Critique Groups for Children's Book Writers
and Illustrators

Critique group guide

Children's literature genres include: articles, short stories, poetry, games, crafts, board books, pop-up books, picture books (PB), chapter books, middle grade novels (MG), graphic novels, young adult novels (YA), or plays. Many of these could be fiction or non-fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, faith-based, or educational. "All Children's Genres" may also be listed.

Alabama

Birmingham
When: Every other Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.
Venue: Private Homes
Leader/Contact: Jo Kittinger or Joan Broerman
Status: Currently full (closed)
Group Name: Leaky Pens
Genres Critiqued: All children's genres
SCBWI Members: Joan Broerman (w), Deanna Calvert (w), Anne Dalton (w), Jo S. Kittinger (w), Brenda Moore (w), Brenda Posey (w),
Debbie Sanders (w)

Lanett
When: First Thursday morning of each month
Venue: Chambers County Library
Leader/Contact: Doraine Bennett
Status: Open to new members
Group Name: To be announced
Genres Critiqued: PBs, Poetry, Middle-Grades Novels
SCBWI Members: Doraine Bennett, Lynda Hawkins, Megan Isaac

Madison/Huntsville
When:
Venue: Rotates - Madson Library, Barnes & Noble, private homes, etc.
Leader/Contact: Heather Montgomery
Status: Open to new members
Group Name: Writing to Teach
Genres Critiqued: All genres - anything for children that is designed to also teach. It does not have to be strictly educational in nature, but does have that as a purpose, for example, a sci fi MG actually teaches about science.
SCBWI Members: Heather Montgomery and others

Madison/Huntsville
When: To be determined
Venue: Rotating--to be determined.
Leader/Contact: Lance Hopenwasser
Status: Actively looking for new members
Group Name: To be determined
Group Founded: 2006
Genres Critiqued: YA and science fiction/fantasy. The SF/F does not necessarily have to be YA; any format or audience is fine (e.g. graphic novels, MG, PB, etc.)
SCBWI Members: Lance Hoenwasser

Mobile
When: Last Saturday of the month, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Venue: Barnes & Noble Cafe on Airport Boulevard
Leader/Contact: Tracy Hurley
Status: Open to new members
Group Name: To be determined
Group Founded: March 25, 2006
Genres Critiqued: All genres of children's literature
SCBWI Members: Mahala Church, Tracy Hurley, Marilyn Johnston, Glenda Slater

Muscle Shoals
When: Saturday or Sunday, no set time
Venue: Muscle Shoals Library, Florence Library & Private Homes
Leader/Contact: Sheila Renfro
Status: Open to new members
Group Name: To be announced
Genres Critiqued: YA, MG, Historical Fiction, Mystery/Fantasy
SCBWI Members: Sheila Renfro, Pat Weaver

Tuscaloosa
When: 2nd Saturday of each month. 10:00 AM
Venue: Tuscaloosa Public Library on Jack Warner Parkway
Leader/Contact: Claudia Pearson
Status: Open to new members
Group Name: The Guild of Professional Writers for Children
Genres Critiqued: All genres of children's literature
SCBWI Members: Judith Ewing, Aileen Henderson, Carol Norton,
Christa Pandey, Claudia Pearson, and others

Georgia

Athens
When:
Venue: Private Homes
Leader/Contact: Donny Seagraves
Status: Closed to new members
Group Name: Powersurge Writers
Genres Critiqued: All Children's Genres
SCBWI Members: Cindy Crain, Jackie Elsner, Lola Finn, Lori Hammer,
Gail Karwoski, Muriel Pritchett, Donny Seagraves, Bettye Stroud,
Susan Vizurraga

Atlanta (Candler Park area)
When: Once a month. Lunchtime, or after work.
Venue: Fellini's on Mclendon, or La Fonda.
Leader/Contact: Susan Simon
Status: Open to new members.
Group Name: To be announced (2006)
Genres Critiqued: Any subset of the 3-10 year old age group;
manuscripts and illustrations
SCBWI Members Leslie Marlowe (W), Susan Simon (W/I)

Atlanta
When: 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month (except some holidays)
Venue: Academy Theatre in Avondale Estates
Leader/Contact: Hank Kimmel
Status: Open to new members, both new and experienced. Fee: $100/year contribution to become an affiliate writer. (This can be negotiated in hardship cases.)
Group Name: Working Title Playwrights
Genres Critiqued: Plays. Each writer is allotted 25 minutes. Most writers bring about 10 minutes of work to be read by professional actors, and allot their remaining time for feedback.
SCBWI Members:

Augusta
When: 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30 PM
Venue: Barnes and Noble
Leader/Contact: Anne Iverson (706-855-9433)
Status: Open to new members
Group Name: Our group has no name.
Genres Critiqued: Children's writing for all age/interest levels
SCBWI Members: Anne Iverson

Augusta
When: Every 3-4 weeks
Venue: Private homes
Leader/Contact: Cathy Fishman (706-733-7647)
Status: Open to serious writers committed to attending regularly
Group Name: Augusta Writers' Group.
Genres Critiqued: Picture Books, Rookie Readers, MG, YA, etc.
SCBWI Members: Cathy Fishman

