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Critique Groups |
Critique Groups
MWA-sponsored critique groups are open to members and non-members alike. The designated contact person must be an MWA member, and group participants are asked to agree to join MWA's extended contact list to receive news about upcoming events of interest. (MWA keeps all contact information strictly confidential and will not spam you.)
Small groups meet regularly to review each others' work and offer constructive feedback. These groups are usually small (six to eight people) and are organized by specialty (such as Genresl fiction, children's literature, or script writing). The times and places of meetings vary and are determined by the members of each critique group
Many published writers say that critique groups contributed to their success. Critique groups can help you improve your writing, detect weaknesses in plot, structure, or prose, and whip pieces into shape so they catch an editor's interest.
The following is a list of the groups, along with the leaders' e-mail addresses. Since each individual group will meet separately, contact its leader for more information.
Anne Arundel County / Annapolis
Annapolis Poetry Group
Genres: poetry
Leader: Dotty Doherty, doherty44@verizon.netNew critique group forming. Group meets in Annapolis at Ahh! Coffee, Mondays from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Annapolis Write On!
Genres: novels (except romance) and non-fiction books
Leader: Newton Love, newt@newtlove.comGroup meets every two weeks in the Annapolis area, weeknights, at members' homes. Currently closed to new members.
Annapolis Writers' Critique Group
Genres: Women's' fiction, romance, and mainstream (no short stories, science fiction, or poetry).
Leader: Eva Kapitan, evakapitan@comcast.net or (301) 928 1300Currently seeking one new participant. Group meets once a month on Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Annapolis.
BayHill Writers
Various locations in Calvert & southern Anne Arundel Counties
Genres: All genres welcome
Leader: Les DickeyMeets 3rd Monday of each month 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. We have been meeting for four years and have a mix of published/unpublished writers. Please contact coordinator Les Dickey for the next location and a copy of the group guidelines.
Broadneck Writer's Workshop
Cape St. Claire on the Broadneck Peninsula
Genres: Fiction and nonfiction
Leader: Jane ElkinGroup meets monthly. Currently seeking one new male participant. Contact Jane at the above e-mail address or call (410) 757-1008 to be put on a waiting list.
The Novel Experience
Genre: Novel-length fiction, all genres welcome
Leader: Cindy, cinjames@earthlink.netMeets every 2-3 weeks on Sunday afternoons (1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.) at a member's home. Interested parties should be working on novel-length fiction. Currently closed to new members.
Scriptwriting Group
Genres: Any type of script (stage, screen, etc.)
Leader: Scott Morrow, scottdmorrow@hotmail.comUsually meets in Annapolis. Accepting new members.
Tyke Writers!
Genres: Children's lit
Leader: Suzanne Alane, suzannealane@hotmail.comMeets in Annapolis. Accepting new members.
Baltimore County / Baltimore City
Baltimore Area Writers
Genres: Creative/literary nonfiction
Leader: Lauren Eisenberg Davis, autumnleaves1997@gmail.com or (410) 526-6936Members from Baltimore area including Columbia and Essex meet to discuss their creative nonfiction--essays, memoirs, family stories, etc. Currently closed to new members.
Charm City Writers
Genres: All genres welcome
Leader: Deborah Edelman, de@deborahedelman.comGroup meets once or twice a month in Baltimore City.
Hampden Writers' Group
Genres: Fiction, creative non-fiction, short stories and novels
Leader: Chris Kosmides, ckosmides@yahoo.comNew critique group forming. Group will meet one or two times each month in Hampden, Baltimore.
Calvert County
BayHill Writers
Various locations in Calvert & southern Anne Arundel Counties
Genres: All genres welcome
Leader: Les DickeyMeets 3rd Monday of each month 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. We have been meeting for four years and have a mix of published/unpublished writers. Please contact coordinator Les Dickey for the next location and a copy of the group guidelines.
Carroll County
The Carroll County Writers' Group
Eldersburg Library
Genres: novels and short stories
Leader: Jack DownsMeetings will be held once-a-month and there will also be a virtual (email) meeting each month between face-to-face meetings. Accepting new members.
