CBW-LA upcoming events

Online Critique Session: All Genres Welcome (16 Aug 2026)

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT

ONLINE CRITIQUE SESSION
FOR CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS

Calling All Children's Book Writers: Picture Book, Early Reader, Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult… All genres welcome

Whether you’ve written a just handful of pages or you’re putting the finishing touches on your opus magnus, getting another set of eyes on your manuscript is a wise course of action. At our critique sessions, you'll get constructive feedback for your manuscripts, meet potential critique partners and make new friends.

THE VALUE OF A CRITIQUE SESSION

As writers, we are very close to our work and oftentimes we miss certain details on story development or story elements like characters, setting, etc.

Critique sessions allow other people with “fresh eyes” to have a look at your writing sample and read them as your future readers would, providing you with valuable feedback to improve your writing skills and get your manuscript submission-ready.

In all our Critique Sessions, we give you feedback in the most TACTful way possible.

TACT = Finesse, thoughtfulness or having a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.

TACT is also the technique we use for our critiques:

T = Terrific

We share what we loved in your piece, what worked in your story and what we liked about your plot, setting, character, pacing, etc.

A = Author Questions

In the last few minutes of your critique time, we encourage you, as the author, to ask questions either about your story or to clarify the comments you received.

C = Constructive Comments We deliver, in the politest way possible, comments that are specific and helpful to help you improve your story.

T = Talent Talent can get you far, but hard work can get your farther. We always end by encouraging you, the author, to keep on writing. We remind you that we are here to help you achieve your writing goals.

A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins (09 Sep 2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

Welcome to the Weekday Write-in!

In these community writing sessions, members get together for some quiet writing time. This session is virtual and attendees have an opportunity to check in briefly about their projects and voice questions or stumbling blocks. Attendees can outline, write early drafts, edit, and even work on pitches and marketing proposals for their work.

In this session, we'll take a few minutes at the start to check in with a sentence about each person's intention for the writing time and either a breathing exercise/meditation/chair yoga/writing prompt to drop into creative flow, then we'll set a timer to write for 40-45 minutes. At the end, we'll wrap up with a brief coming together (5-10 minutes) and release. We'd love to see your face at the beginning and end during check-in, but please feel free to turn off the camera during writing time and breathing exercises.

This is a supportive community offering to help you carve out time, each month, devoted to the craft and joy of writing stories. Free for CBW-LA Members, $10 for non-members.

Online Critique Session: All Genres Welcome (20 Sep 2026)

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

ONLINE CRITIQUE SESSION
FOR CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS

Calling All Children's Book Writers: Picture Book, Early Reader, Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult… All genres welcome

THE VALUE OF A CRITIQUE SESSION

As writers, we are very close to our work and oftentimes we miss certain details on story development or story elements like characters, setting, etc.

In all our Critique Sessions, we give you feedback in the most TACTful way possible.

TACT = Finesse, thoughtfulness or having a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.

TACT is also the technique we use for our critiques:

T = Terrific

We share what we loved in your piece, what worked in your story and what we liked about your plot, setting, character, pacing, etc.

A = Author Questions

In the last few minutes of your critique time, we encourage you, as the author, to ask questions either about your story or to clarify the comments you received.

C = Constructive Comments We deliver, in the politest way possible, comments that are specific and helpful to help you improve your story.

Online Critique Session: All Genres Welcome (11 Oct 2026)

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 20:00:00 GMT

ONLINE CRITIQUE SESSION
FOR CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS

Calling All Children's Book Writers: Picture Book, Early Reader, Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult… All genres welcome

THE VALUE OF A CRITIQUE SESSION

As writers, we are very close to our work and oftentimes we miss certain details on story development or story elements like characters, setting, etc.

In all our Critique Sessions, we give you feedback in the most TACTful way possible.

TACT = Finesse, thoughtfulness or having a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.

TACT is also the technique we use for our critiques:

T = Terrific

We share what we loved in your piece, what worked in your story and what we liked about your plot, setting, character, pacing, etc.

A = Author Questions

In the last few minutes of your critique time, we encourage you, as the author, to ask questions either about your story or to clarify the comments you received.

C = Constructive Comments We deliver, in the politest way possible, comments that are specific and helpful to help you improve your story.

A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins (14 Oct 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

Welcome to the Weekday Write-in!

This is a supportive community offering to help you carve out time, each month, devoted to the craft and joy of writing stories. Free for CBW-LA Members, $10 for non-members.

A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins (04 Nov 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 01:00:00 GMT

A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

Welcome to the Weekday Write-in!

This is a supportive community offering to help you carve out time, each month, devoted to the craft and joy of writing stories. Free for CBW-LA Members, $10 for non-members.

Online Critique Session: All Genres Welcome (08 Nov 2026)

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 21:00:00 GMT

ONLINE CRITIQUE SESSION
FOR CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS

Calling All Children's Book Writers: Picture Book, Early Reader, Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult… All genres welcome

THE VALUE OF A CRITIQUE SESSION

As writers, we are very close to our work and oftentimes we miss certain details on story development or story elements like characters, setting, etc.

In all our Critique Sessions, we give you feedback in the most TACTful way possible.

TACT = Finesse, thoughtfulness or having a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.

TACT is also the technique we use for our critiques:

T = Terrific

We share what we loved in your piece, what worked in your story and what we liked about your plot, setting, character, pacing, etc.

A = Author Questions

In the last few minutes of your critique time, we encourage you, as the author, to ask questions either about your story or to clarify the comments you received.

C = Constructive Comments We deliver, in the politest way possible, comments that are specific and helpful to help you improve your story.

Online Critique Session: All Genres Welcome (06 Dec 2026)

Sun, 06 Dec 2026 21:00:00 GMT

ONLINE CRITIQUE SESSION
FOR CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS

Calling All Children's Book Writers: Picture Book, Early Reader, Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult… All genres welcome

THE VALUE OF A CRITIQUE SESSION

As writers, we are very close to our work and oftentimes we miss certain details on story development or story elements like characters, setting, etc.

In all our Critique Sessions, we give you feedback in the most TACTful way possible.

TACT = Finesse, thoughtfulness or having a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.

TACT is also the technique we use for our critiques:

T = Terrific

We share what we loved in your piece, what worked in your story and what we liked about your plot, setting, character, pacing, etc.

A = Author Questions

In the last few minutes of your critique time, we encourage you, as the author, to ask questions either about your story or to clarify the comments you received.

C = Constructive Comments We deliver, in the politest way possible, comments that are specific and helpful to help you improve your story.