Carrollton
When: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, Monthly, from 10-12 am
Venue: Carrollton Cultural Arts Building
Leader/Contact: Mary Wilburn (770-832-0575)
Status: Open
Group Name: CCWC (Carrollton Creative Writing Club)
Genres Critiqued: Mystery, Memoir, Children's, YA, etc.
SCBWI members: Beverly Bruemmer, Mary Cunningham, L, David Green,
Mary Wilburn

Conyers
When: Once a month as set by group. Sunday 6:30 pm.
Venue: Private Home
Leader/Contact: No official leader, but may contact Susan Spain
Status: Closed to new members, but open to one or two visitors per meeting for observation purposes.
Group Name: WING's (Writers In North Georgia)
Group Founded: Fall of 1998
Genres Critiqued: Novels by chapter -- MG & YA, PB, and Articles.
SCBWI Members Nancy Craddock (W), Connie Fleming (W/I),
Maureen McDaniel (W), Mary Ann Rodman (W), Susan Rosson Spain (W)

Cumming
When: 2nd Tuesday of each month 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Venue: Private homes
Leader/Contact: Donna H. Bowman
Status: Currently closed to new members
Group Name: Book Bound Writer's and Illustrator's Group
Date Founded: 12-10-1998
Genres Critiqued: All Children's Genres, manuscripts and illustrations
SCBWI Members: Robyn Hood Black (W/I), Donna Bowman (W/I),
Denise Carleton (W), Katrice Graham (W), Heather Kolich (W),
Paula Puckett (W/I), Helen Sawyer (W), John Witkowski (W)
Visit our website for critique group tips and more: www.bookboundwig.com

Cumming
When: 2nd Thursday of each month, typically. 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Venue: Private home
Leader/Email: Ruth Zehfuss
Status: Currently closed to new members, but let us know if you're interested in future openings.
Group Name: Lake Writers
Genres Critiqued: All genres, all ages
SCBWI Members: Donna Bowman (W/I), Heather Kolich (W)

Decatur
When: Tuesday mornings
Venue: Java Monkey Coffee House
Contact Person: Ricky Jacobs (404-378-7365)
Status: Closed to new members
Group Name: Java Monkey Writing Group
Genres Critiqued: PB through MG to YA, fiction and nonfiction
SCBWI Members: Ricky Jacobs and others

Dunwoody
When: 1st and 3rd Fridays, from 2-4 pm
Venue: Inside the Georgia Perimeter College Library, Second floor
Leader: Gelia Dolmiscolo
Contact: Ellen Lindquist
Status: Open
Genres Critiqued: The group has been around for 17 years. All types of genres are critiqued.
SCBWI Members:

Gainesville
When: Once a month. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Venue: Starbucks
Leader/Contact: Equal shareholders. Contact any of the members directly or e-mail Gainesville SB Contact Person Paula Puckett for information.
Status: Limited to six members, but open to share and create new critique groups.
Group Name/Date: To be announced (2006)
Genres Critiqued: Illustrations for all children's literature
SCBWI Members: Robyn Hood Black (W/I), Kathleen Bradshaw (I),
Susan Whitley MacMahan (I), Paula Puckett (W/I)

Marietta
When: First Thursday of every month at 10 a.m.
Venue: Borders Cafe at Barrett Parkway, near Town Center Mall
Leader/Contact: Catherine (Cat) Barnes (770-321-8285)
Status: We currently have 5 members. We are looking for one more picture book writer and another YA fantasy writer to round out our group. We will close our group at 8 members.
Group Name: To be announced
Genres Critiqued: We cover the spectrum of genres, including picture books, MG fiction, and YA fantasy/horror.
SCBWI Members: Catherine Barnes, Diane Bailey, Barbara Hughes,
Julie Marino, Mitch Lits

Savannah
When: Once a month; date varies.
Venue: Private homes
Leader/Contact: Catharine Varnedoe
Status: Closed to new members. However, we do invite people to visit
and will try to help people contact others who are interested.
Group Name: Coastal Kids Writers and Illustrators
Genres Critiqued: Manuscripts and illustrations
SCBWI Members: Catharine Varnedoe, and several others

Georgia (Online)
When: Via weekly IM workshops - 9 writers from all over the U.S.
Venue: Online
Leader/Contact: Candie Moonshower
Status: Closed to new members
Group Name: The Story Board
Genres Critiqued: Kid lit - mostly MG & YA, but also PB's and Articles
SCBWI Members: Lisa Albert, Kimberly Campbell, Syrl Kazlo, Candie Moonshower, Kathy Witt, Roxyanne Young

Mississippi

We know you're out there. 'Fess up!

Florida (Border Patrol)

Tallahassee
When: Sep. - May; Third Tuesday of the month; 7 - 8:30 pm;
June - Aug - summer recess
Venue: Books-A-Million, 3531 East Thomasville Road, Café area
Leader/Contact: M.R. Street (850-566-8675)
Status: Open. The group is also happy to help launch new, smaller critique partners/groups if a different date is necessary.
Group Name: Cuppa Critique
Genres Critiqued: Open to any type of children's writing
SCBWI Members: Ann Morrow, M.R. Street, Debra Katz, Jan Annino Godown

E-mail Critique Sites

www.scbwi.org
(Note: This is for SCBWI members only.)
Click on: For Our Members
Scroll to: Ms/Illus Exchange
Follow the prompts.

www.boost4writers.com