Online Critique Groups for Writers and Illustrators
Do you want to share your work and learn from other writers or illustrators with similar interests, goals and challenges?
SCBWI Members interested in becoming active participants of an Online Critique Group can register their interest and be linked to a like-minded group by clicking the link to join at the end.
Many SCBWI Online Critique Groups provide opportunities for beginning and emerging writers/illustrators to share and learn from each other and have proved successful with many members obtaining publication.
Online Critique Groups are also available for PAL (Published and Listed) members to discuss, share and critique current writing and illustrative projects in a professional environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Online Critique Group?
It is a small group of writers and/or illustrators (usually around 6) who view and make comments on member’s manuscripts/illustrations on a regular basis in a confidential and supportive online environment.
A group member who indicates on their application form that they are willing to help with the initial set up of the group will be chosen as the Group Facilitator, but as all group members are equal, how the group is run is up to the group consensus.
Groups work out what method of communication and critiquing suits them. Drop Box is recommended for communication as all members can see all submissions and all comments. However, there are many other ways groups can communicate. There are also many ways to organise critiques. It could be by a roster. Eg perhaps submitting work every month or 6 weeks; or by the ‘dump’ method, where everyone submits at the beginning of each month and receives feedback from each member of the group by the end of the month; or if the meeting is by zoom, perhaps each person in the group reads a sections of work and all members comment on it. Members also share useful ideas and resources and encourage each other towards the eventual goal of getting their work published.
Each group is run according to the needs of the group. (see ‘How to Critique’ Guidelines)
What is expected of members?
Members are expected to be active participants in their group. They should be open to receiving constructive criticism of their own work and provide constructive feedback to members on a regular basis.
Places are being offered in the following Online Critique Groups:
Picture Books (approx. 3-6yrs): Writers only; Illustrators only; and Writers/Illustrators combined
Junior Fiction (approx. 6 – 8yrs)
Middle Grade Fiction (approx. 8-12)
Upper Middle Grade/Teens (approx. 12-14)
Young Adult (approx 14 +)
Illustrators (any age)
Non-fiction (any age)
Please keep in mind that as Critique Groups develop, they often change and merged into a combination of a number of these groups.
If there are no places available in current groups, you will be placed on a waiting list and emailed when a place becomes available or invited to join a new group.
Join an Online Critique Group
How to register:
Read the Frequently Asked Questions
Read the Critique Group Guidelines
Read the ‘How to Critique’ Guidelines
SCBWI encourages and celebrates the creativity, dedication and lived experiences of our members. Therefore, we are opposed to any use of text-prompted generative AI in writing, illustrating or other aspects of creating children’s books until fair policies and regulations are established to protect the work of all human creators.
By joining a SCBWI Online Critique group you are agreeing to respect the privacy of all group members and agreeing not to put any member’s intellectual property (IP), without their express permission, into a public AI model such as ChatGPT.When you have read and agreed to all the information listed above and you feel committed to being an active member of the group click on the link below.