Events & Workshops

Are you craving peer critique on your writing and want to build sustainable relationships with other writers? The SWG is pleased to present our Peer Critique Writing Retreat. This peer critique retreat is perfect for beginner or emerging writers who are not in a writers group but are looking to improve their critique skills, receive feedback on their work, and connect with other local writers. Participants will gather for one day on Saturday, June 6, 2026, to learn how to give productive and encouraging feedback to their peers and have their writing workshopped.

The morning of the retreat will consist of building knowledge and trust: knowledgeable SWG staff will give a presentation on how to give peer critiques, and participants will be invited to join SWG staff and other participants for lunch in order to get to know one another and build trust before participating in a group workshop in the afternoon.

This retreat is open to all genres. During the presentation, SWG staff will teach participants how to critique work that is applicable to other genres.

Expectations for Participants:

• Participants are expected to read each participant’s submitted writing (max of 6 participants) and provide feedback notes on each piece
• Participants are expected to share their feedback notes with their peers via email or give them a physical copy
• Each retreatant will receive a 20-minute of feedback from other participants. Since our time critiquing each other’s work is limited, we may not have time to discuss all participant feedback. Written feedback will be shared after the writing retreat.
• Participants will be respectful in their conduct and in their comments to their peers and SWG staff

The cost is $65 for SWG members and $90 for Non-Members and includes access to the full retreat, including a catered lunch. Payment is due upon acceptance.

Application Guidelines

Applicants must be 19 years of age or older, and the application must include:

1. A cover letter that states: 

• your name, pronouns (if you’re comfortable sharing), mailing address and phone number;
• 1-2 sentence summary of the writing project you are working on, and any questions you want your peers to consider when reading and giving feedback
• A few sentences about your genre and goal(s) for this work
• a paragraph or two describing your writing experience and critiquing experience;
• a paragraph about why you wish to attend the Peer Critique Retreat
• To help the SWG support writers of diverse communities and identities, we encourage applicants to self-declare if they identify as a writer who is a member of group(s) experiencing marginalization and underrepresentation. (i.e. Black, Indigenous, or Person of Colour, 2SLGBTQ+, or Disability). This self-declaration will be used internally by SWG staff and will not be publicized.
• Any accessibility needs you have

    2. Writing sample, no more than 5 pages long for prose and 2 poems (no longer than 4 pages) for poetry, on which you wish to have workshopped at the retreat. This work will be forwarded to all participants. Please ensure it is formatted following SWG guidelines:

• submissions must be in English;
• all material must be typed in body-text fonts like Times New Roman, Courier, or Arial;
• font size should be 12 pt;
• pages must include 1" margins;
• pages should be numbered sequentially;
• title and your name included in either header or footer;
• double-space prose (entire sample), but poetry may be single-spaced; 
• if you are submitting poetry, please make sure each new poem starts on a new page;
• Word documents are preferred, but we can accept PDFs. No Google Drive links or Pages files, please. 

Application deadline is Monday, May 11, 2026 (midnight). Please email your application, including cover letter and writing sample, to swgpr@skwriter.com.

Preference will be given to beginning and emerging writers who are SWG members. A maximum of six participants will be accepted.

Please contact Program Coordinator Tea Gerbeza at swgpr@skwriter.com.

Funding provided by:

In proud partnership with: