• SLO NIGHTWRITER CRITIQUE GROUPS

Critique Groups are a wonderful NW Member benefit!  

Below is an alphabetical listing of SLO Nightwriter critique groups. Though many of our groups are full, many welcome visitors. Always contact the group leader for the most current information regarding group openings and visiting options. You must be a member of Nightwriters to participate.

SLO Nightwriters is unable to guarantee critique group formation and availability, but we do strive to help our members connect with others to initiate and form their own writing affiliations. While we cannot be, and are not, responsible for any outcomes from these associations, we hope they lead to great creative magic and magnificent literary works!

Critique Group Coordinator: Tina Clark

Email:  outsidetheglasstjc@gmail.com

Phone: 805-305-0246

Reminder - Only members of SLO NightWriters may attend critique groups!

CRITIQUE GROUPS:

Meets on 1st and 3rd Mondays from 9:00 am to noon in San Luis. Members bring

original work to each session and read aloud to the group. The group provides

constructive suggestions for improving the writing and the structure of the stories. Prose

forms of literature–short stories, novels, memoirs, essays, newspaper and magazine

articles, travel–are this group’s forte. It welcomes writers who are serious about

producing work for publication. Those interested in attending or who need more

information should telephone or email.

• Group Leaders:

Terry Sanville - tsanville@sbcglobal.net  (805)541-0492

Gloria Pautz - (805)543-2049

• Status: Currently closed to new members, but guests are welcome.

"I write motorcycle action adventure fiction with some true stories and life's milestones. I have a Bachelors in Fine Art and an MBA. "

Meetings are on the 4th Monday of the month at 7 p.m.

Please contact for further details.

• Group Leader: David Schwab - daveschwab@sbcglobal.net
• Status: Please contact directly about openings 

This group was created to fill a need for a Los Osos/San Luis Obispo group that incorporates writers who generate stories, essays, novels, poetry–you get the picture -writers of any description. 

Whether or not you wish to publish, we’ll help you with ideas to improve your writing.

Please contact to arrange a visit, or to get more information.

•  Group Leader: Sharon Sutliff -  (805)544-4034
• Status: Currently open to new members.

The group runs a tight ship so that everyone can read. No cross talk permitted. We’re all

serious but fun-loving. The group includes several multi-published authors. Presently the

writing covers a number of genres: YA novels; short stories; short stories, fantasy;

humorous mystery novels; political satire; and personal essays. We write just about

everything except poetry.  

• Group Leaders:

Anne R. Allen - annerallen.allen@gmail.com (805) 528-1006

Charlie Perryness - csperryess@kcbx.net (805)528-4090

LOWriters meets the first Thursday of the month from 7- 9 p.m. in Los Osos.

LOWriters’ genre is fiction/memoir.

• Group Leader: Pat Gimer - patgimer@gmail.com
• Status: Please contact directly about openings.

North County Critique Group

A congenial group of skilled fiction and nonfiction writers that meets on the Second and Fourth Thursday at (traditionally) Atascadero Library, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. During Covid-19 restrictions, meetings are via Zoom.  Our critique process is upbeat and constructive. We send around pieces in advance, and read aloud at sessions.  Currently, we are open to a couple potential new members of intermediate to advanced writing level who are welcome to visit to see if we are a mutual fit. If interested, please send a one-to-two-page writing sample to the group leader. 

Group Leader: Lillian Cheney Brown - lilliofslo@aol.com                                       

Status: Currently open to potential new members

Thursday Writers

Though we are Thursday Writers, we usually meet every other Friday at the Coffee Bean in Pismo Beach, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• Status: Open to new members.

• Group Leader: Mark A. Ruszczycky - zsur@aol.com

Meets every Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. in Los Osos. Work is produced

 in each session, then analyzed according to the objective of the day’s goal. Based on

 writing exercises designed to jump- start the creative process (gleaned from a variety of

 published authors), these sessions take writers through the process of writing fiction from

 inception of idea to the final resolution. This group is for all writers who want to learn

 the process of crafting a well-told story while developing their own voice and style. We

 explore such topics as ideas, character, story arc, tone, voice, POV, tension, dialogue,

 resolution, writing mechanics, etc.

There is a Fee involved for this class. 

 (If enough interest is expressed, a night class in Los Osos may be started.)

• Status: Currently open for one new member
  

• Group Leader: Susan Tuttle - aim2write@yahoo.com (805)458-5234
  

What if? Writing Group 

For all writers.  Meets every Wednesday in Grover Beach from 10:30 am to12:30 pm. 

Not a traditional NightWriter critique group. Work is produced in each session, then

 analyzed according to the objective of the day’s goal. 

Based on writing exercises designed to jump- start the creative process (gleaned from a

 variety of published authors), these sessions take writers through the process of writing

 fiction from inception of idea to the final resolution. This group is for all writers who

 want to learn the process of crafting a well-told story while developing their own voice

 and style. We explore such topics as ideas, character, story arc, tone, voice, POV, tension,

 dialogue, resolution, writing mechanics, etc.

• Status: Currently full
  

• Group Leader: Susan Tuttle - aim2write@yahoo.com  (805)458-5234