Usually workshops are a good place to find folks at your level, and those that go are usually eager to connect, and maybe even start a critique group if that is

Usually workshops are a good place to find folks at your level, and those that go are usually eager to connect, and maybe even start a critique group if that is what you want. You can also try larger cons that are aimed at your vertical, but I’ve found that workshops attract people who are more actively engaged in improving their craft. Those are the folks you want to mingle with.