Finding Critique Partners
You’ve typed ‘The End’ on your manuscript, and now you’re ready to get published. Not yet! First, finding critique partners will help you polish your work for submission.
The benefits of critique partners outweigh the time and effort of finding them.
Finding Critique Partners
Writing can be a lonely job, but have no fear, critique partners are here! And it doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie or an experienced published author: writers at all levels can benefit from having a critique partner.
Why? It’s almost impossible to be objective about your own writing, so getting an independent viewpoint can help you improve your writing by pointing out what’s working and what’s not. Critique partners can also hold you accountable to deadlines, both real and self-imposed. It’s also a great way to learn how to receive feedback. As you probably already know, the publishing world is notorious for doling out rejection after rejection. Having a critique partner can boost you up during the difficult times and celebrate the good times with you.
Another benefit: by reading and giving critiques to your writing partner, you will hone your own revision skills. I personally have found this to be one of the best ways to understand my own writing process, and feel that I have learned just as much by critiquing others as receiving a critique on my work-in-progress.
How do I find a good critique partner?
You’ll want to find another writer. Someone who shares the writer’s struggle. Sorry, but family and friends will not give you honest feedback as they have to live with you!
Here are some great places to look for a critique partner:
Libraries, book shops, and coffee shops – they host writerly events or writer meet ups
National and local writer associations – check out their message or chat boards
Online writer groups – join Facebook groups dedicated to your genre or other online chatrooms, like the Good Story Learning Discord server.
Workshops and conferences – writers tend to be introverts, but go for it—talk to everyone there, it will be worth it!
On a personal note, I’m in three wonderful critique groups. One from a local writer’s organization, another from the SCBWI message boards, and yet another from a writers workshop. The first time I shared my work I was super nervous, but I chose my people wisely. We have mutual respect for each other’s work, trust each other to give honest feedback, and act professionally while still having a good time.
Before you agree to be a critique partner with someone, ask yourself the following:
Do you have the same level of commitment to craft?
Do you have shared objectives and goals, such as submitting to agents or self-publishing?
Do you write the same genres? It’s helpful if you all have the same understanding of the tropes and expectations, and that you both like to read and critique the same type of stories.
Once you find a match, it’s important to establish rules or expectations. Decide on how often, where (in-person/Zoom/email), length of work to exchange, and turnaround time. For each of my groups, these vary. One group meets bi-weekly on Zoom with three people submitting up to ten pages, another group one person submits via email up to 3,000 words with a turnaround of one week, and my last group reads the entire novel so it meets only when someone has a completed draft to submit!
The last, but most important tip:
A critique is just one reader’s opinion.
It’s helpful to listen to critiques without judgment or becoming defensive. Before jumping in to make edits, a good practice is to let it sit for a day or so. Come back to it, and read with a fresh perspective. Sometimes you’ll see the same or similar comments from a few partners, and other times, totally opposite opinions. It’s up to you to decide. Take it, or leave it. It’s your story, so follow your intuition.
While there’s no such thing as the perfect critique partner, with some time and effort, you’ll find a critique partner that fits for the both of you.
Now go write, critique, and submit!
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