The Lowdown on Critique Groups

You can find the phrase "my amazing critique group" all over my blog and my socials!

The truth is, even if I never signed a book deal, my writing journey would have been one of the best things I've done in the last several years because of the connections I've made with my critique group.

In fact, one of the most important pieces of advice I can give to new writers is to be part of a critique group!

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Rewind. WHAT EVEN IS a critique group?!

So glad you asked :) A critique group is a group of writers who support one another by taking turns providing honest, constructive feedback in order for the creator to revise and improve their story.

There are many ways for critique groups to function. Critique groups can:

• Meet in person

• Meet virtually (using Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)

• Work online asynchronously

My own group works asynchronously. We use Discord and we share our writing with each other by dropping document links into Discord. We leave comments on the documents offering feedback. Once in a while we Zoom to catch up and chat.

I also have a one-to-one critique partner. Her and I share a Google Docs folder, and we communicate through email.

In the past, I had a critique group that worked asynchronously through a Facebook group, and that worked well too.

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Where can I find a critique group?

• Social Media - Free

Back when I was active on Twitter, that is where I found the members of my group.

Several years ago, I participated in a Twitter contest for picture book writers. I hadn’t won any of the prizes, but I left a tweet (with the contest hashtag) that I was interested in starting a picture book critique group, and I connected with a handful of people who wanted to join. So, I started my first critique group!

You can find writers and writing groups on almost every popular social media platform... Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Threads, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Try using these hashtags to find your people:

#kidlit

#boardbook

#picturebooks / #PB

#MiddleGrade / #MG

#GraphicNovel / #GN

#YoungAdult / #YA

#kidlitart (for illustration)

#kidlitpostcard (for illustration)

#kidlitpostcardday (for illustration)

• Libraries / Book Stores - Free

You can ask your librarian or local book store owners if they know of local author/illustrator groups. Once I have a little more free time on my hands (ahem... side-eyeing you, my adorable but time-consuming children), I would love to find an in-person writers group that meets locally.

• SCBWI - Paid Membership to join this organization

This is one organization that I am part of that requires an annual membership fee. The fee is less than $100/year. They have a plethora of resources on their website for authors and illustrators, and it's a virtual space where you can connect with other authors and illustrators to form critique groups! They have local chapters as well, so you can connect with creators both near and far, in-person, or virtually.

• 12x12 - Paid Membership to join this organization

This is another organization that I am part of that requires an annual membership fee. This organization is run by the fearless Julie Hedlund, and offers tons of resources, as well as a robust discussion forum where other authors and illustrators can give and receive feedback. There is a also a very active Facebook group attached to this membership.

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What makes a strong critique group?

Finding the right critique group for you is a lot like finding the right stylist, therapist, or doctor. It might take some time. There might be some awkward hellos and some awkward goodbyes. But that's okay.

If you find yourself in a critique group that isn't working for you, you can leave! I once started a second critique group through SCBWI. The group didn't work out... we shared a couple rounds of stories and then totally fizzled. It wasn't meant to be. If this happens to you, don't give up. Try another group.

Here's what I think makes a strong critique group:

• Creators who are in a somewhat similar stage in their writing careers. Each member should feel like they have something valuable to offer to the others. Creators working in the similar genre is helpful too.

  
  

• Creators who offer positive, but honest feedback. I don't know which is worse - feedback that is unnecessarily harsh, or disingenuous cheerleading. SCBWI offers a great feedback form that can be helpful when you're critiquing.

  
  

• The right number of members is helpful. I think if there are less than 3 members, you limit the perspectives that you'll hear on your writing. On the other hand, in my experience, more than 6-7 can become difficult to manage depending on how you structure your critique schedule.

  
  

• Agreed upon routines and norms. Everyone in the group should be clear on:

  • When they can share, and when they are expected to critique (my group's routine is that each member can post 1 story per month).

  • What format should be used when posting a story (Word? Google Doc?) and how comments are to be left.

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What are the benefits of having a critique group?

1. You connect with other creators: The writers in my group have become dear friends. While I know most of them virtually, I've met two in-person and it was SUCH a joy! Hopefully, I'll get to connect with my other group members in person, but in the meantime, we chat on Discord weekly, if not daily, send each other cards, little gifts, and of course, books!

   
   

2. You improve your writing/art: Having different perspectives on your work helps you push your craft and creativity to new places. Additionally, giving feedback on others' work helps you get a better understanding of why certain things work in stories/art, and other things don't.

   
   

3. You become each others' biggest fans: When my critique partners succeed, I feel genuine joy for them, and I shout their achievements from the social media mountaintops!

   Funny story: I credit one of my critique group members, Amy, with connecting me with my literary agent. She reposted an illustration that I had created on Twitter, which caught my agent's eye... and a few weeks later, I signed!

   
   

4. You have someone else on the roller coaster with you: Creating for the publishing industry, is a WILD RIDE. Rejections, rejections, rejections, near misses, agents (yay!), editors (yay!), book deals (super yay!), cancellations (super, super sad), and did I mention rejections? It's A LOT. Having someone else going through all of it with you makes the ride so much better.

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I don't know if you'll be as lucky as I am in finding an amazing group... but it's absolutely worth a try!