Westside Writers Picture Book Critique Night: A Recap of the March 2, 2016 Mingle

By Rebecca Light

The Santa Monica library buzzed with picture book writers this month at the Westside Writers Lit Mingle, as we met for a night of manuscript critique.

Picture book writers brought six copies of a manuscript to be read and critiqued by fellow Minglers. We broke up into groups of four to six people with at least three manuscripts to be critiqued at each table.

In our groups, we took turns reading each other’s manuscripts out loud. Using the “sandwich” method, those critiquing shared something they loved about the piece, moved into a few constructive notes, then ended on an observation of something that worked really well. Beginning and ending on positive notes kept the creative energy up and discouragement checked at the door.

Please join us for the April Westside Lit Mingle where we will have our middle grade and young adult critique night. All you MG & YA writers out there get your five page excerpts ready!