in the Westfield/Southwick area (close ride for Northern CT). This is a strictly picture book group for all writers serious about their craft. Please be willing to share and read others' work and provide/accept support and constructive criticism. All members hope to bring our works to publication. We welcome contact by writers with similar goals. Meeting location/schedule will be determined by member consensus. The potential for online critique will also be discussed. Contact Nicole Markel at nicolemarkel@comcast.net. [Currently not accepting new members]