Harford County
Writers Critique Group of Harford County
Genre: Most genres welcome.
Leader: May Kuroiwa, makuroiwa@hotmail.com
Published and yet-to-be published writers welcome. Meets every third Thursday at 6:30pm
Howard County / Columbia
Columbia Fiction Critique Group
Genres: Fiction
Leaders: Ally P., ally@ambitiousenterprises.com; Angela Render, lioness@thunderpaw.comMembers meet weekly to discuss novels, short stories and flash fiction. Currently closed to new members. E-mail Ally P. or Angela Render to be placed on the waiting list.
De Fictione
Ellicott City-Columbia area of Howard County
Contact: Tom Glenn, tomglenn3@comcast.net
Genres: Fiction, short stories, novel chapters, and complete novelsSeasoned writers preferred. Please email with preferences for meeting times. Accepting new members. The so-far all-male group is actively seeking experienced female writers to join the group and help us broaden our viewpoint.
LAVA (Literary and Visual Arts)
Columbia, MD
Genres: All, fiction and non-fiction
Contact: Carol Robinson at carolcourtreporter@comcast.net or call (410) 507-2373.Group is open to published and non-published writers of fiction and non-fiction. Meets on second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
Savage Writer's Circle
Savage Branch of the Howard County Library, 9525 Durness Ln, Laurel, MD 20723 (410) 880-5975
Genres: Fiction, poetry, short stories, children's literature, historical, non-fiction, etc.
Contact: Claire Ferguson at claire@sunforge.com.Meets on the second Monday of each month, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Montgomery County
Rockville Area Critique Group
Genre: Mainstream and/or literary fiction
Leader: Judy Kelly, jckelly100@yahoo.com, (301) 929-0959Members meet in the Rockville area at the Twinbrook or Aspen Hill Library, or member homes. Meets once or twice a month. Contact Judy Kelly. Currently closed to new members.
White Oak Writers (WOW)
Meets at White Oak Library and members' homes mainly in Montgomery County
Genre: all
Contact: Gale Deitch, gdeitch@comcast.net
Meets twice a month on the second Mondays and fourth Tuesdays. Currently closed to new members.
Prince George's County
Greenbelt Writers Group Critiquing Subgroup
Genres: All
Contact: Marjory Donn, (301) 474-1353, marjdonn6@mindspring.comMeets Friday evenings in the Greenbelt Community Center.
Paint Branch Writers
Genres: All
Contact: Marjory Donn, (301) 474-1353, marjdonn6@mindspring.comMeets Tuesday evenings at Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church in Adelphi.
Prince Georges County
New critique group forming. Focus is on fiction. First meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held at the Borders in Capitol Center Boulevard (Largo, MD), date TBA. Please contact Yvonne at yvoniks@aol.com for more infomation.
Talbot County
Working Writers' Forum
Easton, MD
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Leader: Gerald Sweeney, sweeneygf@aol.comThe Working Writers' Forum is a group of experienced Eastern Shore writers that meets monthly on Tuesday evenings to critique each other's writing and discuss common issues facing writers. Forum critique guidelines assure nonjudgmental, confidential reviews of members' writing with a focus on craft. Currently closed to new members. Writers who are interested in being placed on a waiting list should contact the forum moderator at the above e-mail address.
Wicomico County
A Writer's Room
Salisbury area
Genres: All
Leader: CarlAnn Cornwell, critique@awritersroom.com, (443) 859-8471
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 298, Fruitland, MD 21826-0298New critique group forming. Serving both published and aspiring writers in and around the Salisbury, MD, area. Writers from Lower Delaware are welcome as well.
Salisbury Critique Group
Salisbury area
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, etc.
Leader: Amadou Samb, amadousamb@comcast.netNew critique group forming.. Serving writers in and around Salisbury. Contact Amadou Samb for more information
If you'd like to form a critique group, or find out whether an existing group matches your interests, contact Joya Fields.
