Episode 6: How Critique Groups Work for Authors and Illustrators: What to Expect and How to Thrive

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How Critique Groups Work for Authors and Illustrators: What to Expect and How to Thrive

Are you curious about how critique groups actually work? Whether you’re an author, an illustrator, or both, critique groups are one of the most powerful tools in your publishing toolkit. In Episode 6 of the Publishing Cousins podcast, Melissa Lasher and Nikki Boetger pull back the curtain on what really happens inside a critique group — and how to get the most out of every session.

What Is a Critique Group — and Why Does It Matter?

A critique group is a small community of writers or illustrators who share their work with each other for constructive feedback. These groups are essential for anyone serious about publishing. They help you see your work through fresh eyes, strengthen your craft, and build the resilience you need in this industry.

In this episode, Melissa and Nikki break down exactly how these groups operate — so you know what to expect before you ever hit “send” on your first submission.

How to Submit Your Work to a Critique Group

The process looks a little different for authors versus illustrators, but the goal is the same: sharing your work in a way that makes it easy for others to give you quality feedback.

For authors, Melissa recommends using Google Docs with a “commenter” sharing link. This means your critique partners can add suggestions and comments — but they cannot delete or permanently alter your text. Every suggestion shows up as a tracked change, which you can accept or reject on your own time. This makes the process clean, organized, and stress-free.

For illustrators, Nikki typically shares a high-resolution PNG file. PNG files hold their image quality better than JPEGs and can be zoomed in for close inspection of details. She cautions against sharing your original working files — like Procreate, Photoshop, or Illustrator files — since those can be altered. A flat image file protects your work.

PDFs with comment features are another option that some groups and clients use, especially for portfolio and sketch reviews.

Timing Matters: Submit Your Work Early

One of the most important pieces of etiquette Melissa shares? Don’t submit your work the night before your critique session. Your critique partners need time to read carefully and give you thoughtful, quality feedback. Rushing leads to surface-level comments — and you deserve more than that.

Nikki echoes this when it comes to working with her agent. She aims to have her sketch phase work to him at least a week and a half early. That gives her agent time to review, and it gives her a few days to make changes before her deadline. Building in that buffer is a sign of professionalism — and it protects you.

What Happens During the Critique Session

Once everyone has reviewed the submitted work, the real conversation begins. For Melissa’s group, the meeting is a chance to walk through any sticky areas — questions or comments that need more discussion. The written feedback has already been given; the meeting is about clarifying and brainstorming.

Nikki’s illustrator group meets virtually via Zoom. Sometimes they use a private Facebook group to share artwork before the session and then discuss it during a screen share. The format is more casual, but the goal is the same: helpful, honest feedback in a supportive space.

Conference critiques work a little differently. You submit your work ahead of time, and trained critique readers provide written feedback for you to pick up at the conference. Slots can be limited, so it’s worth signing up early.

How to Give Feedback as a New Critique Group Member

If you’re new to critique groups, you might worry that you’re not “qualified” to give feedback. Melissa and Nikki want you to let that go right now.

The best place to start is simple: respond as a reader. For authors, that means noticing where something trips you up. If a sentence makes you stop and reread it three times, flag it — even if you can’t explain exactly why. That reaction is real and valuable. Your critique partners will appreciate the honesty.

For illustrators, your response as a viewer matters just as much. What draws your eye? What feels off? Does the color palette work? Your instincts are worth sharing, even before you’ve developed technical vocabulary.

The more you participate in critique groups — both as a giver and a receiver — the better you get at both.

Embrace the Critique: It Makes You Better

Melissa admits that many people are terrified of critique groups. But she says critiques are one of her favorite things. Seeing how others respond to your work is genuinely exciting — and it’s transformative for your craft.

Feedback shapes your work in ways you might not expect. Nikki shares a personal example: years of critique feedback gradually taught her to pull back on using the color red in her illustrations. She didn’t even realize it was happening — but the collective response over time changed her artistic instincts for the better.

That’s the real power of a critique group. It’s not just about fixing one piece. It shapes everything you create going forward.

The Right Way to Receive and Give Critiques

Here are the key principles Melissa and Nikki recommend:

• Don’t get defensive. Come in ready to receive edits.
• Have three reasons why you made a creative choice. If someone suggests you change something and you disagree, calmly explain your reasoning. Nine times out of ten, they’ll understand and back off.
• Feedback is a suggestion, not a mandate. You are always the author or illustrator of your own work.
• Balance your critique. For every edit you suggest, acknowledge something that’s working. Knowing what you’re doing right is just as important as knowing what needs work.
• Think like a coach. Fine-tuning is the job. A good critique group helps you reach your potential — they’re not there to tear you down.

Genre Matters: Find a Group That Gets Your Work

For writers, Melissa strongly recommends finding a critique group within your genre. Feedback is most useful when your critique partners understand the conventions and reader expectations for your specific type of book. A literary fiction writer may not know what middle-grade readers expect. A romance author might not connect with a picture book manuscript.

For illustrators, it’s a little more flexible — but there’s still value in connecting with artists who work in similar age categories and styles.

You don’t have to stick strictly to your genre or niche. But you’ll get the most useful feedback when your critique partners are working in the same world you are.

Final Thought: Don’t Fear the Critique Group — Embrace It

Melissa and Nikki close with a simple but powerful reminder: don’t be afraid of critique groups. Embrace them. The feedback you get from a good critique group is one of the most valuable resources available to you as a creative.

You’ll learn to receive feedback with grace. You’ll learn to give it with skill. And along the way, your writing and illustration will become something you’re truly proud of.