Join a Pennwriters Critique Group in southeastern Pennsylvania! See below for active and newly-forming groups, or contact us to help form a new critique group in your local area.
Note: Pennwriters Critique Groups are open to all adult writers ages 18 and older. For more information about activities for young writers, please contact us.
* * Bryn Mawr Pennwriters Critique Group (Philadelphia Area)
Coordinator: Suzanne Kimball
When: TBD
Where: TBD
Details: This group is currently being formed. To be connected with the Coordinator, please contact Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com.
* * Doylestown Writers’ Coffeehouse
Coordinator: Jonathan Maberry
When: Last Sunday of every month
Where: SAXBY COFFEE (formerly Bucks County Coffeehouse) Conference Room: 22 N. Main Street, Doylestown , PA 18901 / Phone: (215) 345-0795
Details: It’s a bunch of writers sitting around talking about writing…with coffee. No agenda…just chat about the latest trends in the industry, about markets, about pitching and selling, about frustration, about keeping the inner fires alight, about dealing with our families, about how damn tough it is to make it as a writer at the best of times and what writers can do to stay afloat in these troubled economic waters. No previous publishing experience necessary…the Writers’ Coffeehouse attracts everyone from absolute beginner to award-winners and bestsellers. We’re all writers. Grab a cup of coffee and head on downstairs to the Conference Room. To be connected with the Coordinator, please contact Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com or visit Jonathan Maberry online.
* * Lehigh Valley Pennwriters Critique Group
Coordinator: Bart Palamaro
When: Third Thursday of every month; 6:30pm.
Where: Borders Bookstore – Whitehall Mall; 1937 Whitehall Mall, Whitehall, PA 18052.
Details: This group is currently at maximum and a second group is being formed in this area. Please contact Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com to learn more.
* * Northeast Philadelphia Pennwriters Critique Group
Coordinator: Jay Greenstein
When: First Saturday of every month. Duration: 10am – 1pm.
Where: Northeast Regional Library, 2228 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA; 3rd Floor
This is a new group which is actively seeking new members. All genres and writing forms are welcome. To learn more about this group please contact Coordinator Jay Greenstein, or contact Pennwriters Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com.
* * Philadelphia Pennwriters Critique Group (Center City)
Coordinator: Lisa D. Kastner, Pennwriters President
When: Third Sunday of every month at 3PM, First Meeting: Sunday, April 19, 2009.
Where: West end Coffee Tea N Spa at 20th and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia
Typical Critique Group Rules:
1. Bring up to five pages of prose to be read silently by your fellow attendees. Remember to bring multiple copies to share.
2. Fellow writers will read the work silently and then provide feedback.
3. Feedback is provided with the best intent. Focus on the positive and how to improve the piece.
4. If your work is being reviewed, keep an open mind. Don’t respond to the feedback initially. Wait until the last person has provided input and then you are welcome to ask questions.
To learn more about this group, please contact Lisa Kastner, or contact Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com.
* * Pottsville Pennwriters Critique Group
Coordinator: Dana Smith-Mansell
When: N/A
Where: N/A
Details: Writers in Pottsville meet at various locations, and we do not currently have a Pennwriters Pottsville Group. To be connected with the coordinating members in this area, please contact Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com.
* * Pottsville Open Writers (POW!) in Association with The FED
Coordinator: Henry Dallimore
When: Second Saturday of each month (unless otherwise noted).
Dates for future meetings:
July – no monthly meeting; Tuesday evening meetings will continue
August – no monthly meeting; Tuesday evening meetings will continue
September 12th
October 10th
November 14th
December 12th
Smaller meetings are also held on a weekly basis. Anyone who wishes to discuss their writing can meet at the library on Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. These weekly meetings do not have an assigned topic and are open to everyone.
Where: Pottsville Free Public Library / 215 West Market Street, Pottsville, Pa. 17901 / Phone: (570) 622-8880
Details: This is a non-Pennwriters group with regular meetings offered for writers at the Pottsville Library. Pottsville Open Writers, or POW!, is an informal group that gathers together once a month to support and encourage each member in writing original prose or poetry. This is a free group with no membership fees and no formal structure (no president, secretary, elections, etc.) For questions about POW! you can contact the group leader, Henry Dallimore, at powpot[at]yahoo[dot]com, or or contact the Pottsville Library Reference Department at potref[at]iu29[dot]org.
For more information: http://www.pottsvillelibrary.org/POW.htm
* * Reading Pennwriters Critique Group
Coordinator: Sue Lange
When: N/A
Where: N/A
Writers in Reading meet at various locations, and we do not currently have a Pennwriters Reading Group. To be connected with the coordinating members in this area, please contact Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com.
* * Springfield Pennwriters Critique Group
Coordinator: Carolyn Pouncy
When: Rotating
Where: Rotating
This group is currently at maximum and a second group is being formed in this area. Please contact Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com to learn more.
* * Valley Forge / King of Prussia Pennwriters Critique Group (Philadelphia Area)
Coordinator: Gretchen Lockwood
When: First Wednesday of every month; 7:00pm; (No meeting in December)
Where: Barnes & Noble – Valley Fair; 150 W. Swedesford Rd., Devon, PA 19333; (Upper floor, near Romance and SciFi sections).
Details: This is an active group which is open to new members. Bring at least 5 copies of a piece you would like to critique, maximum 5 pages (double-spaced, 12 pt font, normal margins). All genres and writing forms are welcome. New members are always welcome. To learn more please contact Gretchen Lockwood, or contact Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com .
* * West Chester Pennwriters Critique Group (1)
Coordinator: Karen Meacham
When: Second Tuesday of each month.
Where: Rotating
This group is currently at maximum and a second group is being formed in this area. Please contact Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com to learn more.
* * West Chester Pennwriters Critique Group (2)
Coordinator: Jake Michael
When: First meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 7pm
Where: Chester County Bookstore, West Goshen Center, 975 Paoli Pike, West Chester, PA 19380
Details: This is an active group which is open to new members. Bring at least 5 copies of a piece you would like to critique, maximum 5 pages (double-spaced, 12 pt font, normal margins). All genres and writing forms are welcome. New members are always welcome. To learn more please contact Jake Michael, or contact Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com.
* * Willow Grove Pennwriters Critique Group (eastern Montgomery County)
Coordinator: Sara Nash
When: The 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month at 8 pm.
Where: Willow Grove Barnes and Noble, 102 Park Avenue, Willow Grove, PA 19090, in the cafe.
This is an active group which is open to new members. All genres and writing forms are welcome. New members are always welcome. To learn more about this group please contact Coordinator Sara Nash, or contact Pennwriters Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com.
* * Yardley Pennwriters Critique Group (Bucks County)
Coordinator: TBD
When: TBD
Where: TBD
This group is currently being formed and needs a coordinator. Please contact Area 6 Representative Robert Michalsky at area6rep[at]pennwriters[dot]com for more information or to volunteer.
* * *
We look forward to seeing you !

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