Note: Mentored critique groups are offered at the start of every term with select instructors. Next term starts May 2022.
OPEN FOR MAKERS PRO MEMBERS ONLY
Get guaranteed, targeted feedback on your work-in-progress from an industry professional and other students in your group.
Every term, we offer mentored critique groups with some of our instructors. These small groups meet three times during the term to receive peer critiques and critiques from an instructor on submitted work. Students can see their work advance considerably over the course of nine weeks through guidance from their mentor and application
Our Makers Pro members get first access to all mentored critique group slots.
OUR CURRENT MCG INSTRUCTORS
MORE DETAILS
- Each group is limited to 5 participants. The three 2-hour meetings ensure that you can get your work critiqued three separate times.
- Choose to get three projects critiqued or the same project three times over a nine-week term. You may submit new or revised work before each meeting.
- Makers Pro members get first access to buy these mentorship opportunities with instructors.
Alex Leon is our 
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Tim McCanna writes rhyming picture books and taught our 
Isabella Kung is the instructor of our 
After working as an editor for Houghton Mifflin, Chronicle Books, and LucasFilm Licensing, Sarah Stephens became an agent with Red Fox Literary, Sarah enjoys everything from board books to YA, but she is most interested in acquiring picture books, early chapter books, and middle-grade fiction. She is interested in elevating the voices of marginalized individuals, amplifying stories that need to be heard, and connecting children to nature.
Rena Rossner has been a literary agent at The Deborah Harris Agency since 2012 and has represented numerous New York Times Bestsellers, a National Book Award Finalist, Morris Award Finalists, a Coretta Scott King award winner, a Caldecott Medalist, and more. Rena accepts queries for Adult, Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Picture Book projects and also works with illustrators.
Alyssa Mito Pusey is an executive editor at Charlesbridge. For a picture book critique, submit one fiction or nonfiction picture book. For MG nonfiction, she'd like to see a synopsis and table of contents, as well as the beginning 1-3 chapters or 10 pages—whichever comes first.
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez is a mom, wife, agent with Context Literary Agency, middle school math teacher, and picture book author. She's also the proud co-creator and co-host of the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest and Kidlit Zombie Week as well as creator and co-host of the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy Contest. 
Ariel Richardson is an Editor in Children's at Chronicle Books in San Francisco. She primarily edits picture books and board books, working on titles like What Color Is Night?, Like the Moon Loves the Sky, and A to Z Menagerie. She loves books with a global perspective, books about religious literacy and intersectionality, books that celebrate the power of the imagination, and books that push the boundaries of traditional bookmaking.
Katherine Jacobs is an editor, teacher, and reader. She worked at Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, for thirteen years, where she edited picture books, middle grade, and young adult titles. She is currently a senior acquisitions editor at ZonderKidz, the children’s imprint of Zondervan.
