If you decide that a private online group is a good fit for you, your next step is to find one. A few sites offer forums specifically devoted to organizing critique groups, such as:- The Children’s Book Writer’s Café (http://groups.msn.com/TheChildrensBookWritersCafe/cafecritique.msnw): provides contact information for a number of online critique groups for children’s writers
- Writing-World.com (http://www.writing-world.com/links/critique.shtml): offers links to online critique groups of all sorts
- Critique Groups for Writers (http://critiquegroups.com/Home): a relatively new site that provides a forum for meeting other critique group members, starting your own group, or posting your work for open critique
These are great for connecting with existing critique groups. The plus side of an existing group? You're more likely to hook up with more experienced writers. The down side? It take longer to find a spot.
You might consider starting your own online critique group. Even if it consists only of writing neophytes, you'll find that you have a lot to offer one another. And, as the group grows in experience, some members will leave and others will join, giving you the opportunity to find a good mix.
Where do you find potential members? In addition to the above sources, you can advertise in online communities for children’s writers , such as:
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/childrens-writers/
- http://www.write4kids.com/cgibin/discus/discus.cgi
- http://www.verlakay.com/boards/index.php
Want to learn more? As I was putting this list together, I found another article on critique groups by the wonderful Margot Finke: http://www.underdown.org/mf-critique-groups.htm. She provides a lot of great advice about how to find, join, and grow in a critique group.
:) Cheryl
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